A Sad Trip to Kentucky

We had to go to Kentucky unexpectedly last week when Great-grandfather Johnson passed away. While the circumstances for the visit were very sad, it was good to be home. And I was very grateful that Maddy and I had a chance to visit with him only a few weeks ago. (This photo is from our visit at Christmas, last year.)


We hit the road last Thursday morning and when I woke up Maddy at 5am and told her where we were going, her first words were, "Bailey dog?" (Sorry, grandma.) Maddy had such a good time rolling around with Bailey and having him fetch his bird. Since we've been back Maddy keeps asking if Bailey can come to Maddy's house. Um, no.


I haven't been in Kentucky on July 4th for many years so I wasn't quite sure how we'd celebrate the holiday. After breakfast, we decided to take a ride on the train at the Kentucky Railway Museum. Not the train we typically take to Boston, but Maddy liked it just as well. Here, Grandfather Johnson is explaining to Maddy what a 'hobo' is.


Bob smuggled some fireworks out of West Virginia so that we could celebrate Independence Day in the manner that we have become accustomed to. It was just like being on the Boston Esplanade.


Monday morning we attended Grandfather's funeral. It was amazing to see all the people who came out to say goodbye.
Afterwards, we had lunch at the Sherwood where Grandfather's absence is most noticeable for me. Some musicians paid a touching, impromptu tribute to him in the bar where he'd spent so much of his time.


After lunch, Maddy got to hang out with some of her cousins. I think she and Eli did about 500 laps around the Forty and Eight Boxcar.


Later on in the afternoon, we went out to the hollow to relax for a little while.


And we paid one more visit to the cemetery with Grandmother before getting ready to head back home.


It was a sad visit, but a good visit nonetheless.