For those of you that don’t know, my stepdad, James, lost his battle with stomach cancer a little over a week ago (here).

Tammy and I were in Tupelo last week, helping my Mom and spending time with my family. Instead of writing a detailed account of everything we did, I decided to do something different. Below is our trip to Mississippi, by the numbers.

4+

Hours we stood to greet people who came to James’ visitation

There was a constant stream of people from 3:45 to 7:45 and my Mom never sat because, “I can’t hug when I’m sitting.”

551

Lines used in the registry book at the visitation and funeral

There were 19 lines per page and 29 of 30 pages in the book were filled. We didn’t take the time to count each name because there were a LOT of times were people filled out Mr. & Mrs. on the lines. Even if only 20% of those lines contained Mr. & Mrs. that would mean over 660 people came through.

We heard from several people who couldn’t wait in the line at the visitation, which wound through the church and out the front door.

The church where the funeral was holds 1,200-1,500 people and there was easily 750 people there for the service. I’d say there were well over 1,000 people who came to pay their respects.

A truly amazing testament to how much James meant to the people he came in contact with.

66

Flowers/plants received for James

There were so many plants that Tammy had to do inventory once they all got delivered to Mom’s. The biggest display, besides the roses mentioned below, may have been from Coca-Cola (right).

James loved Coke and was a very loyal to them. Mom said that James would ask for a Coke when they would go out to eat and, when they asked if Pepsi was alright, James would ask for them to bring him sweet tea instead.

I usually don’t mind when they offer Pepsi instead, but I told Mom that’s what I’m gonna start doing now, to help keep James’ Coke-loyalty alive.

100

Roses in the two big urns on either side of James’ casket (50 on each side)

1

Times I forgot who “Betty” was

Betty was James’ sister who I had met before AND had spoken with at my Mom’s a few minutes before the visitation. Her daughters came through the line and introduced themselves to me.

Daughters: Hi, we’re Betty’s daughters.
Me: Oh, OK. I have no idea who Betty is.
Tammy: (punching me in the ribs) Yes you do.

I turned to look at her and saw Betty glaring at me as if to say, “You better know who I am!”

Needless to say I didn’t forget who Betty was again.

13

Casseroles brought over to Mom’s house while we were there

I wish I had thought to write them all down.

0.02

Seconds it took my Southern accent to come back

6

Days Tammy woke up before me

2.5

Seconds it took me to get out of bed when Tammy told me there were Shipley Donuts in the kitchen

I sat there looking at her thinking she was kidding and waiting for her to crack. It wasn’t until I realized that she wouldn’t have known to say “Shipley Donuts,” which we don’t have up north, that I jumped out of bed and ran to the kitchen.

3

Times Tammy almost drowned

0

Times I saved her

What? She almost drowned. If she REALLY had been drowning I would have prolly saved her.

7

Items to buy Tammy for the pool (racing suit, goggles, “shower cap,” nose plugs, arm weights, leg weights, paddle board)

She’s always enjoyed swimming. Not what I call swimming, which is actually floating, but actually swimming, as in doing laps in the pool. She’s been saying she needs a racing suit for some time now, but it seems the list keeps growing every time we get in a pool.

16

Laps Tammy swam in two days

5

Times Tammy’s top came off swimming laps

I only got to witness two of those, so maybe a racing suit isn’t a bad idea.

2

Port-o-Potty’s used

Once, by me, at a racetrack where my 10-year old nephew, Rece, was practicing for his race on Saturday night.

Once, by Tammy, while walking through a neighborhood with new construction.

2

Pieces of tape on the container of cookies we got from my sister’s bakery, Sweet Treats.

The girl was going to put three pieces on but Tammy told her that “two would be fine.” The reason was because two pieces allowed her to get her hand in and out without actually opening the box.

0.74

Ounces of Tammy’s Tutti Frutti ice cream container

Her sweet concoction weighed the most of the four people who went, including my 12-year old nephew, Parker.

179 

Times we heard that d@mn Adele on the radio

I swear every time we changed the radio there she was singing. Someone told me she’s expecting and I have to wonder if she knows who the father is because she’s always singing about getting dumped.

1

Number of times someone yelled “Go Dawgs” when I wore my Georgia Bulldogs shirt into a convenient store.

I just looked down at my shirt, back at him and said, “Oh… yeah.”

Countless

Number of lives touched by James Kilgore

I was floored by how many people showed up for him. Tammy and I could have had our wake/visitation and/or funeral at the same time and we wouldn’t have that many people show up.

The visitation was sposed to start at 4 (actually started at 3:45) and I think it was around 4:30 Tammy leaned over to me and whispered.

Tammy: My wake would be over by now.

It was great hearing all of the stories from James’ friends and colleagues. He treated people with respect and wasn’t afraid to let people know he loved them. But the one thing that kept being brought up was how he always had a smile on his face. That smile will be missed by a lot of people, but no one more than my Mom.