Uncle Dan.....

Hello everyone!  As you all know, we moved back into our home last Saturday.  It was a busy day getting settled back into our home and then the phone rang.  My dear Uncle Dan who had been just admitted to the hospital late Thursday with a staff infection had passed away.  Most of you know that I grew up in a small town in TX called Edna.  My Uncle Dan lived in a town 8 miles away called Ganado.  His family had owned a farm there and he never left.  At the age of 16 he was at a football game in Edna when he got hit on the head by a shoe.  That shoe was thrown by my Aunt Wes and they were married over 60 years.

I flew down this past Tuesday and drove to the service on Wednesday.  Ganado has a population of about 1800 and as I sat in the funeral home watching all the people pay their respects I felt like the whole town was there.  My Uncle Dan served in the Navy and the Navy reserve.  He was a volunteer fireman for the Ganado fire department and was the town's only plumber.  As the firetrucks led the procession to the cemetary, all the people who couldn't attend the service were on the sidewalks, cowboy hat in one hand and tears in their eyes.  As I listened to the shots fired and listened to Taps being played, I looked around at the town that I had desperately wanted to leave so long ago and found myself wishing just for a second that I lived there once more.

It was good to be home again and visit with all of those old friends - some I had not seen in years.  I got home around 1am Saturday morning.  Forgive me for not getting anymore quilts finished but I will be back in my routine tomorrow morning.  Many thanks to my friend, Ellen who quilted up 7 charity quilts while I was gone for Camp Korey and American Heroes.

Have a great evening Ya'll!  I'll start posting pictures again tomorrow.  Richla