X is for Exit

Ahhhh...another Alphabe-Thursday...and this week's letter is X.

X is for eXit...which is what I'm sad to say I'll be making gracefully from Alphabe-Thursday for now.

Partly because we're eXpecting a new grandbaby in the next couple weeks and I just might be eXceptionally busy helping out....

...but also because I'm eXhausted from trying to keep up with my blog and visiting everyone else's blogs while keeping up with real life too (oh yes, I actually have one)....

You've all been eXceptionally kind with your visits and comments, and I'll miss you for sure. I'll still be around, so do stop by from time to time...Jake and Albert will be watching and waiting for you.

And keep up the eXtraordinary work you've been doing on your own blogs. Don't forget to stop by Mrs. Jenny's to see some fine eXamples of Alphabe-Thursday.

Departures

Monday. Early. Time to leave. Leave to serve. Serve for one year. Away. Far away.

We owe these families a lot. Our thanks. Our respect. Our support.

Finishing

It's Friday. A good day for a funeral. A good day for family and friends. A good day.

Today we laid sweet Uncle Donald to rest. He was a true American hero, a true patriot. He loved his country. I'm so glad that some of the vets from the local VFW post turned out to give him a proper military farewell. It was really touching.

It was a beautiful day at this lovely setting in the mountains, albeit a bit windy.

The flag was removed from his coffin and presented to his sister, my mother-in-law. 

Remembrances were shared. I think we all feel like we know and love Uncle Donald a little more after this week. Speaking of remembrances...the photo of the mysterious woman that my sister-in-law found with his personal papers and such...it's in Uncle Donald's hand, in the casket with him. Somehow, it just seemed right.

The best part, always, is that the family gathers.

And the youngsters in the group, they found something to make them laugh...(ok, the headstone actually had the names of the children listed on it too, which I took the liberty to remove to protect the uncooked)...I have to admit it was an odd choice of wording...

The two remaining siblings, the youngest of the original eight. He's 90 and she's 85.

It was a good day. Even good ol' Ralphy thought so...

...and my brother-in-law, who got his car sold.