Scooter Chronicles

The Flights
Marcia, Nigel, and I returned home yesterday afternoon. The flight home saw more turbulence then the flight to Detroit, but that was mostly because of low cloud cover while waiting in line to land. It reminds me of what late columnist Bob Talbert used to ask how can something that looked to soft (meaning clouds) be so violent.

Nigel fell asleep about five minutes after take-off on the way to Detroit, but because of traffic on the way to the airport got a good nap before our flight home. He was feisty at times during the flight home, but wasn’t too bad. Marcia kept him well occupied, and even took him out of his seat to snuggle with her a bit. Of course, he feel asleep while the plane taxied to the gate. (Perfect timing, kiddo!)

The flight out was rather nice. Very little turbulence at all, and very clear the whole way out.

The Funeral
My parents, and aunts and uncles, had the same Funeral Home run it as did my Grandpa’s. They did a very good job. One of the keys was those that prepared my Grandma. My brother Todd pointed it out that she looked like the Grandma we remember from our more youthful days. Over the last few years she hadn’t bothered getting her hair done, just wearing it straight and flat, parted to one side. They fixed her hair too look like she wore it 15-20 years ago. It was the first time I truly understood why people would say “She looks good” while laying there in the casket. It helps to remember the good times upon seeing her last that way.

I was mixed about my emotions at the mausoleum. As my brother Brian said, when I heard my father’s voice on the other end of the line Thursday morning, I knew why he was calling. Grandma hadn’t been what can be referred to as “sick”, but she sure wasn’t doing good. And given my Grandpa’s death being just five months ago, it all just made us realize that the end was very near. Seeing both my grandparents names on the blocks, and watching both of the vaults being closed in such a short span of time, it left me numb. With my Grandpa’s funeral I wanted to stay there and just look at it, thinking about the past. With my Grandma, I just wanted it to be over and go home.

The Extra Day
It was really only an extra 10-12 hours, but it was nice to have more time with my family and not have to worry about getting things packed and getting to the airport on time.

A couple of hours after the funeral, my brother Brian came over with Jodi and their son Braylen. Braylen wanted to go for a walk and Brian asked me if I wanted to go, too. It was nice to walk around the old neighborhood and be reminded of things we did as children with the kids down the street.

More Thoughts
The passing of my Grandpa and Grandma have had me thinking a little too much about the end of life. I have tried not to think about it, because in some respects it scares me. I don’t live with the dread everyday, mind you. But now more so with Nigel, I think about being around to take care of him, and hope that he reaches a very old age before he has to worry about my death.

A song that I would list as a favorite of mine is “Pull Me Under” by Dream Theater. A couple of the lines have been going through my head, and can be taken in a couple of ways.

Every day sends future to past
Every breath leaves one less to my last

They can be a reminder that it is inevitable. Or that you have to live every moment to it’s fullest. Either one can be daunting, and though very hard to do, I prefer the latter.

The Thank You
Mom and Dad, thanks again for helping us get the flights in and out of Detroit to be there for Grandma’s funeral. Thank you for booking our hotel, and letting us borrow the Pack-N-Play for Nigel. Thanks for letting us stay that extra night at the house. And just a general thank you for everything you have done for us the last few months during the holidays and our times of sadness.