Wha?
Last week started like any other week, though I did know over the weekend that my grandfather was getting worse. Then several bombs got dropped on me at work (things brought to my attention that needed immediate work) and I really didn't get anything done.
Then, about 20 minutes before I went home, I got the call from my dad (who had already flown to Missouri to be with my grandpa a few days earlier) that grandpa had passed away. The week then shifted into high gear and the whole thing felt very surreal.
I had in some ways been trying to prepare myself for this eventuality, his passing, but not having seen him much in my life due to the geographical distance between us, this was hard to quantify emotionally. I was really sad, but glad that he didn't suffer long; I was disappointed I didn't get to see him again before he passed (and also that my wife never met him), but happy that he had my dad and aunt near him when he did.
The thing that complicated the week was a HUGE winter storm that was coming through the Midwest at the start of last week; as a result, I left with wife and son Tuesday morning at about 11AM and dropped them off in WV around 3PM. It was raining but quickly changing to a sleet/snow when I got to Charleston. It got messier and messier the further east I got, since I was going to my folks in KY to meet up with my mom. It took me about an hour and a half longer to get to my parent's house, and I was pretty beat by that point. I then spent two hours shoveling the driveway and chipping off the ice of my mom's car because we had to drive it that next morning to Missouri. Sleep was not great because I spent the night listening to various huge branches being cracked and torn by the ice that had accumulated (sounded like thunder!). We then left at 6AM and it took me about an hour longer than usual to get to Louisville to pick up my brother (we didn't break 40 MPH in the icy slush).
After getting stuck in snow in the McDonald's drive thru, we then trekked out to Missouri, but we didn't get there until 6PM CST (7PM EST), meaning we left from Louisville at 8AM and it took us almost 11 hours from that point, when it should have taken seven. I was driving anywhere from 35 to 45 MPH, and at some points, we were the only car on the road; I had to stop somewhere about every hour because the temps were so cold outside that it was icing up my windshield wipers and making them ineffective (meaning I couldn't see). Not that even with a clean windshield was I able to see the road. It was still snowing while we drove, so it was SNOW/ICE/More Snow. I saw many tractor trailers jack-knifed and on the side of the road, and many abandoned cars. I said MANY prayers while driving. The roads really didn't clear up until St. Louis, and I let my brother take over driving from that point.
Thursday morning brought the lunch/viewing/funeral/gravesite service, with the whole thing lasting about four hours, and then back to my stepgrandmother's house for supper. It was good to see all of the family again, though too bad it had to be under these circumstances. We all went to bed somewhat early that night, then got up on Friday and drove back to KY. When we got back to Louisville to drop my brother off, his landlord said they didn't have power. My dad and I helped my brother get the ice off his car and he followed us back to my parents' house.
I had contemplated going to WV on Friday night, but it was snowing YET AGAIN in eastern KY and WV, so I went to bed early and drove the 4 hours to WV on Sat morning. We then went to church yesterday and came home yesterday, getting home about 9:30 last night.
After doing 1800 miles in five days, I'm okay with staying put for a while. Maybe one day next week I'll be recovered. Thanks for all your prayers.
Then, about 20 minutes before I went home, I got the call from my dad (who had already flown to Missouri to be with my grandpa a few days earlier) that grandpa had passed away. The week then shifted into high gear and the whole thing felt very surreal.
I had in some ways been trying to prepare myself for this eventuality, his passing, but not having seen him much in my life due to the geographical distance between us, this was hard to quantify emotionally. I was really sad, but glad that he didn't suffer long; I was disappointed I didn't get to see him again before he passed (and also that my wife never met him), but happy that he had my dad and aunt near him when he did.
The thing that complicated the week was a HUGE winter storm that was coming through the Midwest at the start of last week; as a result, I left with wife and son Tuesday morning at about 11AM and dropped them off in WV around 3PM. It was raining but quickly changing to a sleet/snow when I got to Charleston. It got messier and messier the further east I got, since I was going to my folks in KY to meet up with my mom. It took me about an hour and a half longer to get to my parent's house, and I was pretty beat by that point. I then spent two hours shoveling the driveway and chipping off the ice of my mom's car because we had to drive it that next morning to Missouri. Sleep was not great because I spent the night listening to various huge branches being cracked and torn by the ice that had accumulated (sounded like thunder!). We then left at 6AM and it took me about an hour longer than usual to get to Louisville to pick up my brother (we didn't break 40 MPH in the icy slush).
After getting stuck in snow in the McDonald's drive thru, we then trekked out to Missouri, but we didn't get there until 6PM CST (7PM EST), meaning we left from Louisville at 8AM and it took us almost 11 hours from that point, when it should have taken seven. I was driving anywhere from 35 to 45 MPH, and at some points, we were the only car on the road; I had to stop somewhere about every hour because the temps were so cold outside that it was icing up my windshield wipers and making them ineffective (meaning I couldn't see). Not that even with a clean windshield was I able to see the road. It was still snowing while we drove, so it was SNOW/ICE/More Snow. I saw many tractor trailers jack-knifed and on the side of the road, and many abandoned cars. I said MANY prayers while driving. The roads really didn't clear up until St. Louis, and I let my brother take over driving from that point.
Thursday morning brought the lunch/viewing/funeral/gravesite service, with the whole thing lasting about four hours, and then back to my stepgrandmother's house for supper. It was good to see all of the family again, though too bad it had to be under these circumstances. We all went to bed somewhat early that night, then got up on Friday and drove back to KY. When we got back to Louisville to drop my brother off, his landlord said they didn't have power. My dad and I helped my brother get the ice off his car and he followed us back to my parents' house.
I had contemplated going to WV on Friday night, but it was snowing YET AGAIN in eastern KY and WV, so I went to bed early and drove the 4 hours to WV on Sat morning. We then went to church yesterday and came home yesterday, getting home about 9:30 last night.
After doing 1800 miles in five days, I'm okay with staying put for a while. Maybe one day next week I'll be recovered. Thanks for all your prayers.
posted by Dan B. @ 7:42 AM
1 Comments:
At 4:58 PM ,
David Blugerman said...
Wow! I'm exhausted reading your account of the last 5 days! I'm glad you're all back safe and sound!
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