Returned From Calgary

Good Morning I'm Back!
Sorry I haven't been here for a couple of days but real life got in the way and I had no chance to write.
As you read my Calgary cousin Dave passed away and I needed to be at his service and with the family.
So I headed out to the west late on Wednesday for reasons I surely didn't want.
It was the first time for me to travel with a sad heart and apprehensions about what lay ahead. Usually travel is exciting and a time when you can't wait to get going but not this time.
Sure I wanted to be there and help support our family but the fact that Dave was no longer among us is hard for me to accept.
Our family is small and when we were young our parents would drag us back and forth from Whitby to Fergus, Fergus to Whitby on a regular basis.
We didn't mind really but as time went on and we became those independent little people we are, those exchange weekend vacations became less populated by the kids.
We grow and move here and there and then we rely on Mom or Dad to keep us in the family loop with everyone.
My travel went without a hitch and the next morning I hooked up with Wayne and Cathie from Swift Current Saskatchewan, in the same hotel so it was convenient for me.
It was a very sad day for all of us and I found it exhausting as well. The emotional roller coaster of being on the edge of tears time and time again and those moments when words are not possible just that look of despair in sad eyes. Exhausting!
Dave was well liked and an easy guy to get along with. He was way too young for this to happen and simply put it was not fair.
I made an observation that I found interesting.
Dave's Mom and Dad (my aunt and uncle) were very social and talking with many people at the reception. They were of course very upset and doing a great job in keeping it together, well done to them both.
My little observation came to light several times when I would be attempting to talk to either one of them one to one.
It was pretty obvious that initially we were not able to form words, only a hug or maybe a pat on the back.
We could shrug, shake hands, hold each other but coming up with just a few simple words to express our feelings could only be done with the eyes!
Our words were caught inside and allowing them out without some kind of control was going to be in the least possibly embarrassing because the flood gates of grief would burst open.
I'm happy to say that eventually we all got past it and were able to talk freely, sort of, as the day went on.
I will end this today by saying my trip to the west was as good as could be expected and I was treated by everyone there very well. Thank you all so much!
Dave had great support right to the end and they should all be very proud of how they handled themselves in the days and hours of need.
Rest in peace Dave!