..That we here highly resolve these dead shall not have died in vain....

Beth and I awoke yesterday and started the long drive down to Rosamond. Michael decided to stay awake for this trip which had Beth hopping back and forth from the front seat to the back. But for the most part he remained a happy content baby. The roads were fairly empty with it being open highway and interstate for nearly 2/3 of the trip down there. The last 50 miles or so were much more rural, but beautiful. It was a warm sunny day, the kind of weather you don't mind driving hundreds of miles in.

The whole way Beth was concerned that the directions Bob had given us would confuse Kim and that she would have problems finding her way. Of course this didn't seem like much of a problem to Beth the day before when I suggested we meet Kim and have her follow me, but that's another story.. ;-) . Needless to say, after we wound our way through Pana, drove past another cemetery (That MUST be it, Bob's directions are just wrong) and found our way up the hill to the cemetery, Kim and family were there waiting for us.

Shortly thereafter John, a distant relative who lives in the area and had actually dug my grandmothers grave arrived. We talked about the cemetery, the family history and enjoyed the wonderful sunshine. Michael enjoyed laying on a blanket in the warm air under a shady tree, the same tree that Grandma and someday Hank would be buried under. It looked over a farmer's field and the vast Illinois plain below. From here all the world seemed at peace.

Bob and his wife Shirley arrived next, trailed by Karen and her husband Rudy who I discovered is from Central New Jersey originally (Cranford and Freehold). I helped Bob bring over the box containing Grandma's remains and the marble box that they would be buried in. Soon everyone gathered around for a few more words, another tune from Beth on the violin and our final goodbyes. I don't think there was one person there who didn't shed a tear.

We then slowly drifted away from the side of the grave and milled around a bit more. Karen told us she had a picture of "Grandpa Winters" (I'm not sure if this was Grandma's father or grandfather) and wondered if anyone wanted to see it. Beth went right over to it while Kim and I talked some more. Then Beth hurriedly called me over to the back of Karen's car to see the portrait. As I turned the corner at the back bumper I was confronted with what seemed to be me, albeit with a long Smith Brothers style beard. The family resemblance was striking and humbling all at once.

We then decided to drive to Decatur to have lunch at the Crackerbarrel restaurant there. Rudy unexpectedly picked up the check and then we all departed for our long drive 'home".

Till next time,