Girlfriend Getaway (and Funeral for A Great Man)

Have you ever counted down the days until you met up with someone you love?

Well, it happens every year with my sisters and it also happens with my best friends from high school.

This year was quite the different experience though because the unexpected can always happen ….and usually does. My beautiful father-in-law Ed died in hospice on May 28th. Although we knew it was coming it was still so very sad as we all loved him so much. The family decided to have the funeral on the Friday, May 31st . I decided that undertaking to drive 12 hours total to be with my girls AND make the funeral was worth it….and it WAS! So I drove 3 hours to meet up with dear Rosie at a Montana’s and then later off to our VRBO in Bright. We unpacked and then enjoyed great chats that afternoon. Our other 2 girlfriends (Mert flew in from Calgary and Barb from Tecumseh) drove up that evening. Reunion! (And fun little birthday party that night!). I also received some beautiful condolence flowers from Rose! Thank-you, again, Rosie.

The next day I was up for a quick breakfast and then out the door and back for the next 3 hour drive back to the funeral at Good Shepherd Parish. Thankfully, the day was lovely and the drive easy. I met up with our family at the church just in time to do a bit of a ‘meet and greet’ before the mass and it was a beautiful time of reconnecting with old friends and family (like our sons and daughter, Lana and husband Jeff who were able to fly over for it.) The church was so full for this wonderful 92 year old man and we met SO many people who wanted to share with us what Ed meant to them and the great things he accomplished. It reminded me of Terry’s recent musical about his dad.

I thought the funeral was beautifully done and I was so proud of Terry and the way he memorized the excellent eulogy he wrote for his father. After the lovely reception I drove 3 hours back to Bright and Terry and family met up at his brother’s home to hang out.

The girls and I went out for a nice dinner and then off to “Rock of Ages”, a musical at St. Jacob’s Playhouse. Although the new updated version of the show was a bit raunchy we all had a great time together. Some audience members REALLY got into the musical set in the 80’s.

The rest of the weekend involved our usual chatting, praying, playing games (Password!), and really just enjoying the nature and gorgeous scenery. Funny thing is….we brought TWO guitars this year and never opened up the cases to them out to play.