This past year has been unique for my family because for the first time we have had family members pass away. Yes, for all of my life all four of my grandparents have been alive and well. Last April we said goodbye to Grandma Wade and not quite one year later we are saying goodbye to Grandpa Wade as well. This time I was able to fly down to Georgia for the funeral. The trip there and back (even in fun company like Kristina) was truly and honestly horrendous. Terrible weather. Airplane sickness. Too many cars. Not enough substantial food. Getting lost like everywhere. Thunderstorms. 5 hours of sleep. Blah blah blah. It was awful.
The payoff? Getting to see my Grandparents laid to rest in the town where they met, Quitman Georgia, and getting to hang with my amazing family (even if it was only for 8 hours). I'll always remember my Grandpa as a happy man with excellent hair. He and my Grandmother left a tremendous legacy.
Some of the funny bits of the trip were the torrential downpour that started right before the outdoor funeral. So, yeah, all 7 kids who were the pall bearers got soaked but call it a miracle the rain stopped right when Grandpa's casket got inside and started again right after they finished the gun salute. I'd call that divine intervention. After the funeral we got to see the house where Grandma Wade grew up and then spent the afternoon with all the cousins and aunts and uncles just telling funny stories from their growing up years. Kristina, Jeff and I had to hit the road early but had lots of time to share stories of our own on the ride back to Atlanta (thanks for all the traffic jams Atlanta! And for making your rental car return suuuuuper hard to find.)
Goodbye Grandpa and Grandma Great. We'll see you on the flip side.
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| My awesome sibling |
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| Honor guard. Ian played taps on his trumpet. Probably the coolest part. |
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| All the men singing "What a Wonderful World". |
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| The 7 siblings singing |
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