In Pace Requiescat

I wouldn't feel appropriate continuing a commentary on the happenings in my life without providing a short tribute to my grandfather.

Upon completing my last post, I commenced packing with the expectation of a somewhat emotional day in that I was finally leaving Charlottesville. My expectations were far surpassed when my brother, who was assisting with the packing, received a phone call with the information that our maternal grandparents had been in a bad car accident and that our grandpa would probably not survive. This news was especially hard for me because the rest of my family had just been in Minnesota visiting my mom's family two weeks previous. I was unable to go because of work and my visa/shot obligations. I raced to get home, though my mom was already catching her flight to Minnesota as I was leaving. Upon arrival I was informed that my grandpa's head injuries had been too bad and the worst had happened. It was the day after his 75th birthday.

China took a back burner for a little while as we waited for information concerning the funeral and prayed for my mom and her family in this difficult time. My dad, brothers, and I flew to meet them on Wednesday night, and the funeral was yesterday. In an almost ironic way, I was afforded the opportunity to see my mom's side of the family before my departure after all, and in spite of the circumstances it was nice to be able to. The funeral went as well as could be hoped; it was in the church where my parents were married, my dad's brother drove up from Chicago to show his support, the grandchildren were given the duties of readers and gift/pallbearers during the ceremony. The weather was lovely in the cemetery where Grandpa's time in the Navy was honored with a 21-gun salute as my brother played "Taps." He was cremated, and is buried over his father-in-law, under a tree he planted at the site himself.

Mostly because of distance issues, I didn't know my grandfather as well as I would have liked. What I did know was that he valued hard work, cherished simplicity, and loved his family more than anything. We loved him in return, and he will be missed greatly.

Rest in Peace, Thomas Peter Henry
August 23, 1934-August 24, 2009





and remember everyone... drive safe.