Celebration of Life

Kevin loved Sweeney's, he called it his second living room.  So it was only fitting to have his gathering of loved ones there.  By the time I got down there from the church we were last ones to arrive.  I walked in the door, saw a sea of people, panicked and walked out the side door.  The number of people there overwhelmed me so much I couldn't handle it.  As I walked through, the only person who saw me was Seamus, the bartender and good friend. He said to me "Smithwicks" as I went passed him and out the door.  Standing outside on the deck I was just trying to breath, process the number of people there to say goodbye and just exist in this moment in time.  Seamus sent out my sister with my drink and food and my sister brought out my good friend Stacy, who was and is an amazing support.  We sat there on the deck just talking and helping me cope.  Matt and Nate came out with their good buddies and sat in the corner and ate, talked and laughed.  I was so happy they had them there to distract them.  At one point I went back in because a friend of Kevin's started playing the bagpipes, I tried to hide around the corner but it didn't work, it was time to socialize.  Walking through that sea of people was insane.  I talked to so many people, and I couldn't stop and talk to anyone for a long time because I wanted to make sure I saw everyone. This was something Kevin was really good at and I just followed in his wake, holding his hand, talking to people and moving on with him. Now I have to learn to do this on my own.
The Walker family is extremely musically talented.  Kevin taught himself guitar, Dan, our son, has his degree in instrumental music education, Greg, our nephew, plays any instrument he can get his hands on and Mark, another nephew, plays the guitar.  The three boys decided they would play "Kiss Me I'm Irish" by Gaelic Storm, with help from my brother in-law Bill.  If you ever heard the song you would know it is so Kevin. They did such an amazing job, unfortunately I do not have a recording of them playing it. In memory of my wonderful Irish husband I made sure I went through the entire bar and toasted every person there before the song ended.  It was my way of saying thank you for being there to celebrate the life of a wonderful man.