Here I am back at Barnes-Jewish Hospital again for my monthly IVIG. One of the doctors was just in and sees some improvement since my visit last month, which makes me a bit hopeful. The bad news is that I had two small ‘spells’ (petite mal seizures) yesterday and will see a different neurologist for that condition later today.

Rose and I returned yesterday from Spokane and the sad event of brother Bernie’s funeral. All his surviving children and siblings, Maudie’s sister and two nieces from Conway, MO., a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, other relatives, and many, many friends attended the ceremony. The service was conducted by two priests who are friends of the family. The funeral was held in the funeral home chapel followed by a military ceremony at the gravesite. The military portion of the graveside service which commemorated Bernie’s service in the United States Army consisted of a color guard with a 21 gun salute and presentation of the US flag to Maudie. The friends and club members of Maudie, Bernie’s widow, prepared a wonderful dinner for a host of people at a local church immediately following the interment.

The informal portion of the day’s events following the delicious dinner epitomized the essence of Bernie. His children had spent some time compiling a 10 point list of Bernie’s attributes through their eyes as children and as adults. The one word they had trouble finding was “forceful”. Other words for this attribute were discussed and rejected until “forceful” was agreed upon by the majority and approved by Maudie. This choice of word brought some discussion and laughter from the room. Several people told stories and incidents of their association with Bernie that showed the love, admiration, and respect that Bernie had earned throughout his lifetime.

Margaret and Norman separately spoke to two outstanding attributes of Bernie’s—his generosity and his hard work. Norman told of his first meeting Bernie when he and his small family visited Spokane in the early 60’s. Bernie put him to work the entire weekend.

Bernie and Maudie’s offspring are a tribute to both of them. The offspring are caring, loving, and thoughtful, not only for other people but for each other. Being around them makes one see what a joy big families are. They hovered around their mother to try to ease some of the pain she was going through while enduring their own.

My other editors will (or maybe already have) make entries about the happenings of the past few days and relate things in more detail. They also have lots of pictures to post. I’m a slow typist and they’re ready to start my IVIG. More later.