Albert “Bud” Bowen (1915-2008)

Pa passed away peacefully this morning.  I really appreciate the thoughts and concern that all of you have shown to me this week.  It was a little tough being at work today, particularly because most of my coworkers knew why I was away and would ask how things were, went, etc.  They would say things like “I hope you had a good trip” and “I hope things worked out”.  I appreciate their good intentions, but it’s hard to say “he died” without making them feel bad for asking.

I’m doing alright, however. I would rather be with my family right now, but that’s just not possible so I’m dealing with it other ways. Mostly I’ve been thinking a lot about the life that Pa led, and how much he meant to our family and his friends. He lived an amazing life.  He served in a World War, raised a strong family, continual gave back to his community by volunteering, and always took care of others and never wanted to be a burden to anyone. He was active in his church, the American Legion, volunteered as a school crossing guard, and spent hours at the local nursing home visiting residents up until the last year or so.  At 93, the majority of those he was visiting were younger than him!  He was quite the man. I hope that I can look back on a life that was fulfilling and meaningful as his.

a page out of DD’s book

DD has made a believer out of me wrt pre-flight adult beverages.  More specifically, the fun that can be had meeting people in airport bars.

It’s not so much that drinking is required or even desirable before I get on an airplane; I’ve never been so much as tipsy on a flight. But today, after having no sleep, needing food, I bellied up to the bar and let the very entertaining Marge serve me food and a beer whilst waiting to get airborne. 

Marge is the kind of woman that instantly sizes you up and decides to give you shit because she knows you can take it, which is always fun.  So me, and the random couple en route to Key West, took the medicine that Marge doled out and did so with smiles.  The Key West Couple almost missed their flight, resulting in me having a free drink in my hand that they didn’t get the chance to even start…

Yes, it’s going to be a good flight.

togetherness

It’s almost 5am here which means I need to be getting on the road back to STL so I can catch my flight back home.  I’ve been up most of the night with my aunt Sue and cousin Lori at the hospital.  Not much has really changed with Pa.  It is a waiting game wherein the victor has been predetermined, but we want him to have family at his side up until the very last.

It’s times like these when I realize just how wonderful my family is, and how lucky we are to have each other. We’ve had the chance to reminisce together.  We have talked about the good times.  We’ve cried together.  We’ve sat together in silence. We’ve done the things that people who love each other do in times like this, none of it is really out of the ordinary.  It is precisely because it is not out of the ordinary for us that I feel so very lucky.  If I were inclined to religious thoughts, I’d say we were blessed.

I’m glad that I had the time and freedom to come home, even if it was for a short time.  It will be hard not to be here for the funeral, but it was better to come and say my goodbyes to Pa while he is still here.

So, here I go again on another full day of traveling…