Since this is the last day of 2018 I guess that it would be appropriate to end this string of renditions of our lives. I believe that I ended with November so December it is. What else? The 1st we got 8-10 inches of snow that needed moving and it was not powder. It is winter and I can't ride so I have to think of something else. The last couple of years it was models. This year I have started to read all of my John Sanford novels, in order mind you. Over the years I have read them randomly as I picked them up, so I got the bright idea to arrange them in order and start over. They do run in order so that now I can see different characters develop. Anyhow that 's how I am staying busy so far. I do have a project going in the garage starting with new lighting and a coat of fresh paint in my shop. Next up is a rewire of the north garage that I really did not do robustly enough. I think that earlier I mentioned that Laura's Dad had passed away, so Jan and I were up to Morris for his visitation and funeral in Hancock the next day. This was in a long string of above average weather luckily enough, so there were no travel problems, which could have been a problem in these parts this time of the year. Speaking of funerals, I don't think that I mentioned it earlier, but in January Jan and I were to Austin for Steve Defor, Han's Dad's visitation and funeral. The weather at that time was also unusually nice for January, funny thing our wedding day in February 1971 was beautiful after a spell of nasty winter weather. Must be the good Lord looking after us. Me, I have no idea why I'm so lucky, but other people deserve it. Jan and I have hosted a couple of Viking football games, some terrific, some pathetic. I have spent some time dealing with the sale, finally, of Mom's home, which believe it or not was closed today and I have my third in the bank already. Christmas was celebrated at Eli and Lindsey's farm near St. James with the whole gang minus sadly, the Defors who thought that a weekend near their home in Virginia was preferable to a slog home 1300 miles one way. Christmas eve Jan and I drove up to Sleepy Eye for their light show at a park on the north side of the lake. It was fantastic! Trees all covered with different colored lights that dance in time with music and change colors according to the tunes. I think that it rivals the display at Sibley Park in Mankato that gets all of the publicity. So 2018 stagers to the end of a string of days with too many funerals, family members and veterans too. I am hoping that the promise of Christ's birth will see us through the coming year and see us all in reasonably good health next year at this time. Signing off at 2135 on 31 December, 2018.
An addendum here. Thinking back to Han's Dad Steve, he would have been so proud to see his son Hans promoted to Captain at the National Archives in Washington D.C.. Hans' Mom Donna and Rachel, Josiah, Annika and William did get to see him get his Eagles. They have worked very hard and sacrificed to reach this point. For you non Navy types that's a full Colonel rank. I'm sure that I have missed other things, but as you can see it has run to 5 parts this year. I always swear that I am not going to do this anymore, because as near as I can tell only two people read these tales of blood sweat and tears, not counting Jan who kind of proof reads.
Monday, December 31, 2018
Friday, December 21, 2018
Pre Christmas Post part 4
Our July started with the traditional trip to Lanesboro for the 4th. The day that we got there we had heavy rain and wind but it was nice the rest of the time we were there. I had a bike along and did manage to get over into Wisconsin and explore west of LaCrescent. As usual the fireworks were unbelievable, again. It was hot and humid for days on end, while we did the mundane things around the house and yard. I was getting paperwork organized to start finishing up Mom's paperwork by getting signatures from all of us involved. I did some bike maintenance like oil changes and a tire on the 650 among other things. I made a short run out to Wyoming again with the idea of going farther west but lost interest by the time I got to Mule Creek Junction, so I circled around and went home, one of these days I will make it to Nevada. We spent time at the farm, Jan mowing grass and chasing the goats around, me I must have been putzing with other projects out there. Jan and I did spend a beautiful evening in North Mankato at the Blues on Belgrade event. There were several bands, lots of people, cold beer, the usual. I did manage to get to a PGR mission in Jackson along with doctor appointments for Jan.
August dawned with a visit from our east coast branch flying in from Burke, Virginia.They spent a couple days here, and then we all went up to St. Paul to spend some time together at the Hyatt for the weekend. We spent a fun couple of days together then everybody split up and went home. Jan and I brought home a ton of wood pellets, and stain for the house painting project which started a few days later. Jan and I met Donna DeFor at Jordan to bring Annika to our home for a weeks stay. The painting project was completed in just two days by two guys spraying and brushing groves in the siding. About that time our cement guy did the lip for the trailer slab, which should have been done when it was built in the first place. I took another 3 day trip on the bike to the SAC museum at Ashland, Nebraska, up across Nebraska to the Badlands and home. I holed up in Murdo for a bad squall the last night and cruised home the following morning. This has been a summer when any rain less than a couple inches is just a shower. We broke down and got an electric start mower for Jan's farm mowing hobby, but after trying it, found it was not too good to use, so we took it back.
