I was lucky enough to be able to come home for the funeral on Friday and be with most of my family this weekend as we remembered who Pa was, learned new things about him, and supported each other as this man of 92 isn't sitting in his chair anymore.
He and Lala were married 67 years and she now wears his cross necklace and wedding ring around her neck. The beauty and strength and grace and peace that I have seen in her over these last few days form a lump in my throat as I think about her.
But Pa's memory will always live on, as my father has traits and characteristics in him that were created, nurtured and molded by Pa. And every time I look at my toe ring, I will imagine him asking me "Leah, what's that ring on your toe? Are you engaged? Haha, my oh my, I've never seen anything quite like that before."
Thank goodness I never take it off and can think of him often.
