In Memory of Merlin A. Olson

On January 18th, hospice called us in because Grandpa was doing so poorly.  The girls were at their dad's so I was able to go to Fremont nearly immediately.  I was able to say good-bye and offer some company to my mom, dad, Grandma, Uncle Jim, and Aunt Char.  I was so glad that I'd gone up, because the next morning Grandpa passed away.  I had picked the girls up from their dad's and we were at church.  I got Mom's message and called her back.  Mena was so sweet.  When I got off the phone, I immediately started crying when I told her.  She wrapped her little arms around me and hugged me while I cried.  Maggie was already in nursery so we didn't tell her until after church and Sunday School were over.

The girls went with me to both the visitation on Wednesday evening and the funeral on Thursday morning.  The procession from the church to the cemetery was led by a fire truck.  As we drove past the fire station, we saw all the trucks pulled out with their lights flashing.  All the on-duty fire fighters were dressed in their gear and standing very stoically at the end of the driveway. 

At the cemetery, the VFW did the folding and presentation of the flag to Grandma since Grandpa was in the air force.  Then the dispatcher announced over the fire fighters' radio that Grandpa had been laid to rest and they honored him for his years of service as a fire fighter and as fire chief.

This bouquet of flowers says Grandpa and Great Grandpa on the ribbon.  The three pink roses were for us 3 girls and the 5 yellow daisies were for the 5 great grandkids.

This bouquet was sent by Dan, my first boyfriend since the divorce.  The girls heard me talking to my family about him, but they haven't met him.

I saved 2 white roses and the purple flowers from the bouquet that Dan sent.  I saved the pink rose and yellow daisies from the Grandpa bouquet.  I kept them in this glass for about 24 hours and then Maggie and I were so stuffed up that I knew we couldn't keep them.  I plucked the petals off to save them in the glass as a reminder for us.