September. My cell phone crapped out for me and needed to be replaced. I ended up with a new I phone which I am still trying to get used to, the phone that failed me was an Android and worked a lot differently. Oh well, technology marched on and it has left me in the dust. Jan and I loaded my dirt bike up and headed back out to Ridgway, Colorado for some riding for me and some down time for her. We went out through Hot Springs and Craig, Colorado, pretty much a nice drive all the way. I got part of the way up Imogene Pass and dropped the bike again, I've got to admit it was wet and I was not in shape for that pass. So I went over Corkscrew and down to Silverton and back to Ridgway. The next day we just went for a drive down to Delores and Durango, more beautiful scenery to take in. Our return route home took us across eastern Colorado and Nebraska, so not so scenic. Jan and I are getting to soccer games for all of our local grandkiddos in this area, and I'm spending some time on vehicle care. I was on my way down to Sioux City to get some work done on the GS and ran into another couple with a GS from Argentina that were on their way back from Alaska!! It just goes to show that you never know what you can run across when you are riding a bike. On the 22nd our daughter Genevieve was inducted into the St. James High School Hall of Fame for her exploits in 3 sports at a function at the VFW. It was nice to see her get some recognition for a lot of hard work. Jan and I started getting our affairs in order by meeting with a lawyer to get as many bases covered as we can, so to make it easier for survivors. We have been getting an education on the importance of getting things taken care of as early as possible, because the last few years have been eye opening about the subject.
October. It seems early but we are spending time getting ready for the winter that is waiting in the wings, putting bikes away, cleaning garages and paying Mom's property taxes again. Jan's sister Paula came down from Wadena to spend some time here. We were back to Rochester for a checkup for me for a change and things are doing fine. I go back every 6 months now just to keep an eye on things, hopefully 3 times is the charm, but I won't bet on it. Around the middle of the month we loaded up and started out for Virginia. After driving by the AMA museum in Ohio several times we did manage to stop and spend some time and purchase the obligatory t shirt for proof that I had been there. Han's defense department job requires him to fly out to the Islands occasionally and Rachel could go along if we could watch the gang, which is the reason, well one of the reasons we went out. Jan and I had not seen their new home which was not too far from the previous home in Burke. It is very nice in a good neighborhood where home prices make a rural Minnesota guy like me, choke a little. Anyhow we ran Joe, Annie and Will to and from parochial school every day. Here we are just outside Washington, DC and we usually get to the local Target for entertainment. Did get locked out one morning returning from school, which entailed a trip to Home Depot for a new lockset, it was needed anyhow. After an uneventful trip home the calendar changes to-
November where the weather started to go into the dumper, high temps in the teens and snow and rain etc, etc.. Activities are slowing down some, a trip to Rochester for Sam and Gus' VIP day at Holy Spirit and cleaning up leaves. Jan did get some landscaping done around the house so that does cut down on the amount of lawn to take care of and it looks nice too. Jan spotted a special at the Spearfish Canyon Lodge so we drove out for a couple of days to take advantage of that. It was so beautiful and quiet in the Hills that time of year, and the canyon in the morning, wow. I got the news when we returned that Mom's house, which had been on the market for over a year, had finally sold for a lot less than was originally asked. Frankly we were glad to get that part behind us, and I won't miss making sure that it is okay and insured among other things. A return trip to Rochester for basketball games, home for a couple days with a return for Thanksgiving at the Theobalds. I can't wait until they finish, or even put it in the plans, to finish highway 14 from Owatonna to Dodge Center. I did manage to get the Mustang tucked away in the garage for the winter before the month ran out. I will do December in a week or so just so it will be more accurate.
