Author |
Topic: This is not a sad post (pic added) (Read 272 times) |
|
PollyPocket
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
Someone I am is waiting for my courage.
 
 
Gender: 
Posts: 2496
|
 |
This is not a sad post (pic added)
« on: Jan 27th, 2007, 7:36am » |
 Quote  Modify
|
Hannah decided to try for the Miss Flame contest in '04 almost as a joke- she was so NOT into beauty contests or anything like that. As you know, she won. Thru the Miss Flame thing she, and we as a family, met Joe and Loretta Gruebel, the chaperones and coordinators of the contest for the last 20 years.
I wish you could've seen this unlikely pairing - little spit fire Hannah and grumpy, gruff old Joe. She'd have her bare feet on the dash of the brush truck, driving Joe nuts while playing on the radio, singing at the top of her lungs and we could hear him laughing in the background. "That girl is crazy" he'd say, then grumble that he wanted to eat. And Hannah would give him all kinds of crap, which he promptly returned and he'd chuckle as he walked away and she'd make faces at him. He drove the brush truck in all the parades while Hannah sat atop waving, and he protected her and laughed at her goofiness.
She came into his life because of a joke, he came into hers because of his love for and service in the fire department, and a sweet friendship between Hannah, Loretta and Joe began.
Joseph Gruebel, 71, answered his last call on Monday, January 22, 2007. His last parade was on Thursday.
I wish I could share with you the day, but I truly learned what it means to write something on your heart. I had to help my daughter grieve and face loss for the first time in her life. In that, she also learned what Honor means.
I don't know who on here said it, but thankfully you did and I shared your words of wisdom with Hannah. "Isn't it a precious gift that we are able to love someone so much that it hurts to say goodbye?"
Joseph Gruebel was truly honored in the ceremony, a full firefighter's funeral. This world lost a good man and Heaven gained Joe.
Love to all,
Jen
|
| « Last Edit: Jan 27th, 2007, 10:39am by PollyPocket » |
 IP Logged |
“Life is all about timing... the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable become available, the unattainable... attainable. Have the patience, wait it out It's all about timing.” - Stacey Charter
"If I don't remember it happening, it never happened.  " - Tori
|
|
|
Mosaicwench
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
Find joy in your day
Gender:
Posts: 1657
|
|
Re: This is not a sad post
« Reply #1 on: Jan 27th, 2007, 9:39am » |
Quote Modify
|
A lovely tribute to both your daughter and her gruff friend.
Congratulations on bringing significance into her life and showing her what it means to be truly human.
I'm sorry for your loss.
|
|
IP Logged |
The difficulties of life are intended to make us better, not bitter. ~Author Unknown
|
|
|
artonio7
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
Home since 11/18/06
Gender: 
Posts: 2034
|
|
Re: This is not a sad post (pic added)
« Reply #2 on: Jan 27th, 2007, 11:56am » |
Quote Modify
|
That is very moving. I'm happy that you all got to share a part of each others journey. Sorry for your loss.
with warm regards,
Tony
|
|
IP Logged |
Hope! http://artonio7.com
CH Pain Calendar Free Download
For artwork
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home
Help
Search
Members
Member Map
Login
Register
Reply
Notify of replies
Send Topic
Print
test rss