Pirate Patty Reviews

The last day of a bad year. I hope you all had a good Christmas! It’s been a bit wild here.

Friday, Christmas Eve, we packed up the truck with food, gifts, and clothes. I had been staying at the farm and came to town for supplies. Christmas Eve was quiet and beautiful. The weather was warm and there was no wind. I sat outside late at night and listened to the coyotes sing. Along with the donkey. By that time Grandpa was not good. Hospice came late that night and things went quickly after that.

Christmas morning we thought he had rallied a bit while opening his gifts. But if you have been through this you know that is not what it means. He left this earth at 1 p.m. Monday. With his wife and family by him. This family was born and died on the land they claimed in Indian Territory. It was sad and we were really tired and cried out. After everyone left, Grandma and I talked and cried some more. Arrangements were made on Tuesday and we held the wake on Wednesday and the funeral yesterday. It was a beautiful service and I made it through my reading with just a few pauses and deep breaths.

All of the grandsons were pallbearers and each wore one of his favorite caps. After all had gone, we came home and slept 10 hours.

We sent the funeral home over 200 pictures and they created a video that made us sob and laugh. His boots were there along with a bottle of wine from his own vineyard and his wedding ring. We went with his wishes for music. The Old Rugged Cross, Rainbow by Kacey Musgraves, The Tennessee Waltz and to finish off…Prop me up beside the jukebox if I die by Joe Diffie. His love of dancing was legendary.

I hope we honored him in a way he would love. Then we all went to Cemetary which is a block from the farm on an old dirt road. The kids ran the four-wheelers and the rest of us popped some more wine and toasted him one last time. His was a life well-lived. I will miss him terribly but I’m sure he and his Australian Shepherd are headed to the fishing pond!

Happy New Year and thanks for listening!

xxP