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Mornin' folks. Here waitin' fer my s-i-l. We're driving down to the funeral together. Got all the ride stuff werked out fer Jr.

PO'd at muh dry cleaners fer ruinin my best white shirt. It's the one I bought to go with my interview suit and I don't usually spend that much on shirts. Put it on this a.m. and there's dry cleaning fluid all over the sleeve. Couldn't wear it so I'm wearin' a blue shirt to the funeral. Don't like tuh do that but...I look good.

Little PO'd at one of the NC b-i-ls. He had Luke last night whilst the family was visitin' at the funeral home. Came back and let Luke come in, which we didn't want. Didn't let him come into the room too far, but Luke saw the body. He's okay, didn't seem to disturb him. But it shouldn'ta happened.

But the amazin' thing is Luke said "That's Papa's body. I want to go see Papa's body." Papa and his brother looked a lot alike.

But how on earth did he know that? He's never been to a funeral and Papa's been dead for a year-and-a-half.

Back sometime late tonite.

See you tonight Corin!

Good morning everyone!

I went out till late last night! - Didn't get home till 2:00! Kay had given me chips to gamble with as a present, so we played blackjack and I did OK... after about an hour I was still even money. Then we played craps and we won a little, and then slowly lost what we had over three or for bad shooters. Kay plays about the same numbers so she was out of money too when it was her turn to roll. Well, she bought in for $20 more so she could shoot, while I just stood there, and she ended up on a great roll and about a hundred ahead! So, instead of going home, she cashes in but buys us each a $10 slots card, and I proceeded to lose every spin on quarter slots while she was next to me collecting over and over again! When we cashed out she had three hundred dollars, two hundred richer even with the hundred she had given me to burn.

Corin, your post reminded me...

update on the (lack of) military honors for my grandpa's funeral. PE wrote a letter, as you know, to our Congressman, Sam Johnson. An official investigation was begun, and I made several phone calls to verify my information for those handling the investigation. From the funeral home, I got name and rank of the contact here at NAS/JRB Fort Worth. PE added that info to his letter and forwarded it to the Congressman's office.

All that said, the Navy called PE at work to apologize. I asked him *who* it was that had called, and he said it was none other than the petty officer with whom the funeral home was in contact. It was not the funeral home mess up but a royal FUBAR on the part of the Navy (I could have toldya that without an investigation). PO1 *** will be sending the family letters of apology, and has offered to hold a ceremony at our bidding.

I am pretty peeved about the whole affair, since having been on the other side of this (bestowing honors) before, I *know* there is no excuse for what happened. The petty officer said that he had the entire packet prepared and ready to go, that somehow, it was missed. The guard had the time of burial, the location of the cemetery, the flag was ready, they had directions to get there, everything was set to go.

I have talked to my mother about this. I have an idea, but we agreed that we will have to talk to the rest of the family before making a decision. My idea is that since there is virtually no way to get the family together again this soon after the funeral (without another death in the family), we should wait until Labor Day weekend when we KNOW everyone will be present. We have an annual family reunion that weekend, everyone who will be at the reunion, was at grandpa's funeral. The people are already planned, and the event is set in stone. The only thing to set would be the Plan of the Day.

(Plus, that is also the weekend before PE & my first anniversary :-) )

I am sorry to hear that your wishes regarding Luke were not kept. However, kids are amazing. In Elf-boys short life thus far, we have lost his granddaddy (1998-my dad), his great-grandmother (2001-dad's mom), his memaw (2002-mom's mom), and his papa (2004-mom's dad). We also lost a pet, HIS puppy "Rocky" to parvo in 2002. He did not attend any of the funerals, nor did he go the the funeral homes. He *did* go to the graveside services for both of my mother's parents. I am afraid for him to see any viewing of them since he is so young, but he DOES understand what is going on to a degree.

I explained to him that when Rocky died he went to live with the Angels and that granddaddy was taking care of him there. When memaw passed away, he told me that memaw went to live with the angels and with Rocky and Granddaddy. He tells me that, now, Papa is also living with them. He also understands that we have give up our bodies if we are going to live with the angels. It is a very simple explanation, but it works for him, for now.