Saying goodbye...

This weekend, I found myself venturing up to Tower again (already!) for another funeral. Though it's always sad to see a family member pass away, this funeral didn't pack the same emotional punch that the last one did. Uncle L was ninety-four years old when he passed away, and had lived a full life. As Father Bernie (another great uncle, this one a priest who performed the funeral) reminded us during the eulogy, Uncle L is now somewhere that he worked his entire life to be. Instead of being sad, we should be celebrating for him. I believe he's right and the funeral had that "celebration of life" feeling to it. Oh, the polka music! Uncle L would have loved it. (I think he would have also appreciated the fact that the local public school system was so well-represented. In attendance at the service were both of my first grade teachers, my third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade teachers, my drivers ed teacher, and our former school librarian. Hot damn! I was on my best behavior.)

I will always remember Uncle L fondly. For whatever reason, he long had a soft spot in his heart for my sister (Kamanda, as he called her) and me. Up until the last weeks of his life, he asked my mom each time she visited if the "little girls" were coming home for the weekend. When we were, he often sent Dum Dums home for us. This continued through my college years and never failed to put a smile on my face.

The last few years have been rough for those close to him as his health has been failing but even so, he was a fun, playful, caring man who always seemed to have a smile on his face. God knows he'll be missed by many. The day he died, Red sent me an email saying, "Uncle L is hanging out with Grandpa today." She's right...and you know what? That can't be at all bad.