[BreeChick]

Yesterday was the funeral for our civilian officer who passed away suddenly.

It was THE most lovely funeral I've ever been to. There was the formality of the color guard and our line up at attention combined with the humor and laughter about the man that he had been. The chaplain even struggled to use a 'polite phrase' about the fart machine that had been a huge source of humor ..omg! the stories that thing started!There was even talk of how the family had discussed putting it under the coffin and at the 'appropriate' moment using it! We laughed and cried so hard.

The pulling together of the people that form our unit and the reponse of our Lt,Sgt, and Capt was very comforting and accepting.

Even though we often gossip and say things we shouldn't about each other I had the realization that we all DO love each very much. We each are invested in each other and hope that life is good for each other.

As we each hugged each other and cried together and laughed too...I looked at this mix match of people that forms our group of ages 19 to 83 and thought...we ARE a family just like our captain and Lt have said the past 4 days..we ARE a family to each other.

In many ways our group HERE is the same way. We support each other and hope that all goes well and are there when things don't..we LOVE each other! What a loving gift God has given us in the site that Craig created!

---bree

[Robbin]

Humer gets us through so many tough times and the memories of those good times need to be remembered especially in the bad moments. It is good that he had such a good personality.
Too bad for your loss....AND WE ARE ALL FAMILY.
We are all here for each other....

ROBBIN

[DocSanae]

Bree, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.
I am so glad that your co-worker is remembered by everyone in a happy way, and that he brings laughter to you even if his physical self is not there any more. His spirit lives on, and that, I think, is the most important, and most comforting thing. He also has the power to bring all of you together--which is not an easy feat.

Yes, we're in this all together. And sharing makes the burden easier to bear.
So, I hope everyone will be able to share and bear what they need to.
((((((HUGS))))))

[Exhorter]

Bree thanks for sharing that with us. I needed to hear that. Sometimes we forget when things are not going as would like them to go that people really do what to hear about it. There are people here on this board that care about one another and that says it all. God bless!

[rozzy345]

Thanks Bree, isn't nice when a persons life can truly be celebrated. It does help to soften the loss.

Roz