Man, this whole thing about Johnny Gaudreau, the Blue Jackets forward, and his brother Matthew, it’s just been a lot to take in, you know? I found myself getting all caught up in it, so I decided I had to go to the funeral. Just had to be there.
So, I started by looking up when and where it was happening. Turns out, the funeral for both of them was set for Monday at noon. I cleared my schedule, made sure everything was sorted out at home, and got ready to go.
The day of, I woke up early, feeling this heaviness, you know? I got dressed in some somber clothes – nothing fancy, just respectful. Made myself some coffee, and just sat there for a bit, thinking about how life can change so quickly. Then I got in my car and started driving.
When I got there, I could see a bunch of people already gathered. I recognized some faces from the hockey world. There was Gary Bettman, the NHL Commissioner, and a bunch of guys from the Blue Jackets. They were all there to pay their respects.
I saw Columbus Blue Jackets’ general manager Don Waddell. And Tkachuk, he was there too. He mentioned that he’s been thinking about Johnny’s wife, Meredith, a lot. I went inside and found a seat. The atmosphere was just… heavy, man. Everyone was quiet, some people were crying. It was tough to see.
I sat through the service, listening to the eulogies. I didn’t know Johnny or Matthew personally, but hearing people talk about them, it just hit me how much they meant to their family and friends. It was heartbreaking, to be honest.
After the service, I walked outside and saw people gathering for a candlelight vigil. It was held outside Nationwide Arena, where the Blue Jackets play. There were so many candles, and everyone was holding one. It was a beautiful way to remember them.
I stuck around for the vigil, just taking it all in. I didn’t really talk to anyone, but just being there, being part of that moment, it felt… important. Like I was honoring their memory in some small way.
Later, I drove home, feeling all kinds of emotions. It was a sad day, no doubt. But it also made me think about how precious life is, and how important it is to cherish the people you care about.
This whole experience, it’s gonna stick with me for a long time. It’s not every day you witness something like this, and it really puts things into perspective. Life is short, man. You gotta make the most of it.
Here’s a little summary of what I did:
- Figured out the details: Found out when and where the funeral was.
- Got ready: Cleared my schedule and got dressed appropriately.
- Drove there: Made the trip to the location.
- Attended the service: Sat through the ceremony and listened to the eulogies.
- Joined the vigil: Participated in the candlelight vigil outside the arena.
- Reflected: Took some time to process everything on the drive home.
That’s pretty much it. It was a tough day, but I’m glad I went. It was a reminder to appreciate life and the people in it.
