so long grandpa john

"Don't take me to a hospital, just take me to a mortuary!"



Saturday:

The memorial.

Brynne, Dan, Ben, Averie, Mom, Dad, Nate, Rubie, and myself all got off to a slow but steady start. Coffee was foraged. Showers were taken. As I was in the middle of mine, the power cut out. I finished it in the dark. The power came on within thirty minutes but still, it was a bit of an inconvenience. Food was laid out. Chairs were gathered. Brush was cleared for parking spots.

Averie and I took parking duties with Kirie. Greeted people and told them where to park. Rolfe, Alison, and Justin came. Doris, Mary, Eric, Steve, Sandy, Cathy... a long list of family and friends. Some people I've met a handful of times. Some not so much. But it was a good turnout. The weather held and it was a wonderful day.

Ben and Nate helped escort people to the house. Jeanette and Liam also came. I'd say around 30-40 people were there in total. So many drinks. So much food. Rubie's lumpia was a hit.

At a little after 2pm, we gathered and the memorial began. Brynne started with a beautiful eulogy. I held hands with mom and cried a little bit. Kirie, Bill, Doris, Ben, Celia, Averie, Mark, Milo, and others spoke. I rambled about the endless artistic support the family has. Grandpa was a member of the Order of the Silver Marmot. It was love at first site when he met my grandmother. They were together for 60 years. He was a lover of the wilderness and of art. It was a wonderful memorial.

People left but many people stayed. The numbers dwindled ever so slowly. Desert was cake and cheesecake and cookies and just piles of sweets. We gorged and conversation went on.

Chatted with Liam, who got progressively hyper as the sugar set in. He never quite got that he should leave Honey Bear alone (Averie's dog who isn't good with anyone under 10) and had to be consoled when she finally snipped at him.

At the end we (that is Celia, Dave Olson, Brynne, Rolfe, Alison, Justin, Nathan, Rubie, Mom, Dad, Kirie, and myself) went to the beach and ignited a bonfire. Dave went for a night swim to see the phosphorescence. Old songs about murder were sung. More and more people called it a night (amazingly it was Dan, Ben, and Averie who were the first to call it a night). At the end it was just Dave and myself. We talked about comics and art. He slept in the tent.

Sunday:

The morning after! Light breakfast. Mom divided up huge portions of left overs for people.

Cleaning was a long process. When the Garman/Edwards left, it was time for a beach break. The sun was out and I traded jeans and long sleeves for my very much underused this summer bikini. I lounged. Mom kayaked. Dad snorkled. Celia swam. I flipped over and lounged some more. We feasted on left overs and cool soda. Dad and I tossed shells and tried to land them on a rock. After I put some rocks back on the seawall to replenish what I tossed.

Then back to packing. Food, clothes, buckets, chairs, cooler chests. It was a lot. Mom drove the motorhome, dad drove the truck, and I took the Prius. I haven't driven in a while but I did just fine. Listened to Louis Armstrong and some NPR stories about pinball championships and the photographer Mike Disfarmer.

When I got home, I noted and felt how pink my belly was. I'm a little bit sunburned but not that bad. Just my front bits.

Ate a burger. Looked at slideshows.

I return to Portland tomorrow. 12:05.