Day 32...or is it 33?

Sunday - the beginning of another week.

I missed posting yesterday.  First time in a month.  But I had a good excuse - I was out of town for a funeral.

Which leads me to today's post.  The burial services and celebration of life were for my great uncle - Buck.  Yep, I had an Uncle Buck!  Much different from the movie persona, though.

He was a grand man - a cowboy, businessman, politician, and huge presence.  Much of that I found out later in life.  Growing up, I always thought he ran the ranch he and my grandpa grew up on.  Apparently he was a big to-do in the banking business and had a profound effect on South Dakota and Montana business development and legislation.  It was amazing to discover how many people knew him.  To me, he was the great uncle who helped shepherd me through my first two years of college by writing letters, calling me, letting me stay at his house when he was gone, taking me to dinner, etc.  He wasn't always in town, but we stayed connected.

Meeting people who had known him for years and reminiscing about his life with his kids, grandkids, friends, nieces, and nephews was such a joy.   It was also hard.  It was hard to let go of the other Moore boy, the first being my grandpa.  Well....second.  Grandpa was younger than Buck but he died in 1984.  Buck was one of my connections to my grandpa.  The other is my Grandma.  She is the pillar of our family.  It just kept rolling back to my mind that now we were waiting.  Waiting for when Grandma would be called home.  I think that's what really affected me.  Buck was 90 and Grandma is 88.  Both have lived incredibly full lives and seen many blessings.  It's hard or will be hard to lose them.  You don't want the inevitable to happen.

One poem that was read during his burial service was one his kids had found in his file of "what to do when I die."  I thought it was an important reflection for those of us "left behind."

For Those I Love and Those Who Love Me
When I am gone, release me - let me go,
I have so many things to see and do,
You must not tie yourself to me with tears,
Be happy that we had so many years.

I gave my love, you can only guess
How much you gave me in happiness.
I thank you for the love we each have shown
But now it's time, I travel on alone.

So grieve awhile for me, if grieve you must,
Then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It's only for awhile that we must part
So bless now, the memories within your heart.

I won't be far away for life goes on;
So if you need me - CALL - and I will come;
though you can't see me, or touch me, I'll be near
And if you listen with your heart, you'll hear
All my love around you, soft and clear
And then when you must come this way alone,
I'll greet you with a smile and "Welcome Home."
Author Unknown

I leave you with this:  You have an opportunity every day to have a profound effect on someone.  Buck made a profound impact on me just by taking me out to dinner once, coming to a couple of my activities on campus and writing me the occasional letter.  He showed me love when he didn't have to and when it was slightly out of character for him.  His wife was the social one of the two, but she passed away shortly before I started college.

We have moments that can change others' lives.  We need to seize those moments no matter how small.

Cheers,
Megs