Friday, October 10, 2014

Endings and Beginnings

My sister Julie has been encouraging me to start a blog for a while. She loves writing her blog, and she finds that her blog documents many memories which she would not have been able to recall otherwise. I had desisted, though, because I consider myself (likely erroneously) a private person.

I changed my mind because my grandfather, Thomas Boyer, passed away a few weeks ago, and I returned home to Washington, Missouri, for his funeral service. Being with my family and sharing stories about my grandfather made me want to create a repository for such stories--not just the big moments that are easily remembered, but the smaller incidents that define relationships and time periods.

The service was really wonderful. I was touched by how many of my grandfather's friends came to see my grandmother and mom. My father gave a beautiful eulogy, where he told the group that Grandpa's last words, spoken to my mom, were, "I love you a bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck."

The funeral included military honors. Grandpa was a Marine--he served in Korea and was one of the Chosin Few. The service inspired me to learn more about the Korean War, and also to donate money to the Honor Flight Network. Grandpa was able to go on an Honor Flight, and he found the experience incredibly worthwhile and moving.

This spectacular picture--I believe a family friend titled it, "A great American and a great mustache"--was taken August 2013 during a family trip to Yellowstone National Park (the bouncing baby is my niece, Clementine). I am so grateful that we had one last big family trip out West before Grandpa passed.
After the service, the family went to an Italian restaurant for lunch. Julie had toasted ravioli, I had mostaccioli, and provel cheese was had by all--a proper send-off to a lifelong St. Louisan.

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