One Year - part II

After the crash site we went to the grave. There was a cross on his head stone and a little Christmas stocking. The flowers and flag were still there from Memorial Day. The amazing thing was that there was deep, lush green grass on and around his grave and the graves around his. It was so soft and it left imprints from sitting on it. I think someone must have planted it. I think it is very appropriate for our dear Marshall because he always did like grass ... he was the Moose Mower. Because it was so cold, we sat in the van to read scripture. Anyone could read or say anything they had on their heart and mind. I was quiet. I sulked in the back corner of the van. I didn't want to speak and I didn't want anyone to speak to me. I don't know why I get like that sometimes when we go to the gravesite; I just start feeling mad. It's starting to become a pattern.

One Year

So I have been wanting to post this for a long time but have just never gotten around to it, though I long to write on here more often. But I couldn't sleep tonight and I was missing Marshall intensively, so here I am.

For the one year anniversary of the accident and Marshall's death, we visited both the crash site and his grave. Hannah and Richard were able to come from Florida so that we could all be together for a few days during this time (although it never feels like "we are all together" anymore). Our dear friend and long-time church member Charlie Shrader made us a sturdy roadside cross and mom painted Marshall's name and dates on it.
As you can imagine, the drive to the site was quite terrifying, even though I had been there before. It was the first time Mason had been to the crash site since the accident, and the first time for Hannah, Richard, and Derek as well. People really do drive so crazily on that damn road. Yes, that damn road. Duh. So that's how I really feel about it. (Sorry if that's too harsh. Sometimes there are appropriate situations for that, and I think this is one of them. Wow, I feel weird; I've never used that word.) Well, Marshall is not the first person to be killed on that road; we saw two other crosses on our way there. The owner of the dump told Dad that they have petitioned the city (or maybe it is the county? I'm not sure if it is in the city limits or not) to change the road or put up caution signs or lower the speed limit, but I don't think anything has changed. They are building that new toll road over there so hopefully that will decrease the traffic on 1327.

driving to the site

sign on the landfill's fence at the entrance (yes, I know, safely)

It was very cold and windy.

Madison had to (urr, got to) climb the fence to drill the pole onto the cross. While we were discussing how we were going to do it since the lanfill is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Mom looked up and there was Madison right on the other side. "Hey, how did you get there?"

all of us