This past weekend was really hard. My 46 yr. old brother-in-law passed away a week ago Sunday, and the funeral was this past Saturday. He left a wife, two step children, and two little girls 10 & 12. :whiner:
In his younger years my bro-in-law raced desert with all of his close friends. His dying wish was to have his ashes scattered at their favorite riding spot, and then everyone would take turns with the scattering using their dirtbikes. (He had quite a sense of humor.)
Although I look forward to attending this second part of our saying goodbye, it's with mixed feelings; but he told his wife he wanted me there, so I'll attend out of respect for his wishes.
:ugg:
The funeral itself was incredible, as he was a firefighter with L.A. County, and the fire dept. handled most of the service. They had a pipe and drum corp., (bagpipers), and the entire interior wall of the church was lined with uniformed firefighters.
When we first pulled up there was an unbelievable amount of equipment outside--pumpers, haz-mat trucks, patrol trucks---and then there were two huge ladder trucks with the ladders raised at 45 degrees end to end with a giant American flag hanging between them!
:thumb:
If that wasn't enough, at the end of the ceremony they took us all outside for the sounding of the 'last alarm', a traditional bell ringing for fallen firefighters.
The bell sounded out a '555' signal, the pipers played 'Amazing Grace', then right on cue with perfect timing two water dropping helicopters flew about 100' above our heads in a last salute. Everyone lost it at that point, as we were so overcome with emotion!:( Anyhow, I just hope we all get some time to recover before part II.
In his younger years my bro-in-law raced desert with all of his close friends. His dying wish was to have his ashes scattered at their favorite riding spot, and then everyone would take turns with the scattering using their dirtbikes. (He had quite a sense of humor.)
Although I look forward to attending this second part of our saying goodbye, it's with mixed feelings; but he told his wife he wanted me there, so I'll attend out of respect for his wishes.
:ugg:
The funeral itself was incredible, as he was a firefighter with L.A. County, and the fire dept. handled most of the service. They had a pipe and drum corp., (bagpipers), and the entire interior wall of the church was lined with uniformed firefighters.
When we first pulled up there was an unbelievable amount of equipment outside--pumpers, haz-mat trucks, patrol trucks---and then there were two huge ladder trucks with the ladders raised at 45 degrees end to end with a giant American flag hanging between them!
:thumb:
If that wasn't enough, at the end of the ceremony they took us all outside for the sounding of the 'last alarm', a traditional bell ringing for fallen firefighters.
The bell sounded out a '555' signal, the pipers played 'Amazing Grace', then right on cue with perfect timing two water dropping helicopters flew about 100' above our heads in a last salute. Everyone lost it at that point, as we were so overcome with emotion!:( Anyhow, I just hope we all get some time to recover before part II.