August dawned with a visit from our east coast branch flying in from Burke, Virginia.They spent a couple days here, and then we all went up to St. Paul to spend some time together at the Hyatt for the weekend. We spent a fun couple of days together then everybody split up and went home. Jan and I brought home a ton of wood pellets, and stain for the house painting project which started a few days later. Jan and I met Donna DeFor at Jordan to bring Annika to our home for a weeks stay. The painting project was completed in just two days by two guys spraying and brushing groves in the siding. About that time our cement guy did the lip for the trailer slab, which should have been done when it was built in the first place. I took another 3 day trip on the bike to the SAC museum at Ashland, Nebraska, up across Nebraska to the Badlands and home. I holed up in Murdo for a bad squall the last night and cruised home the following morning. This has been a summer when any rain less than a couple inches is just a shower. We broke down and got an electric start mower for Jan's farm mowing hobby, but after trying it, found it was not too good to use, so we took it back.
September. My cell phone crapped out for me and needed to be replaced. I ended up with a new I phone which I am still trying to get used to, the phone that failed me was an Android and worked a lot differently. Oh well, technology marched on and it has left me in the dust. Jan and I loaded my dirt bike up and headed back out to Ridgway, Colorado for some riding for me and some down time for her. We went out through Hot Springs and Craig, Colorado, pretty much a nice drive all the way. I got part of the way up Imogene Pass and dropped the bike again, I've got to admit it was wet and I was not in shape for that pass. So I went over Corkscrew and down to Silverton and back to Ridgway. The next day we just went for a drive down to Delores and Durango, more beautiful scenery to take in. Our return route home took us across eastern Colorado and Nebraska, so not so scenic. Jan and I are getting to soccer games for all of our local grandkiddos in this area, and I'm spending some time on vehicle care. I was on my way down to Sioux City to get some work done on the GS and ran into another couple with a GS from Argentina that were on their way back from Alaska!! It just goes to show that you never know what you can run across when you are riding a bike. On the 22nd our daughter Genevieve was inducted into the St. James High School Hall of Fame for her exploits in 3 sports at a function at the VFW. It was nice to see her get some recognition for a lot of hard work. Jan and I started getting our affairs in order by meeting with a lawyer to get as many bases covered as we can, so to make it easier for survivors. We have been getting an education on the importance of getting things taken care of as early as possible, because the last few years have been eye opening about the subject.
October. It seems early but we are spending time getting ready for the winter that is waiting in the wings, putting bikes away, cleaning garages and paying Mom's property taxes again. Jan's sister Paula came down from Wadena to spend some time here. We were back to Rochester for a checkup for me for a change and things are doing fine. I go back every 6 months now just to keep an eye on things, hopefully 3 times is the charm, but I won't bet on it. Around the middle of the month we loaded up and started out for Virginia. After driving by the AMA museum in Ohio several times we did manage to stop and spend some time and purchase the obligatory t shirt for proof that I had been there. Han's defense department job requires him to fly out to the Islands occasionally and Rachel could go along if we could watch the gang, which is the reason, well one of the reasons we went out. Jan and I had not seen their new home which was not too far from the previous home in Burke. It is very nice in a good neighborhood where home prices make a rural Minnesota guy like me, choke a little. Anyhow we ran Joe, Annie and Will to and from parochial school every day. Here we are just outside Washington, DC and we usually get to the local Target for entertainment. Did get locked out one morning returning from school, which entailed a trip to Home Depot for a new lockset, it was needed anyhow. After an uneventful trip home the calendar changes to-
November where the weather started to go into the dumper, high temps in the teens and snow and rain etc, etc.. Activities are slowing down some, a trip to Rochester for Sam and Gus' VIP day at Holy Spirit and cleaning up leaves. Jan did get some landscaping done around the house so that does cut down on the amount of lawn to take care of and it looks nice too. Jan spotted a special at the Spearfish Canyon Lodge so we drove out for a couple of days to take advantage of that. It was so beautiful and quiet in the Hills that time of year, and the canyon in the morning, wow. I got the news when we returned that Mom's house, which had been on the market for over a year, had finally sold for a lot less than was originally asked. Frankly we were glad to get that part behind us, and I won't miss making sure that it is okay and insured among other things. A return trip to Rochester for basketball games, home for a couple days with a return for Thanksgiving at the Theobalds. I can't wait until they finish, or even put it in the plans, to finish highway 14 from Owatonna to Dodge Center. I did manage to get the Mustang tucked away in the garage for the winter before the month ran out. I will do December in a week or so just so it will be more accurate.
