Sure as hell not saving gas this way....

I work on one side of town and live on the other.  Not much driving compared to when I lived in Chicago or growing up in the suburbs but it still can add up.  Today I left work early to go pick up Owen and the present I'm supposed to give to the priest from my sister.  Got home, raced around to find something to put it in, dealt with a recalcitrant six year old and finally got back in the car and drove back across town to my mothers.  Got her and her wheelchair in the car, drove over to the church.  I think Father Joe was incredibly touched by Debbie's gift.  Debbie is a nurse in Boston and the staff on her floor had gone together after Dad died and given her vestments for a priest in Dad's memory.  It was a beautiful and meaningful gift.  The words 'in memory of Joseph Voelkl' are embroidered on the inside of the back.  Owen thought it would be better if those words were on the front but other than that he agreed it was gorgeous-----green with beautiful embroidery.  So then we sat there talking and I wish I had a tape of it all. Owen and Father Joe talked a bit about heaven and then Owen confided that sometimes Grandpa had been "cuckoo in the head" circling his ear with his finger as he explained it.  He told Father Joe about the time Grandpa had been cuckoo in the head and yelled at him and Leo but he reassured Father Joe that he knew that Grandpa still loved him and he loved him back.  Father Joe reassured him that in heaven things like that go away and Owen said wonderingly, "yeah, I think he's getting stronger."

Anyway---so I got Mom and her wheelchair back into her house, met Ernie and Leo and headed back across town.  Leo was sniffling all the way...I have NO idea what was wrong he wouldn't answer my questions.  Finally pulled into the driveway and thought to myself how tired I was only to hear my cel phone ring.  It was Ernie...I had taken the van that had Owen's glove and hat for T-ball.  Grrrrr.  So Leo and I headed back across town AGAIN, gave Ernie the glove and hat and turned back and drove across town.  I think all in all it was three hours driving back and forth.  Sure as hell not saving gas this way....

Comments

[cathy]

what a beautiful gift -- and meaningful for how you all gave it.

[Anna]

I can hear Owen and Father Joe talking, what a conversation! I bet Father Joe loved it! What a beautiful gift in rememberance of your dad!

[Judi]

Oh, that conversation is so sweet and so heartbreaking. Owen is just precious. I love your boys! Judi