We are back from Phoenix. Being with your entire family especially under tense circumstances is especially stressful. Suffice to say there was plenty of family drama and some very painful moments. Cole did well at the funeral. My grandpa’s casket was open both during the viewing and for the funeral. My uncle (my mom’s brother) didn’t want to attend the viewing so he stayed home with his two kids and Cole, but everyone attended the funeral. Cole wanted to go up close to see my grandpa, but I told him that he didn’t look like the great-Papa he remembered, so he chose not to. He did go up and look at his pictures and his carvings. I spoke at my grandpa’s service and he bravely held my hand to go up with me in front of all those people. He was a little afraid to go to the cemetery but it was broad daylight and there were no gravestones, just grave plaques. He was wondered around asking me to read the names to him. He found one with the last name “COLE” and wanted to know why one had his name!
Cole had such a good time with his cousins; I was jokingly saying I was going to have to buy him a brother because they kept him occupied for hours. We did have time to see my dad’s side of the family. The youngest of my Aunt’s kids is a freshman in high school and very sweet to Cole. Cole loved him. He is on the football team and we went out one night to watch his practice. Cole kept giving him “high fives” and hugs. In between family obligations we had plenty of time to swim daily which was nice because the average temperature was 115.
The last day we went to the Phoenix Zoo with my mom to escape and get some alone time. We had only been there for about 45 minutes when there was a “CODE RED LOCKDOWN”. We were hustled into a ticket booth for almost two hours. It seems two Mexican Wolves had breeched their enclosure and had to be recaptured, so much for a drama free day.
The biggest surprise of the entire weekend was my mom’s boss and her husband flying in to provide support for my mom. My mom has known her for 20 years. I was standing outside the funeral home and was waving at someone in a car driving by who was waving at me when all of a sudden I realized it was my mom’s boss. It was so surreal. I know my mom really needed and appreciated that unexpected show of support.
I’m glad to be back home. I hope to enjoy the next week before fall semester starts and Cole starts Kindergarten, GULP!
"She's not a lady, she's my mom." -Cole
About Me
- ColeBugsmommy
- Single mother to a wonderful son born in 2002. I'm working and going to school full-time to try to make a better life for us.
2 comments:
Hi Kareen, I just got back tonight and read about your grandfather. I'm sorry he is gone but I am glad he did not suffer long. Sounds like you made the best of the funeral situation as always. I would have liked to have heard you speak at the funeral; maybe you could put the text of what you said on your blog, if you think its appropriate. Its good that you included Cole in the funeral; when I was his age someone I knew died and they kept me away, and I had so many questions. Enjoy the brief end of summer, and see you soon.
Your comment about buying Cole a brother makes me smile. I have several neighbors w/ only 1 kid (some also w/ a younger bro/sis that doesn't interact much). Anyway, they call from time to time asking if they can "borrow" Faith. They all say that they love having her over b/c she entertains their kids so well. I guess I should start charging a fee!! JK.
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