We spent Columbus Day weekend in Kansas remembering Troy’s dad with his family, which meant a lot of storytelling, a lot of crying and a lot of laughing. The three ingredients to a good life. And let me tell you something: the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of John and Marie Schremmer like to laugh. Bring them together to celebrate the life of one of their brothers or uncles or grandpas and it’s going to be a weekend to remember.

So first to introduce the cast of characters who played such important roles in Gaylyn’s life.  Here’s little Troy back in November 1974 with his mom and dad, brother Kevin and sisters Pam, Sheri and Tina.  All but Kevin were with us this weekend and as always it was good to hang out with the people who knew Troy back when he had a blond hair perm.

Here are Gaylyn’s three siblings: Aunt Connie, Uncle Stan and Aunt Jeanette, who have all inherited their parents’ mischievous eyes, ornery smiles and delightful personalities.

Here’s Laura, Gaylyn’s companion of nearly 30 years, along with her daughter Sandy and Huck the PhotoBomber in between her grandaughters Mindy and Misty.

And here are Gaylyn’s children, grandchildren and children in-laws: David, Pam & Shelby (Huck’s favorite), us three, Sheri (husband Tylor and kids Katelyn and Joseph stayed in Arizona), Tina, Jackson, Rylee and Scott.

And then of course there’s the reason for everything: the children.  Neither Huck, Jackson nor Rylee knew their grandpa as well as everyone else did, but it sure was nice to have them around to remind us of the swift passage of time and how fun cardboard boxes can be.   When we got off the plane in Wichita it was a brisk 45 degrees, more than half the temperature we’re used to in Kansas, so that meant a cozy evening by the fireplace.  Jackson’s newest thing is to very earnestly turn any word into a heartfelt song, whether it be “tractor” or “fire” or “cucumber,” and at one point sweet Rylee actually exclaimed, “Girl oh girl!”  Huck built a habitat out of blankets and boxes that he stayed in most of the time, though he did come out for basement baseball with Nana and an amazing coin magic trick that just happens to require a button up shirt with long sleeves and collar.

The week leading up to the memorial service Troy spent many evenings sitting at our kitchen table talking on the phone to his sisters and aunts, gathering as many stories and details as he could for the eulogy he was writing.  As he said in that eulogy, “I love talking about my dad.”  He always has, he always will.  And continuing his theme of being very preacher-like lately, he also conducted the graveside service the next day.

We ended the Wichita weekend with a wonderful family lunch at an all-you-can-eat-buffet, which you know can be dangerous for Troy.  (He herniated his belly button at one of those once.)  We all felt Gaylyn’s presence when I accomplished the seemingly impossible and won Huck the teddy bear he desired in the Claw machine.  Knowing my lack of video game abilities, Tina said with a sneaky Schremmer smile, “That was definitely Dad.”   (Thank you, Gaylyn.)

Being in Kansas, we had to slip in a couple visits to the Hottman side of the family.  Huck and I enjoyed a too-brief visit with my sister Lori and her family, where my tiny great-niece Sadie told me they were going to have a birthday party for her later.  Since she was born in March, I’m pretty sure she made that up.

We three spent our last night in Kansas with my parents in Salina.  Again thanks to the beautiful fall weather we were able to enjoy the evening sitting around the fire pit in the back yard.  A perfect ending to a wonderful weekend celebrating our family.