Hey noodle what did you do today?

Well I had a dream that I was in the woods from Into the Woods and I needed to capture an elephant. Luckily I had a pair of underpants and when the elephant saw them, it tried to wear them and got trapped. I woke up at 9 when grandma knocked on my door, wanting to know what time I was getting up My alarm was set for 9:05, but that was okay. I tried remembering my dream, but it was too fleeting. I roused myself from bed and put on my nice clothes, tho I did have to poke a new hole in the belt. I'm too skinny!

I headed to the living room and had some potate chips, and grandma had some too. At around 9:30 Chris and Bernie arrived, and a little after Leo came as well. Leo drove grandma and myself to the funeral parlor, where we saw grandpa's 3 kids had already arrived. Grandma spent time setting stuff up, but either Chris or Bernie mentioned one of the frames was MIA, which caused a minor panic...Then Chaplian Tom asked me for the 'God's Garden' prayer, and I asked grandma for it to give to him. She said that it should be in the memorial cards...Only to find out they put the wrong prayer...They put in “Remember Me” instead of “God's Garden”...Oof!

The ceremony was nice, however. Various people stood up or walked to the podium and shared fond stories about grandpa Bob, and all the while I was ribbing mum because her tum was growling. The ceremony ended at about noon, and we all paraded into the banquet hall for some sammiches and meatbols and pasta salad and really tasty desserts. The lemonade was far too sweet for me, so water!

After eating and socialized, we packed up the flowers and headed back to grandma's. I rode with mum and dad, and held this really expensive vase from Huelsebusch. Huelsebusch is grandpa's last living friend, and was his BFF...They knew each other for 90+ years! Sadly, he's now suffering from extreme Alzheimer's and can't remember anything, so no one's told him about grandpa.

When we got back to the house we set up the flowers and I changed from my clothes and relaxed. Grandma and the lot returned shortly after and she spent time placing the flowers where she wanted...Those with lilies (many!) were put outside, since she's allergic. Grandpa's box of ashes was placed on a shelf near where he used to sit, and where his bed used to be.

The family settled into casual conversation, and around 3ish I asked Tom if he could open his van. He agreed, but when I asked for help he said nope, since he's extremely lazy. I carried a bunch of the totes out to my car, then spent time trying to sort out other stuff in my room. Mum came in and chatted with me as I worked, and despite having a small issue with the safe (Had trouble opening it), we got a lot moved. I did hurt my knee when I was climbing the stairs...I had nothing in my hand, but after carrying down by 140 pounds' worth of weights, upon returning, I just hurt it...No idea how!

Mum and dad carried out the filing cabinet and shelf for me, since I couldn't bend my leg easily. I was able to help put the safe in my trunk, however!

We came back inside and relaxed with a beer, and dad eventually decided we needed to toast grandpa with some bourbon. He poured me far too much, so after a single sip, I was like “Eh, I'm done with this.” And just set the glass beside grandpa's ashes. He liked booze in life, even tho grandma wouldn't let him have any during the last 5 years.

I did have an interesting chat with my cousin Luke, who, get this, actually likes Brutalist architecture! It was a wacky conversation, but he lives in New York (The city), so there must be something odd about him!

Family slowly began filtering out and away, and I was given a bit of time to relax on the couch, and you know? I think a small part of me is going to miss Florida. There will certainly be fond nostalgia for this period in my life, and I'm sure the nuggets of memories I extract will be treasured...Especially during cold spells in the dead of winter! <3

But seriously, that episode of 'The Simpson's' where Apu is singing jovially with others about not needing the Quik-E-Mart, yet privately mourning the reality? I get that. Seeing my room so empty is just...Weird...

And it doesn't help knowing grandma's gonna be by herself in a week, either. That's a lot for someone to have to process, and she's been spun through it all so quickly! I just hope her support network can get her out and about and with others!

I ate some leftover pasta salad and salad wraps (Heavy on onions, but tasty!), then around 9ish everyone left. I helped clean up and then headed back to my room. I did a little typing, then I headed to bed around 11ish because I was just a danged tired boi!

I hope everyone has a funeral day! <333