From Carle, we headed to Murphy’s Pub on Green Street in Campustown. Murphy’s was my dad’s favorite lunch and beer spot on campus. Read more about the time we went right after he died here

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/davebechtelscarepage/journal/view/id/6195a7a32856fc12a7f80a2a 

Brian and Melissa joined us on their lunch breaks and we all had bacon cheese burgers and sat at his table! They didn’t have Miller High Life so we went with Riggs Hefeweizen instead. Dad loved a good Hefe. We told our spouses about  our day and we recounted our last day with Dad together. Dan and I LOVE that our dad’s favorite restaurant  is old and dark and looks the same as it did 30 years ago.  We love that you can write on the tables and commiserate about your lives together with friends. We love that Cleeve is still the guy who smiles at you when you walk in and clears your table when you are done. He’s been there FOREVER! We love that this place will always make us think of Dad. 

After Murphy’s, the spouses went back to work. We had one last stop on campus- Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. We met the Noble Ruler at the front door. Grant is the first ever recipient of the Dave Bechtel Scholarship. I wanted Dan to have the chance to meet him. Dad would have loved Grant. We asked his future plans since he graduates in May. He just accepted a job doing seed sales for Bayer. Dad would have shook his hand and told him he was proud of him. Instead, Dan did the shaking and I gave the hugs!One new member in the house is a grandson  of  Denny Hackett, Dave's Big Brother. He was in  class so we didn’t get to meet him but Dad would have loved that we were making connections. “It’s all about who you know”, dad often said. 

Our final stop was at our childhood home. The only home Dan and I ever lived in before we moved out on our own. So many memories. So much of our Dad. 

I went home to nap, just as Dad loved to do in the afternoon. I put on Dad’s Illinois sweatshirt and was asleep in moments. I ordered pizza tonight in Dad’s honor. Dan smoked pork chops, German style. 

We are exhausted. Grief is exhausting and debilitating at times. Tomorrow is a new day. Dad’s favorite quote was, “There are no dead ends, only corners to be turned.” Even on our darkest days, we know we get to start fresh. We know how incredibly lucky we are to have had so many incredible years with the most amazing father and grandfather. We know he’s with us. 

We learned so much from him in life and continue to be guided by his example now that he’s gone. Our hearts ache without him here but we know he’s still so proud of us all.