Matthew and I flew out to Alberta last Wednesday night, it was a great flight and a nice trip at first, though things quickly turned on a dime. We got to Calgary, rented our car, drove to Mom and dads and were there by 9pm, met up with Cheryl and we all had birthday cake for Dad who turned 71 that day and it was also Michelles' birthday and if I am correct she turned 28 that day. The day before she was in labor all day to have her and Jays first child and I am told at 11:52pm, she finally delivered her gorgeous baby girl Danika Ann Edwards. Congrats to you and Jay , Michelle on the new arrival.
Anyhow to get back on track, the next morning we went with Mom and Dad to dads dialysis and went to visit Michelle and Jay and meet the baby. Cheryl and I left earlier and Matthew stayed with Mom and Dad. I went to the Innisfail Province and put in an obituary for my younger brother Brad. The Cheryl and I finished the flowers and got the squares and coffee and pop together for Brads luncheon after the memorial, id I mention that Patti and her family made all the sandwiches for it, wow I don't know where she got her strength that week.
After Mom and Dad and Matt met Cheryl and I in Innisfail and we drove up to Drayton Valley to see Patti and the kids and say goodbye to Bradley before the service and in private at their home. It was a great day. The service was to be held on Saturday at 2pm.
On Friday morning things just started to fall apart and Matthew and I decided to leave Mom and Dads where we were staying and went up to my sister Cheryls for the next 2 nights. Saturday Cheryl, Matt and I drove to Drayton Valley to attend the service for Brad. I delivered the Eulogy and this was the hardest thing I have ever done to this point in my life. Though I am so glad that I got the chance to do this and to say good bye and be with Patti and the kids, especially Amanda and Alicia. I do believe this has brought me closer to their family and this makes me happy.
Matt and I decided to leave Alberta early for personal reasons and flew back home on the red eye on Sunday night, arriving back here in Toronto on Monday morning. Let me just say this trip was great and disasterous at the same time in certain ways. Things that went wrong, Charlene and her boyfriend Dale showed up and she was her typical self, the Potter clan still can not get along and just put things behind them , doesn't matter what family event it is, someone always has to fight about something and just ruin the day. Instead of coming together we get torn further apart, Bradley would be so disappointed in this. He was a strong family man and I know his one wish was just for us all to get along.
Things that went wrong besides family were our brand new rental car broke down and the power steering went on the way to the service, after the service sitting for six hours waiting for the new rental car to show up from Edmonton, it never did! We had to drive back from Drayton with no steering to Innisfail on Saturday night and then back to Calgary to return the car on Sunday night, needless to say the rental was comped and I would recommend Enterprise Rental anytime.
Other than the few family disputes I have to say I am glad that I went and I went to say good bye to my little brother and that is exactly what I did. I have no regrets and am just happy I managed to get through all this.
Since getting back home Matt and I have been extremely busy and getting things done in the house again. We have had the electrician back and I started on the floors, yesterday I sanded and started to stain the kitchen and place our new cabinets. Matt has been extremely busy with the last of the framing, putting in the new doors upstairs and dry walling where we have moved walls and built new ones. He is really good at all this and I have nothing but respect for the way we have been working together and getting all done in our home.
Anyways I need to get back to work for now, I promise to be here more and write a bit more and more often. In the next post I am going to put the eulogy which I wrote and read for my brother. I miss you lots and you were taken far to soon. We love you Bradley, "Little Bear".
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