On Thursday, March 8, 2012 (my brother Kirk's birth date anniversary) DD was beautifully mourned and celebrated in immense and intense proportions of the gamut of our tricky emotions, with 140+ family and friends in attendance, including the original Rocket (my Father), my Mom, and my very dear sister Lisa ( Yes, aspects of you present in her, and vice -versa, Libby 
) and who else??? Shred himself, in the flesh! Thank-you again, brother, thank-you. Dave was OK until the Honor Guard from Travis Air Force base presented a US Flag after Taps to Peggy (which she was unaware was forthcoming), with it's moving ceremonial military precision. Travis was Derek's home turf (and it's also the name of one of his cousins! ) for better of 8 years, but including a stint in Iraq, the "job", and another in Spain, the "vacation" 
. Not a veteran, or veteran alike, this hits everyone pretty much the same manner, sobs, which were contagiously abundant. But I was in a most joyful state during this part, and when the impeccably disciplined, (and highly decorated and above that yet, gracefully emotional) Air Force member knelt down with folded flag and spoke words never truer to the Mother of our son...my heart was not grieved at all, and since Derek WAS in the Air Force, my heart soared as high as an eagle!!! So proud of him. His Aunt Nita had been in the Air Force and was the winner in the Dad's Navy or Aunt Nita's Air Force portion of what the 3 of us had determined WAS going to happen, i.e., enlisting in service to his people. Clearly I was elated he was able to get into the Air Force, as I myself at age 30 with a resume of real world experience under my belt, attempted to (so much desired to) enlist in the Air Force and couldn't get past phone calls before I settled (which, seriously, was like throwing Brer Rabbit into the briar patch 
) on US Navy. Derek and I shared "Jets", hmmm, as our line of work. He C-5 cargo planes, the huge behemoth beasts, where he was an elite mechanic, working in the critically important hydraulic control systems, myself F-14's, the radio frequency fire control radar system.
Prior to the flag presentation, we had a poem reading by his brother and best of friends, too (from Mom's remarriage) Greg, an eulogy, testimonials with loving, written words between the lines of age read aloud as pure truths spoken to all hearts, and a slide show of photos through the years,
Wow. What a trip! Good music accompanied perfectly, and Asking Around for You was (illegally played without permission ) the fitting ending to a joyful ride of amazing memories.
SO much more, with stories, of course. The crux of the day was, yes, in the end, the final analysis, a very, very good day. Perfectly clear day (earlier projections had been for cold and rain... )! I laugh out loud thinking of contrasting weather, when at my Grandma Woodard's funeral, my, my goodness! Prior to and during her service at her church building, a wicked storm had beset the city, with a park (adjacent to the church on the school side) having a few trees go down from force of winds and thunder ( I do not recall lightening all day, but I would have to cross check that with relatives). Then things settled down as I and other pall bearers, all grandchildren, loaded her into the hearse, only to find the storm had a second coming, and come it did, picking up during the ride to the cemetery, culminating in an epic deluge with more, ADJACENT thunder, extremely loud thunder, the decision was made-we LITERALLY ran the casket to the mount and ran back to the vehicles...those in other cars then followed the procession round the curve of the dirt road as what was like a hurricane force of wind, rain, and in our ears LOUD thunder ensued, with an exclamation point being a HUGE tree fell behind the last car trailing! WOW. An easy to tell story of the past, concerning Derek's great Grandmother. But I digress. A most beautiful memorial for a beautiful person in deed.
I thank-you all from the edges of my heart, for all the condolences, sympathy and empathies, favors granted, and very, very generous donations for what will be LOVE disbursements.
The outpouring of grief has been overpowered in a battle of territories, by the tremendous outpouring of LOVE. It wins and it lives. I am so grateful. On behalf of our families and friends, we are so very grateful and thankful. Amen!
The solar storm of the sun fizzled when met by the storm of the son...or did it?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17295337
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ciq_JwomTZA
I took no pictures (forgot to), so thankfully my Mom took pictures of the Shreddy hand-picked (ok, mouse and follow-through to hit a home run, home is where the heart is heart-shaped gorgeous floral arrangement you wonderful fans of Joe and friends together sent) gorgeous floral arrangement. She took them with a disposable film camera, picture available later. Again, we thank-you! Heart warming.
Thanks to Marci, and thanks to sister Kim & especially brother-in-law George.
I give very special thanks for Libby and especially, Libby's Mom, a wonderful and beautiful senior citizen with much grace. I also give thanks to Deb, the better half of Shred, a stubborn, shy (talkatively revealing herself to me, to the point of Rocket cannot keep up, an incredible force of great grace she herself is) woman. And Tyson & Leah (Deb & Dave's precious dogs) for their specialties.
Pay heed my friends, pay heed...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7OINxfKZW0
That's where I am at.
"He still doesn't charge for mistakes!
"
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here. I mean, there are professionals in here.”
