Today, instead of art and poetry, I’m featuring my first road trip in a long, long time. We started out with hazy skies and a misty rain all the way to Wisconsin to celebrate my brother-in-law’s life – the last in a marathon of celebrations. The rain made the drive easier since we were traveling into the sun. I’m sure many of you remember the road trips that Paul and I pursued last year. This was a three-day event. My son-in-law was the Uber driver. Passengers consisted of my daughter, their daughter, her infant son and me, Gigi.

Getting into a pickup truck might have been an interesting side-bar, but I’ll leave that to your imagination. No camp songs. No sightseeing. Just an uneventful 350 mile drive from Minnesota to Milwaukee, WI. We made one stop, which was sufficient, even for this almost 83 year old great grandma. Our first stop was to check in to the hotel, meet up with the rest of our immediate tribe and

After checking into our hotel, we met the rest of the tribe and found a place to eat. When we’d go out to eat with are young family, we would each try to place a spoon on our nose. I never could do it since my nose has a definite slide to it. My kids tried, but the photo indicates that oldest daughter accomplished the feat. She cheated though, by tucking the spoon under her glasses.

Family time is always the best. Being separated by miles, we don’t see much of each other, so it’s a pleasure when we do. After attending the memorial service, we took a side trip to take a look at the old Froemming Boecher Funeral Home. The building has been totally remodeled and doesn’t resemble the building where Paul lived as a child. The Time of Grace Ministry purchased the property and along with St. Marcus Lutheran Church now spans an entire city block. Another interesting connection. Paul’s family was actively involved in this majestic gothic Lutheran church. Paul even rang the bells as a young boy. The interior of the church was recently remodeled and contains the altar, baptismal font and pulpit which has to be reached by climbing stairs. Those elements came from my home church on the other side of Milwaukee. I recall looking up at the pastor as a child with the fear of fire and brimstone coming down on me. It is interesting how Paul and my lives were connected before we even knew each other.

The celebration continued with the reunion of so many friends and relatives. Stories about the past led to much embellishment and fodder for future stories, scripts and memories. The day passed quickly with lots of hugs and tears.

The farms of Wisconsin created a beautiful backdrop on the way back home. Skies were brilliant blue with a few fluffy clouds drifting by. Sandstone cliffs and interesting rock formations popped up. Lakes appeared along with various rivers. The majestic rolling hills of Wisconsin, the cows, horses and sheep in the pastures all contributed to a lovely journey home.

The blessings I’ve received over the past four months have been countless. I achieved my Gigi wings. I’ve been blessed by my immediate family. through their support and help. My theatre troupe has been amazing. My friends are unbelievable in their love and compassion. Above all, my Lord has given me the strength and courage to live as Paul would have wanted me to. I thank Him for giving me another day.