When Linda and I got married, we were kids.  She had just graduated college and I still had a year to go.  Sean came along about a year after.  We would joke about how cooking THE Thanksgiving dinner for guests meant we were now grown-ups.  We misjudged that.  Now I know that a real grown up act is having to bury your parents.

George Geisler, Linda’s dad, passed away a couple of days ago.  He was 92 and in failing health, but the end still came suddenly due to flu complications.  This year’s flu vaccine is clearly inadequate.  Now I understand how the pileup of years and declining quality of life makes a rapid passing a blessing for all.  He had made decisions years before about the kinds of treatment (or, more accurately, the lack thereof) that he wanted.

Now we are in the fog of funeral arrangements, death notices, Social Security, and Veterans paperwork that comes with passing.  Since we are basically on autopilot, the compassion of strangers is welcome at this point.  Amidst the numbness and tears, humor also helps us through this time.  Linda is, as usual, on top of things.  Her middle brother John had passed away about ten years ago and she helped Helen, her mom, through the bureaucracy.  Her oldest brother Jimmy died a few years ago and she helped there too.   When we were picking out the urn for him, Helen commented that after we spread their ashes, we could recycle the urns for her and George.  Linda wryly remarked that there would probably be a corkage fee.

George went through various political stances over the years, and ended as a staunch Republican.  He often felt obliged to help us overcome the error of our Democratic ways.  When a veteran passes, they give a flag, among other things, to the surviving spouse.  So at 3AM that morning, the gentleman at the desk is walking us through this stuff and pulls out a green form.  “If you fill this out and submit it, you will receive a letter signed by the President thanking you for his service.”  “The current President?” Linda asks with a twinkle in her eye.  Cautiously (Idaho is a very red state) he says, “well, you could wait.”  “Oooh no,” she replies, “I’m getting Obama to sign this one.”

Rest in peace George. You earned it.

George in his “Edward R. Murrow” Pose