The big goodbye
I’m writing this well after the fact because it was too sad to relive. Josh still wasn’t feeling amazing, but we loaded him up with medicine and kept our fingers crossed. His plane was super early–I think we left our house at 5:30am.
The good thing about this was that it meant we could not really have a long, drawn-out goodbye. We found a quiet spot near security. I did not want to let go of that hug. Gosh, I’m gonna miss my Josh. (see what I did there–I bet you laughed).
He headed for the security line, and we made our way to the windows overlooking the escalators. He and Cooper had the same flight, which I think helped take the edge off the sadness. As Josh went down the escalator, Blake flashed him some gang signs that made him laugh. So, he disappeared down the tunnel with a huge smile on his face.
On the way home we listened to St Motel in his honor and then just moped around the rest of the day. Well, that’s what I did. Blake and Halle had to go to school and Rusty went to work–he was so sad. I think I tend to feel all the feelings about the kids’ big events in the lead up, but it really hits Rusty hard on the day of.
Grandma and Grandpa were picking him up in SLC to take him to breakfast and the MTC. Josh wanted to stop by the cemetery to say goodbye to Alan and Sharon–that was really touching. They ate a big breakfast, and Josh spilled something on his shirt, so they raced home to quickly rinse it out and dry it. ha ha ha. They had time for a few quick pics at the temple, and then off to Provo they went! They said the MTC drop-off was a quick affair. They pulled into the underground parking, someone met them at the car to help with luggage, a quick hug and he was off! I’m so glad my mom and dad got to be there with him and he didn’t have to take a bus from the airport.
I had about a million questions run through my mind that day, and I’ll pull out my phone to send him a text before remembering I can’t do that!
Josh, we are proud of you and wish you all the good things and the hard things coming your way.
