Celebrating Life-Part I

I've written this post several times in my head.  I'm not sure if it will sound the same in actual typed words.  Here goes.

It wasn't a planned trip.  In fact we had plans to stay put.  Enjoy the warming weather and perhaps some lazy lounging on the beach sprinkled with some Spring cleaning.  The perfect balance of days together for Spring break.

But, we found ourselves parading through airports, shuffling through security points, entertaining restrained baby dills, and muffling Drummer's squawks. 

I had a few provisions, like candy that takes a long time to eat (even if you do get a bit of paper along with the confection), 

mini magnetic games,

and of course there was plenty of homework to do.  Good thing I had the wrap and roll of my favorite writing implement.

We joined other family to celebrate the life of Ryan's dad who passed away after a short illness.

my parachute skirt according to Azure, although I prefer to call it my Marilyn Monroe skirt ;)

Brothers three, aka small, medium and large came together with the matron of the family to go through the belongings, reminisce, and laugh about the stories they remembered.

Papa Thom's trike hog (?) was taken to the funeral home, but like true Thom fashion, it had to be jumpstarted, twice before it made the short journey.  We laughed that this was often the case with Thom and his vehicles.  On our wedding day, after the ceremony, he took Ryan and I to our hotel in his old limousine which we had to push twice, once on the freeway.

Ryan's brother, aka Uncle Mattmo, and I drove my brood to the funeral, but on the way we were flagged down by a distressed neighbor who received a call from another neighbor who had fallen and couldn't get up.  

We couldn't get in the house and Matt was trying to remain calm about being tardy to his father's funeral when I reminded him that this is what Thom would have wanted anyway.  

He laughed and added that Thom would have skipped that funeral altogether and stayed at the neighbor's.

Which is very much the truth.

The casket spray was done by my dad.  Isn't it spectacular?

It was actually a joy to watch small, medium, and large to go through Thom's belongings.  They were kind, gracious, and 

they laughed about everything.  We were all surprised about how sentimental he was, saving every card from father's day and his birthday. 

I entered Thom's room to find Ryan squeezing into some old leather lederhosen (sexy!), and a fashion show of Thom's Episcopalian Preacher robes, Japanese house coats, cowboy hats, army hats, chauffeur hats, for Thom was truly a man of many hats, both figurative and literal.

Claudette's beautiful sisters

We brought home the casket spray (why bury such a treasure?) and I disassembled it into several smaller arrangements (you know, so it didn't look like.....a casket spray) that we enjoyed for the rest of the week.

The baby dills fell in love with Ryan's childhood home.

I taught them how to play basketball and H-O-R-S-E (don't judge us that my children don't know how to play).

Divine learned how to skateboard on Ryan's ooooold ;) skateboard, he played baseball with Pearl,

and many other toys and games were brought out of retirement.

There was a visit to Thom's store, now to be run by large.

Oh, the treasures, and yes, that's a box of girl scout cookies under my arm.  Can you tell what it is and what is your favorite?

This one is for sale.  Lucky future owner.

Pretty, pretty junk.

Oh, and that hat that sorta did/n't turn out?  It came in handy on a particularly windy day for this boy who has never known such temperatures in his six months, sorry about the blur.

Yes, we mustered all the winter gear I could find and two of papa Thom's hats were warmed once more.  Luckily for these girls, he had a small head.

Papa Thom was the only boy in his family then had 3 boys...who had all girls except for the last grandchild.  Drummer Zion Dill, who will be the only one to carry on the Dill name.  He was planning to come meet the only male heir of this generation next month.

Pearl was in canine heaven with Uncle Mattmo's two dogs.

***

Papa Thom and Pearl 2009

You and your handlebar mustache will be missed.  See you later.