In Memory Of

This post is in remembrance of Lauren's Grandpa Don, who passed away a week ago Sunday. His health had been declining over the last few years and recently he had been in and out of the hospital. Grandpa Don was many things to many people, but he was the one who orchestrated and helped us buy our home, and we are so grateful for that. The last time Lauren saw him was last month on his birthday, when she told him about replacing our front door and taking out the front yard tree. Both of these were things he was concerned about when we were considering purchasing the house. We are just sorry that we hadn't been able to have him over for dinner at the house, and that he could not see firsthand the improvements we made. His memorial service was this past Sunday at the Veteran's Memorial in Simi. He had a great turnout and the marines were there in full force. The neatest story we heard was that the previous day, St. Patrick's Day, was the first parade in something like 12 years that Grandpa Don had not participated in (and there were about 15 per year). But, apparently one of the marines towed his scooter behind and we thought that was really neat. Though his passing took us by surprise, we thought he'd be around for years to come with all his stubbornness, we are glad he is out of pain and hopefully restored to full health and range of motion, and reunited with his girlfriend Betty, who passed a week before he did.