The Final Transport


Holidays are joyous times for many people … Holidays are reminders of those who have gone before us … Holidays are triggers for memories sometimes just too painful to bear … what does the Holiday Season mean to you ?

Recently I attended the funeral of a precious friend who just happened to be a pilot, a volunteer firefighter, a farmer, a handyman, everyone’s go-to person when someone needed something, a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a friend to MANY. The firefighters in his location attended all the events in FULL FORCE and the #lastride happened in the pictured fire truck.

If you have had the honor of attending the #finalfarewell of a firefighter, you know the forever impact these events have on all those in attendance. What impact does your life have on your family and friends, the world ? It is certainly a time for reflection and reassessment of where we are and where we are going. The Believer does seem to have a peaceful passing, since we DO know where we are going when we die, and it is a lovely part of the service, the funeral, when God’s gift of eternal life is mentioned during the eulogy.

During the service to honor this Super Hero, there was a bagpiper, the casket was draped in the American flag, the songs were strong and impactful, the church was PACKED FULL of people, then there was the procession to the cemetery. Oh My Goodness – it was almost an hour from the church to the cemetery with all the firetrucks and emergency vehicles lit up, and the route was lined with an aerial ladder on a firetruck, extended with an American Flag attached, waving him on to his final resting place. Law enforcement from several municipalities and counties were out in full force to keep the procession from having to stop for ANY cross traffic. People were not trying to get THROUGH the clogged traffic – they were respectful and pulled over to wait until ALL of US had passed; other firehouses had their trucks out and the firefighters for those locations were standing at attention in respect; it was truly a very beautiful Final Ride – Last Ride – and then at the cemetery after the minister had performed the final service, the Last Call came over the radio – “We will take it from here, brother – Rest In Peace.”

The Celebration of Life was the chance for each of us to pay our respects to his wife and family members and certainly to get to know each other, in case we had not met yet, and to hear the stories, some funny and some life-changing, and enjoy the fellowship that goes with participating in these end of life Celebrations. To say it was a privilege just to KNOW this man is an understatement and to attend his Final Farewell is something I will never ever forget.

I would like to take this time to suggest that each of us takes a step backwards to pause and reflect on the lives and the memories we have had and that we have made during the Holidays and keep in mind that while we are singing carols and lighting the Christmas tree, a heart or two may be breaking since their person is no longer on this earth. Be gentle with each other, my friends, and realize that no two grief journeys are the same … EVER !!!

Cathy Weaver

Cathy Weaver began Networking full time in June of 2008, when she founded her Miracles With Water company. She started Networking all over the Greater Kansas City area and was soon referred to as a ‘Master Networker’. Her involvement in these groups over the years has actually awarded her designations such as 2012 Volunteer of the Year for the Olathe Chamber of Commerce; a four-time Bartlett-Olson Membership Achievement Award Recipient; and Cathy was voted into the KC Magazine’s 2013 Class of Most Influential Women. In 2018, Cathy was selected as the Kansas Women Business Advocate of the Year by the Kansas Department of Commerce. With the success of her Kangen Water business, dba Miracles With Water, Cathy also found the time to write 3 books: "Networking On Steroids" published in 2012, "He Hit The Clouds Running...and never looked back" published in 2017 and "Networking On Steroids PQ" published in 2020. From #water to #networking to #grief and beyond, Cathy may be that person YOU would like to have speak to your group, virtually, of course.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

link to @ everyone ?

@ everyone ?

https://youtu.be/rIrNkTwwH_A?si=jZZ8gcKrytRCzHyKHow do you feel about the @ sign and everyone when someone is tagging the entire group on a post?When there is an upcoming event and the entire...