BeBa

The trip back to Ohio for my grandmother's funeral was uneventful. Those flights East and back are long and never very fun, but the weather was mild and our flights were direct, so the trip went about as smoothly as it ever can. (We had some silly delays all over the place, but nothing too traumatizing…)

The funeral was difficult. I spent a lot of my childhood with my grandparents, and had an especially close bond with my grandmother. I have them to thank for so many wonderful memories. As I expected, though, the emotional impact of losing my grandma didn't really hit me until I was at the funeral home.

Granddad and me

Seeing my grandfather, without Grandma at his side, was the first emotional whammy. They had been married for over 61 years and, from what I saw of them, they were happy, loving years. They always seemed so companionable and easy around each other. I can only imagine the void her loss has created for Granddad. It's heartbreaking to think about.

The second difficult emotional moment, of course, was seeing Grandma. She looked so peaceful – at rest – as if she would just wake up at any moment. I miss her. There's a lot I had been saving up to talk with her about – I kept putting off calling her – and now I never can.

While the occasion was a sad one, I did enjoy spending a little time with my family. With my sister in Pennsylvania, my brother in NE Ohio and me in Arizona, it's a rare treat when we are all three together at the same time. Alas, we didn't get any pictures of the three of us together. I need to get better about thinking of stuff like that.

I also saw extended family whom I haven't seen in years and years and years – some not since childhood, and even a few I'd never met or was too young to remember when I did. It was neat to reconnect and catch up a little. I do wish we had coordinated a family reunion like this before Grandma died, but I guess we take for granted that there will always be time to do it.

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