Funerals ... Big Sigh

 It was a lovely 61 degrees when I went outside to find Kitters waiting on the table by the back door.  We seem to be getting braver and braver!!  

Oh yah ... look here ... can you feel the enthusiasm?  Is this ever going to stop?  I'm craving CAKE and these vegetables just aren't doing it for me!

Yes the tomatoes are nice and the bacon DELICIOUS, but BLC (cabbage) tacos just aren't the same as a big huge bite of sugary FROSTING!  I thought after a while, the hankering for sugar would stop, or at least calm down.  This was breakfast ... I should have had eggs instead.

I was really tired and just wanted to sleep, but it was not to be.  The funeral started in the morning.  Knowing I was going to be gone all day long, I threw together a quick grilled cheese that I ate while heading out the door.  This has to be the best one I've ever made.  

I scrounged in the fridge for some bread and came across a loaf I had forgotten about.  THIS my friends is made with chunks of butter-cooked GARLIC.  I'm hooked!!  Oh my goodness it was delicious!!!  There will definitely be more of THIS in my life!!

And so I was off to the funeral.  Let me just say that you must have been a pretty awesome human being to receive not one, not two, but FOUR funeral services in one day.  Little did I know this would be an all day affair.  It's okay though ... he deserved every minute of it.

It began at the Catholic Church in town and was a beautiful ceremony.  I always skip the viewing.  I wanted to remember Ken Henn's smiling face as he sat behind the bar at Bingo, selling Hot Ball stamps.  Always laughing and telling silly jokes.

From there the entourage went to the National Cemetery where he would be buried after three more ceremonies.

As our flag flew at half mast right above the shelter, the family arrived, and the second Catholic service was held.  

This is the third service, performed by our Elks Lodge Members.  It's one of the nicest I have ever attended.  These guys do a wonderful job.  By this time, we were all crying.

And finally, the fourth service performed by the County Honor Guard, all of whom are also Elks Lodge Members.  We support this group 100%, paying for everything they need, including lunches or dinners when they are out performing services for ANY Veterans who have passed.  Four additional members actually perform the service itself, which includes the folding of the flag ceremony and presentation to the family.  After that, this group performs a 21 gun salute and plays Taps.  

From there we all went to Ken's favorite little restaurant in town for dinner.  We were stuffed in that little room like sardines, but no one cared.  It was a nice sendoff for a really great guy.  I'm going to miss those jokes he used to text me ... they made me laugh every time!!

It was a very long day after a very long day.  I'm feeling pretty beat up ... but WAIT ... company is coming.   Lucky me, I get to clean the house and try to figure out what we are going to eat for three days.  Time to find out if Dominos will deliver this far out.

I better get to it ............. hope everyone has a lovely summer day!!