#17 Postby Skywatch_NC » Sat Jul 30, 2005 1:04 pm
Just a run-down outline of what my folks and I did this week:
1) Sunday 7/24 - Went to church and then ate out lunch. Received a call about wake/funeral arrangements from my cousin Michelle during mid afternoon. Packed and left for a Hampton Inn overnighter in Charleston, WV around late afternoon/early evening.
2) Monday 7/25 - Left early that morning for Princeton, IN (near Evansville) and arrived in Princeton around mid afternoon at a Fairfield Inn. Met up with an uncle, 2 aunts, maternal grandmother and cousins during late afternoon/early evening. Went to spend some time at my Uncle Larry's house in nearby Haubstadt, IN and to be with my cousins Michelle, Melissa, Michelle's husband Terry, and my other cousins (their kids) Taylor and Peyton and also Melissa's fiance Kevin. Visited and talked about Aunt Marlene's final days from when she re-entered the hospital on Tuesday 7/20 until her death on Saturday 7/23. Uncle Larry's neighbors and church have been very supportive, too, and while at his house on Monday night a neighbor brought by a cake that was shared with us all as we visited.
3) Tuesday 7/26 - Wake was at 12 pm CT and the funeral at 2 pm CT...saw quite a few and greeted several friends and cousins from the Princeton area at the wake. The wake/funeral was held at a fairly new Methodist church where Uncle Larry and Aunt Marlene attended...members of...for a few years after their move to Haubstadt, IN in 1999 from Fishers, IN. Aunt Marlene's casket was near a beautiful fountain-like structure in the church foyer wing area...flower arrangements were beautiful as well as some gift pieces that family and friends had displayed for Uncle Larry and his girls, too. Next was a short burial service and then back to the church for a funeral lunch. There was also a lovely photograph blown up by computer from one of Aunt Marlene's daughters Michelle and her husband Terry propped up on an easel next to the casket and this photo looked like an oil painting! Late that afternoon we departed ways and headed to Anderson, IN (east of Indy) to visit with some relatives from my Dad's side of the family...cousins, an uncle, 2 aunts and paternal grandfather. Stayed overnight for 2 nights at a Hampton Inn.
4) Wednesday 7/27 - Had breakfast with Aunt Velma, Aunt Neva, my grandfather, cousin Joy and her husband Jim at an IHOP (Int'l. House of Pancakes) in Anderson. Then afterwards my Dad, his sisters and father took turns doing some stunt kiting at a field not too far from IHOP for a little while...Mom and I watched them...and I also had some newspapers to keep me occupied while they were flying kites. I don't care a thing about the stunt kiting truthfully. That afternoon my folks and I had lunch at a Bob Evans in nearby Muncie, IN and then met and talked with a life insurance man at his office building whom my folks have done business with over the last several years. This insurance man has a fascinating collection (just like a museum in his office area!) of Abraham Lincoln items on display...Lincoln's family (his mother Nancy Hanks Lincoln) is a cousin on my Mom's side of the family...so it made it even more exciting and fun to look at all the items!! Then we had supper at a Mexican restaurant in Anderson called La Charreada's with my Uncle Dick, his wife Aunt Velma, Aunt Neva, grandfather, my cousin Kurt his wife Connie and my 2nd cousin Katie (Kurt and Connie's daughter). After that my folks and I visited my 2nd cousin Jerry and his wife Jeannine...Jeannine also has cancer diagnosed last fall and had surgery in January and is currently still undergoing chemo treatments...we visited with them at their house for an hour. After that we visited with my 2 aunts and grandfather at his house for an hour before heading back to the hotel. Had lunch at a Skyline Chili in Columbus, OH.
5) Thursday 7/28 - Had continental breakfast at the hotel and then headed to a Hampton Inn in Beckley, WV.
6) Friday 7/29 - Had breakfast at Bob Evans (next to the hotel) and then headed to Mt. Airy, NC (my brother-in-law Mike's native area) and had lunch at Snappy Lunch...a fried pork chop sandwich, potato chips and a glass of lemonade. I had my sandwich with only mustard but the folks had their's "fully-dressed" with tomato slices, slaw, chili and mustard. The fried pork chop sandwich is famous for Andy Griffith! We then headed over to Opie's Candy store and bought a pound of candy each! Arrived home between 3:30 and 4 pm ET.
Eric
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Melissa will be getting married in September...only thing is...her Mom won't be among those to celebrate her union to her fiance Kevin.
