What a weekend!

This is what we have been up to:

Thursday: Left our house about 9:30am, headed north. Made a few stops, tried to find fast food places that had playgrounds so Reagan could burn off some energy. Stopped in Kentucky about 10:30pm, got a hotel and slept!

Friday: Got up and out the door by 9am, then we realized that our GPS was still on Eastern time zone and we were really an hour ahead of schedule. Got to the hotel in St. Louis about 11:30am and put Reagan down for nap. Woke up from nap and went to Illinois for the viewing.

Now, I have only been to 5 funerals in my life.

• My 1st was my Grandfather's and it was at Arlington National, so a totally unique experience.


• The 2nd, unfortunately, was my dad's, so it was a blur through all my tears.


• The 3rd was Mike's mom and they had a viewing and a Catholic Mass. But, it wasn't like we were related to her, so we were just visitors. I didn't really know her, I was just there to support my sister.


• Then, unfortunately, there were Paula's and Aunt Jackie's. Very similar to each other, but different from the other's. I knew them well and I grieved for them and their family because I was truly sad and because of the love I have for their families.

Then there is this one. I know Brian is upset, I know Jeanette is upset, but I didn't know Grandma. I knew stories of her and lately the stories have been stressing out Jeanette because of the Alzheimer's and a stroke. The viewing was really long and they had an open casket, which was a 1st for me. We (Carol, Sarah, Beth, and a few of Carol's family members) went to the funeral home and saw my dad, but no one else did. It was just us saying goodbye. So, there is a lot of family at the viewing, I mean EVERYONE. We leave to get the kids something to eat and then we come back and there is more family there and all in all it was HOURS of just people standing around and talking. It started at 3 and I think we left at 8, but who knows what time Jeanette left. The next morning there was another viewing, but we didn't have to be there till 9am. Then, they put her in the hearse and we all drove in a processional through town and through another town and past the house she used to live in and then up to the Church. This driving probably took almost an hour. Then there was a mass. This is where it gets funny (yes, funny in a funeral story). Reagan was on her best behavior, but it because very clear that Brian and I need to take her to Church on a more regular basis. She was bored, aren't most children? So I gave her a snack and that worked for a little while. Then, as the Priest comes up to pat her on the head (bless her maybe?) she says straight to his face, "I pooped." Then she proceeds to say it over and over again and louder and louder. Finally, I take her out of the church and we go outside. I check her diaper, no poop. I am utterly embarrassed and Reagan is now wanting to run free in the cemetery. Give me a break! We go back in, just as the service is over. We walk outside to the grave site. Again, this is kinda a 1st for me. At Arlington, we were at the grave site, but it was just WAY different. At my dad's, just the very immediate family went to the grave site and if I remember, it was the next day (don't quote me on that). Anyway, now we are standing outside at the grave site and Reagan wants to run free, we keep her contained and then it is over. Everyone goes into the little banquet house and there is a feast. We all eat and be merry. Vivian convinces Brian to stay overnight and leave the next morning. We were originally going to leave straight after the reception and drive as far as we could, then drive the rest of the way on Sunday.

Sunday: Get up at 4am, ouch. Leave the hotel by 5:15am and drive all day. We make it home at 10pm, unload the car (thank you Brian) put Reagan to bed and go to bed ourselves.

Monday: 8am came way too quickly for me and I know when Brian's alarm went off at 5:30am, he was hurting. Back to work and I have to admit, for once, my staff did a good job this weekend.

All in all a very different experience for me. I am saddened by the fact that Jeanette now has no living parents and Brian is without any Grandparents. I guess I am so lucky to have 4 families, plenty of parents and Grandparents to go around. It's just so different how families react to death and the rituals that we follow. I have decided that I do not want a viewing and an open casket. That is the last memory your family will have and I just want them to remember me alive. I also don't think I want to be burried in a casket and in the ground. I think I would like to be cremated, but I'm not sure. If I am burried in the ground, I don't see the point of buying a casket, because then they still put you in a concrete box to be burried. Why waste the money on a fancy casket, a pine box will be just fine, thank you. This post has gone on long enough, look for pictures to be posted to Reagan's site sometime tonight or tomorrow. Love to all.