Marvin said I could find our hotel last night, so we are livin' it up at fancy Days Inn. I know! Puttin' on the ritz.
You should have seen my Uncle Jim's funeral. You probably can see a lot of it if you Google Jim Blondin. The news covered it several days in a row, locally, because a cop has not died in my hometown in 12 years. They interviewed my mother and my cousin Katie, both of whom you have heard about several times on my blog.
There was a giant motorcade of cop cars that went from the police station all the way to the funeral home, all through town. And my Uncle Bill rode on his motorcycle with some cops, too, in the motorcade. He and my Uncle Jim rode their bikes together all the time.
And it wasn't just cop cars. There were ambulance drivers, fire trucks, cop cars from other townships, even a city bus. I kind of worried about what everyone was doing for all their city police and fire needs at the time.
When they got to the funeral, they all lined up very solemnly and brought my uncle's hat and boots in. Then they one by one filed past his ashes at the front. Oh, it was something to see. There were tons of policemen there. I was so distraught that I had brought in my heroin. There was even a police doggie.
Then after the funeral (and yes, they told stories about Uncle Jim. Oh, I have new ones), they did the 21-gun salute, and played taps and got on the dispatch and called his badge number, over and over.
But there was no answer.
Oh. Calling all Kleenex.
So it was a good funeral, as funerals go. Standing room only. People in the hallway, even. The mayor was even there, who happens to be a friend of mine from way back, but still. It's cool to say the mayor was there and I think he came as the mayor and not as my friend, because I keep insisting he show up places in a giant Mayor McCheese head, and I think he is rethinking the friendship, anyway.
I also keep suggesting he show up places and start speeches with, "As mayor of the Munchkin City..."
This is why I am not successful and everyone else is.
Anyway we have, like, nine hours left to drive today because we did not get on the road till 6 p.m. We kept visiting with relatives. And when I say "we" I mean I visited with relatives while Marvin looked at his watch. He did the thing where I asked if he wanted to leave last night and he'd say, "It's up to you. I don't want to take you from your family. Totally up to you. It'd just be nice to get back, is all I'm saying. Totally up to you. I just have a lot of work to do at home. But it's your call. Your call 100%. Just be nice to get the dog. Is all. You let me know."
So it was my call.
So write you from home, because now Marvin is very subtly walking .08 inches behind this computer and clearing his throat, because apparently it is also my call when I wrap this post up, too.
