I finally was able to get back up the hill this morning after a week away from my friends and teachers. It was a crazy week filled with funeral arrangements, the ceremony itself, and of course reconnecting with distant family.

I never knew that my great uncle Bobby ran a pumping tank business.

I never knew that my late grandfather John Olivo Sr. was in the Naval Reserves for 8 years despite the fact that he could not swim. I never knew that Hammonton had as many pizza joints as it does.

I never knew that my father learned his business techniques from subtle life lessons his father taught him.

Yes, it was a very emotional week. But, I had never seen this many Olivos at once. It gave me a newfound respect for what my family does. They make themselves happy. If I am happy, I am able to make the people around me happy. It’s all about consistency and comfort my grandfather always used to say.

Yes, it’s going to take some time to recover from the week. It was crazy driving across that town as many times as I did to go pick up food and flowers for the ceremony.

I helped my aunt, uncle and father write and edit their eulogies and helped write the obituary in the local newspaper. R.I.P. John W. “Pop-Pop” Olivo Sr.