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I remember the first moment I knew I was home at Bennett Spring State Park.  We were being introduced by my good friend, Brett.  In case you are keeping up…Brett was my girls High School Band Director and became one of my best friends.  He met us after our 6 hour drive from Newton and… Read more

Missouri tree pollen allergies are hitting me even harder this year.  I have lived the majority of my life in timber….I have never had tree pollen allergies in the spring.  I don’t get it!  Jaxon suffers too until about mid May so I’ve been taking my Claritin, using essential oils and running two air purifiers.… Read more

My friends are at the funeral home today….making arrangements for a public goodbye to their mom.  I would say that the real goodbyes to her soul were said in the week before she actually stopped breathing and her heart ceased to beat.  Those are the goodbyes…the funeral is a ritual we endure for closure….our last… Read more

Death is inevitable….dying with love and grace is a last gift that Neva taught us.  Like everyone, I’ve lost a lot of friends and loved ones to the inevitable but I’ve never spent all day and night with someone ending their journey. Neva wanted to die at home once she got the word that her… Read more

While walking at Grays lake is beautiful near the heart of Des Moines….I’ve walked the Iowa State Fairgrounds twice this week.  It’s totally surreal to be able to walk around the acres of concrete, buildings and memories.  I’ve always loved the Iowa State Fair.  I took this picture from one of the higher points at… Read more

On my way back to Sue and Neva’s house this afternoon, I stopped at Gray’s Lake Park to take a stroll around the lake and what should my wandering I observe. An eagles nest with one of the parents feeding their baby.  I, so, wished I would have had a nice camera with a zoom… Read more

Haven’t seen him in a week…after 36 years of marriage, that is a long time to be apart…I think only once before when he went to Mexico with his brothers.  So we each drove half way this morning and met in Bethany, Missouri for an overnighter.  This isn’t a vacation destination … We spent the… Read more

Neva is weaker today.  Physically and mentally.  We were not greeted with the bright eyed smiles and love this morning for her morning routine.  Yesterday my attitude about doctors took a huge swing and I realized that down deep inside they are human like the rest of us.  Her nephrologist, Dr Shrader came to visit.… Read more

One way you can witness a persons love is by experiencing the frequent door knocking of friends wanting to just stop in and give a little forehead kiss to someone who will be leaving us soon.  Neva still has a smile for her friends.  That smile also occurs when everyone thinks she is asleep…..a funny… Read more

  Dear Diary: I’ve been doing some sightseeing on foot while being back in the old neighborhood.  Neva took a nap this afternoon after visitors left so I walked to the bus stop.  My elementary school bus stop….I was shocked to realize that I really didn’t walk up hill both ways in the snow.  It… Read more