Indiana Trip Aug 2025
Alexandra & Nicholas Tenbarge
Last weekend, our family traveled from Atlanta, Georgia to Evansville, Indiana to attend the funeral of my grandfather, Richard Tenbarge. While it was a solemn occasion, the trip reminded us of the importance of family, connection, and cherishing every moment together.
Preparing for the Journey
Early on Tuesday morning, we loaded up the Travel Barge and said goodbye to Atlanta. The kids were quiet as we pulled onto the highway, as the journey progressed Alex and I tried to impart some understanding of death when either of them asked about Grandpa Richard. Sensing the seriousness of the trip, we made sure to bring along comfort items and snacks for the long drive.
On the Road
The drive through Georgia and Tennessee offered time for reflection. The girls always enjoy seeing the river in Chattanoga, TN. As small towns passed by, I shared memories of Grandpa Richard and talked about the values he instilled in me during my childhood in Evansville.
Arrival in Evansville
Arriving in Evansville, we were greeted by my parents and Grandma Mary who brought dinner to the campsite. We spent Tuesday evening through Thursday with Grandma Emogene, Grandma Mary, and my parents.
Our girls love their grandparents, all of them, and whenever we come to Evansville my parents enjoy spending an overnight with them. Wednesday evening my parents watched the girls and Alex and I were able to have dinner just the two of us. We bonded early in our relationship many years ago in countless ways, but one that always sticks out is that we both had no idea the other had ever been to a Rafferty’s. The one in Kennesaw, GA closed shortly after Alex took me there for a date. When we make it to Evansville, we always try to have a meal there. After dinner we headed to Barnes and Noble to spend time browsing and looking for the next book we’ll each read.
Family Reflections
The funeral service was heartfelt and moving, a time to honor Grandpa Richard’s life and legacy. The attendance was larger than anyone had expected, a true testament to Grandpa Richard’s character. Grandma Emogene asked if I would perform a reading from the Book of Wisdom at the start of mass. I was nervous at first and asked on Wednesday if they knew the exact reading was so I could practice.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t provided with the reading until 30 minutes prior to mass starting. With some quick practice I was able to do a decent job, however I had to choose between looking up more often and connecting with more people in the audience or keeping my eyes on the page in front of me and performing my task to honor my grandfather without error.
I was blessed with being a pallbearer as well, and Alex summed it up perfectly on the drive home later that day that it was a sight to behold, “6 tall stoic grandsons, solemn faced with misty eyes walking down the aisle.” A twenty-one-gun salute was held in honor of Grandpa Richard’s thirty-nine years of service with the Evansville Policy Department.
My brother and I were able to keep it together for most of the funeral service, until we asked how each other were holding up. Tears were shed; memories shared later in the cafeteria after mass.
Although the day was marked by sadness, it also reminded us of the strength and support of family. Traveling together allowed me to lean on Alex and my girls, share stories, and remember the joy and love that Grandpa brought into everyone’s lives.
Back Home in Atlanta
After the funeral services and lunch, we headed to hitch up the trailer, pack up the campsite, and head back to Atlanta. Between losing an hour between time zones and starting late, we didn’t pull into the driveway until 11:30PM. Carrying the sleeping beauties up to bed, Alex help unload their suitcases and other items before retiring to bed, and I went to unload some additional items from the trailer.
Upon opening the door, I smelled soap and promptly discovered the soap dispenser reservoir had fallen off from under the sink with all the bumps on the highway. It landed behind the furnace, so I spent the next hour and a half removing the kitchen cabinet drawers, contorting my body to reach the bottle, clean up the spilled soup, and reflect on the recent joy and long-term importance of spending time with family while listening to the bugs chirp outside.
Hitting my pillow at 1:30am, the only thing I could think about was getting up in the morning to spend time with my girls before they went off with their grandparents for the weekend and Alex and I headed to our anniversary weekend trip that I had planned weeks ago to celebrate 8 years of wedded bliss together.