1. My day started off with a few tasks. I went to Yokes for my second (and last) Shingrix vaccination and I shopped for snacks and drinks in preparation for a party at my house this afternoon. To prepare for the party, I vacuumed, cleaned the bathroom, and got things ready to serve whatever my guests wanted to drink.
2. The party at my house was a get together of at least eighteen people, mostly, but not exclusively, from the class of '72 before we went up to the Elks for Goose's memorial service. For about an hour and a half, my house roared with joyful talk, laughter, and good cheer as we had a mini-reunion of great KHS friends. Even though the occasion of our getting together was somber, we were all so happy to be with each other that we didn't even try to contain our excitement and gratitude that we were with each other and about to pay our respects to Kirk. This was the perfect way to begin our celebration of Kirk's life. I'm really happy that Stu had the idea to do this and that we got this many people together.
3. The room at the Elks was packed with people from the many areas of Kirk's life. I couldn't begin to say how many people attended his memorial, but I do know that a sizable number of people stood up during the service itself. Much like the party at my house, Kirk's Celebration of Life became a reunion for scores of people. I saw old friends like Craig King, Jack Dunn, and Steve Douglas for the first time in well over twenty or more years. Kirk's sister, Karen, graduated two years ahead of us and several of her friends attended.
It just seemed like what was happening in that room was a perfect tribute to Goose: people were going from one knot of people to another, talking, laughing, getting caught up, and telling stories, celebrating the love of one another that defined Kirk's life. Kirk loved his many, many Silver Valley friends and this afternoon an overwhelming number of them came to the Elks to remember and celebrate Kirk's full and colorful life.
At some point, the crowd settled down and the service began. Kirk's son Lee began things by expressing his deep appreciation for all the people who were in the house and for all those who visited and supported the family during Goose's illness. Next we viewed a slide show accompanied by the music of Credence Clearwater Revival and a little AC/DC. Goose's daughter, Tiffany took the floor next and delivered a loving and touching eulogy in honor of her father and invited anyone who wanted some time at the microphone to come forward and tell a Goose story. Several attendees did.
Kirk's son Lee closed the service with more thanks to all those in the room. People then made their way to the buffet, bought more drinks, and the talking, milling around, and laughing resumed.
After a while, many people headed across the street to the Inland Lounge and the reunions, the solid gold yakking and laughing, and the story telling continued.
Somehow, never avoiding or discounting the sadness that Kirk has passed away, the many people gathered at this memorial worked together naturally to make this an uplifting and inspiring way to say good-bye to Kirk and to do what I think Kirk would have wanted most: love and appreciate one another. I think we all felt a special calling today to cherish one another while we still have each other and this might be the best thing of all to result from the grievous loss of our good friend, Goose.
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