Quinn

On Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at around 8:45pm, the world lost a wonderful man, my grandfather, Quinn Spann. He was kind, generous, loving, and most importantly, God-loving. He always had a smile on his face, even the morning he passed. He had a blood disease for many years, but it had turned into leukemia about 6 weeks before. We were very grateful that his illness was quick, and he didn't suffer. In fact, I visited him on Thursday, and we were talking about him being released from the hospital. He played and held Anna Claire (who adored him) a lot during that visit. He didn't really start showing signs that he didn't have long until Sunday evening. I'm so glad that my Mimi didn't have to watch him suffer or make too many hard decisions. I was able to spend time with him on Tuesday morning and I really do think he knew I was there.
Quinn was 'technically' my step-grandfather (ALTHOUGH, in the family, we don't use the word 'step', we say 'bonus'). However, he and his first wife were close friends with Mimi and Grandaddy, and all of their children (6 between them), were raised together and were very close. I've known him most of my life, but he didn't become my grandfather until 2003. I have to admit that I was a little hesitant at first...more out of protection for my Mimi, whom I am extrememly close with, but also because I have very vivid and fond memories of my Grandaddy (who passed in 1988). But, being the oldest grandchild (after my brother, the next oldest is 17), I am the only one who really remembers my Grandaddy. Back to Quinn...he was the perfect husband to my Mimi for the past 8 years. He absolutely adored her. They did lots of traveling - in the states and overseas. Mimi loves to go. I know she loved having someone to 'go' with. We were a [very] large happy family: 6 brothers/sisters; 5 in-laws; 14 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren. It was always noisy and fun during our family gatherings. :) My girls loved him. He was so good with them. I know they will miss him dearly. (Update: on 11/7/11, Ella told Mimi, while they were playing together, "Mimi, you miss Quinn, don't you." She is so sweet...) Ella has taken the news very well....such a blessing. And the bond that Joey and Quinn shared was so wonderful to watch. They became very close and would sit and talk for hours. They became close at the perfect time and he made a huge impact on Joey - and therefore a huge impact on our marriage...something I will always be grateful for.
We will all miss Quinn very much...but I know that I will see him again one day - and I know that he and my Grandaddy are enjoying being together again. :)

A story about Ella that I don't want to forget: When I told Ella about Quinn, I talked in terms of germs. She loves to talk about germs. One of her favorite books is one of Joey's, Medical Microbiology, so that she can see pictures of germs. She has also already asked for a microscope so she can really see them for herself. :) So on Tuesday night, after I got the call that he had passed, I had to figure out how to explain this to my very sensitive 3 1/2 year old. She knew that Quinn was sick (she had been to see him a few times in the hospital), and she knew that he had bad germs in his body, which is why he was in the hospital. After reminding her about all of this, I told her that most of the time the doctors are able to get the bad germs out, but sometimes they can't, and when this happens, only Jesus can get the bad germs out. But, in order for Jesus to get the germs out, you have to go to live with Him in Heaven, and you can't come back home once you go to Heaven. She seemed to understand this ("Jesus took all the bad germs away and he went to live in Heaven with Him"), and asked a few questions such as: Did Mimi go with him? (Which panicked her a little at first) and Can we go visit? After discussing this, she got down and went back to playing.
The visitation at the funeral home was Thursday night. Knowing that all of my cousins would be there, I took the girls. I didn't really think about it, I just took them. I never even considered not taking them. After walking in the door to the funeral home, I regretted that decision. After 'sheilding' Ella from the 'viewing room', we went into the parlor. It never even crossed my mind that there would be a viewing during the visitation. I have no idea why, but it didn't. I don't do 'viewings', it kind of creeps me out, and I definitely didn't want to try and explain it to Ella. How do you even do that?!? Well she was happily playing with my cousins, and I was visiting with family. I told the younger ones that they could play in the room, but that Ella was not to leave that room for any reason. A little while later, Ella comes running up to me, "Momma, Momma!! Quinn is here!!" I had her repeat this a few times with a very blank look on my face. All I could say was, "Let's go find Yaya." She repeated this to my mom. I am freaking out by this point. We sit down and she says, "Quinn can't go to God because he's here!" After a few "Ummm"s, all I could think to say was, "Baby, are you hungry? Let's go find your chicken nuggets." It worked and she hasn't ever mentioned it again. I told this story to Brother Jim, who officiated the funeral, and he thought my response was perfect. :) I mean, how in the world do you explain to a 3 year old how your spirit goes to Heaven, but your body doesn't? You don't. You offer them food and change the subject. :)