Where Did the Sun Go?

I thought we were going to have sun and heat all week....what happened to that?

Yesterday, Pat Tkach was so nice to pick me up and take me to the funeral of Joe Neis.  She dropped me off and did some shopping and then read in the parking lot till I was done visiting...and that was a long time. Thank's Pat! When I went to find a pew to sit in, I realized that in the back pew were 3 printers, all friends of Gene's as well.  I sat down with them, and then two more came and sat next to me....in looking around the church I saw a couple more, so I had plenty of people to talk to, as well as Imelda and her family.  The guys immediately took charge of finding me a place to sit for the lunch and I saved seats as they got a plate of the best funeral food I've ever had.  While waiting for them to return I visited with a couple of friends from their church, and one said his cousin worked at the StarTribune and was a printer, and sure enough the guys all knew who his cousin was.  Then another man and his wife sat down, and John Koonce (one of the printers) asked him why he was there, and sure enough another StarTribune employee that wasn't a printer but worked in the mail room, and bowled with them years ago.  Visiting with all of them was so fun, made Gene seem so much closer!!  One of the men (Tom Skeate's) wife died within 6 months of Gene and another (Dick Van Heels wife) died shortly thereafter too.  I collected a couple of emails, and promised to try to keep in touch with several of the guys.
The funeral itself was such a nice service, the pastor an 80 year old guy wasn't well, and needed to sit for his homily, but it was one of the best homilies I've heard at a funeral.  Had a lot of humor, and even though he didn't know Joe well, it made it sound like he did.  Then Joe's daughter Missy had her three daughters do the readings and prayers, and they did such a good job too.  Missy said she was so proud of them.
By the time I walked out of there, I was feeling so good.  Made me forget the pain (all though I had taken a couple breakout pills before I left home).  Being with old friends all weekend makes you forget your own problems, and masks the pain well.
Today Nicole is supposed to mow the lawn, but I wonder if the clouds will hold her back.  I've made plans to go to the cabin on Thursday, and Nicole is going to drive me, and then Carol and Carrie (her daughter) and her two little ones are coming up for the day.  Nicole will love playing with the babies, and I will love visiting with Carol and Carrie.  Carol hasn't seen the cabin since we built on, so I'm excited to share it with her. Till tomorrow, Love and Prayers, m