It's been a hot minute since I've documented anything via blog, but keep with me because this is a good one:
This morning we (my family of 5) flew back to Utah from Arizona. We were there just barely 48 hours to attend part of the funeral services for my grandfather, Karl Butler Eagar.
Approximately 54 of us that came together to celebrate his life are his grandchildren (and in-laws) and great grandchildren. FIFTY-FOUR! (That doesn't even include other family members, friends and acquaintances). That's a lot of people, people! Additionally, there were several who weren't in attendance. That many of us have not been in one room....ever. Not at family reunions, not at birthday parties, never. But we all flew and drove in from all corners of the United States to celebrate Grandpa Eagar. It was so fun, and brought back so many memories having all of my closest cousins together again.
My grandfather was special. We are all special. But my grandfather was (and still is, in spirit) incredibly special. He cherished his family. He loved, respected and honored my Grandmother. He had a sense of humor and a love of adventure. In the last 6 months of his life he visited Mexico, went on an Alaskan Cruise, visited Washington as well as Illinois. Grandpa was 90 years old when he died. That's a lot of traveling for a 90 year old!
In the last several years of his life, Grandpa developed dementia. His long term memory wasn't affected, but his short term certainly was. As difficult as this is for some, he took it in stride. Instead of being frustrated or upset when he couldn't remember something (especially when he KNEW he should remember it), he just shrugged and said, "I should probably know that. Ask Grandma!"
Just a couple of weeks ago I saw him before he left on his trip to Chicago. We had the following conversation:
Me: "Grandpa, where are you headed?"
Grandpa: "To the airport, gonna get on a plane!"
Me: "Ah, where are you going?"
Grandpa, thinks about it for a second: "Probably somewhere far away."
Me: "Probably! I think you are headed to Chicago, does that sound right?:"
Grandpa shrugs: "It all sounds right. Ask Grandma!"
Something else I am eternally grateful for was that my children had and have a good, close relationship with their great-grandparents. I love that they know them, recognize them, play with them, sit and talk with them. I love that they wanted to be at Grandpa's funeral, wanted to say goodbye to him, insisted on helping put the Snickers bar and Sudoku book in the casket with him. I also love that they have a beautiful, childlike knowledge that they will see him again, they will play with him again, he can teach Keane how to do Sudoku for the bagillionth time in another life.
The past several days have been special and sacred for our family as we have been able to reflect, remember, laugh, cry and sing together.
This morning Grandpa Eagar's earthly body was buried in Eagar, Arizona, where he grew up, in the town that his...our ancestors founded. As a military veteran, he and my Grandmother were honored by my two cousins who are in the Air Force folding his flag and presenting it to her.
Make no mistake, however. Though we are sad, we are not sad for Grandpa. Grandpa was 90, and that's no spring chicken. He had lived a full life of service, love and hard work. He was ready to go. We are sad for ourselves. We mourn that we must continue our lives without him here, and that season of mourning is a good one. It brings us closer together than before. It renews and strengthens relationships. It helps us remember how important we are to each other, and how precious this life is.
Also, my dad is the greatest. The absolute greatest.
