It was really nice seeing all the gals and their hubbies. I think I got hugs from everyone when I arrived and I know for a fact I got hugs from everyone when I left. When Pat arrived she gave me a big hug and I thanked her for her lovely personal note she sent me after Mike passed. Pat said she really liked Mike and remembered the last time she saw him sitting across the table from her laughing and having a good time. I told her that was the EXACT reason Mike and I did not want to have a funeral with a viewing. We did not want people to make remarks at a viewing like "they made him look so good", or "that really didn't look like her". Mike and I both wanted everyone to remember us alive and vibrant and hearing Pat's comment reinforced in me that Mike's and my logic was the right decision for us.
We had a great time of food (way too much food - more than I normally eat) and fellowship. Pat brought a couple of sketches of mice she had done that were auctioned off with the proceeds going to the P. Buckley Moss Foundation. When I saw the one sketch I knew I had to have it - and I won it - see photo below. I asked Pat to personalize it and before doing that she realized she hadn't finished the sketch - so she filled in the stars on the American flags, put the tops on the flag poles and did more details to the mice. Then she personalized it for me and of course I got emotional - hopefully I didn't get any snot on her but knowing Pat if I did she wouldn't have cared. She is an awesome lady.
I am fortunate to own a Moss remarqued print - one of Pat's prints that she has added to and that is a special print. Part of me thought if I could ever own an original Moss that would be awesome but only a dream. Then Pat did her greyhound print that looks like Milly. I debated about purchasing it but something kept me from doing it. Now I can say I have an original Moss that is a sketch that Pat drew in her hotel room in West Des Moines, IA the weekend of October 1-2, 2010 (which is a weekend between Mike's and my birthdays). Now...that's special!
Today after church I met my niece Chrissy at the craft show at Adventureland and we had a fun time checking out the different vendors and visiting. Then back home to listen to NASCAR in the background as I got several things done that had piled up during the week. Now I need to nuke some dinner.
Pat personalized the mice as Roni and Mike along with signing and dating the sketch.