Monday, December 17, 2018
Pre Christmas part 3
May started with warm temperatures for a change, so things got moving around our house and out at the farm. A couple years back I spent some time restoring a 1979 Honda that really had not been running very well. I got a cheap carb for it and it started first kick, so that project is done as far as I can go. Jan and I are running around southern Minnesota following our grand kids track and soccer events. We got the news that Mom had been selected to be the queen at Pleasant View this year, we were all surprised to say the least. It was a short lived reign as she passed away on the 20th barely a week later. You can refer back to my first post this Christmas for more details. Prior to that time, Jan and I drove to Dayton, Ohio to visit the Air Force Museum. The Memphis Belle, a WWII B-17 had been totally restored and was being unveiled to the public at the time I was there. I am sure that she did not look that good the day she rolled off of the assembly line. After the 20th we were spending a lot of time getting ready for Mom's funeral by making arrangements with the funeral director, checking with the bank in Ormsby and cleaning out her room at the rest home. The day of the funeral it managed to get above 90 degrees, so there was not a lot of lingering at the cemetery. The next day I was over to Preston State Cemetery on a PGR mission and it was over 100 so that was pretty brutal too. The hot weather brought in bad storms, so Jan and I helped at the farm picking up debris.
June, I am almost half way through. I took a run out to Wyoming that was haunted by extreme hail storms that I, for the most part avoided. I spent some time sitting east of New Underwood waiting for a storm that had baseball sized hail to pass off to the north-east, but I did hit heavy rain and some hail passing through Sturgis. The next morning I rode west into Wyoming, one of my favorite rides, early morning west from Spearfish to Buffalo, clear and fresh. West of Gillette seeing the snow in the Big Horns come into view. I did the loop up to Dayton, over the mountains, back to Ten Sleep, and Buffalo for the night. Another morning ride to Kaycee and Wright, to Newcastle and Rapid City for the night, and sweat out another bad storm. While I was gone they had almost 5 inches of rain around home. I did make the airshow at Granite Falls again. What a boost for a WWII aircraft enthusiast, several P-51 Mustangs, P-38, P-40s, etc., all flying. We had lots of rain and warm temps, and trips to assorted locations to see the Theobald boys soccer games. I had another PGR mission to Preston again, and a check of Mom's empty house revealed a bad sump pump, so I ended up replacing that and had Phil bring a de-humidifier along when he came down. It was so damp in the basement that the doors wouldn't close. By the end of the month we rolled the trailer out and towed it down to Lanesboro for the 4th weekend. That pretty much sums up that month.
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June, I am almost half way through. I took a run out to Wyoming that was haunted by extreme hail storms that I, for the most part avoided. I spent some time sitting east of New Underwood waiting for a storm that had baseball sized hail to pass off to the north-east, but I did hit heavy rain and some hail passing through Sturgis. The next morning I rode west into Wyoming, one of my favorite rides, early morning west from Spearfish to Buffalo, clear and fresh. West of Gillette seeing the snow in the Big Horns come into view. I did the loop up to Dayton, over the mountains, back to Ten Sleep, and Buffalo for the night. Another morning ride to Kaycee and Wright, to Newcastle and Rapid City for the night, and sweat out another bad storm. While I was gone they had almost 5 inches of rain around home. I did make the airshow at Granite Falls again. What a boost for a WWII aircraft enthusiast, several P-51 Mustangs, P-38, P-40s, etc., all flying. We had lots of rain and warm temps, and trips to assorted locations to see the Theobald boys soccer games. I had another PGR mission to Preston again, and a check of Mom's empty house revealed a bad sump pump, so I ended up replacing that and had Phil bring a de-humidifier along when he came down. It was so damp in the basement that the doors wouldn't close. By the end of the month we rolled the trailer out and towed it down to Lanesboro for the 4th weekend. That pretty much sums up that month.
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Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Pre Christmas Post part 2
I have been busy out in my shop the last week or so, getting about four coats of paint on the ceiling and changing out all of the lighting. The fixtures that I took down were salvaged from the central office at the phone company when we went to a digital switch back in 1990. Anyhow it has been a project, all of the things that a person accumulates over the past 30 years plus the bikes had to come out of there plus covering the carpet with plastic, lets us just say, I'm glad it's almost done. Anyhow, now I can get back to putting the rest of the year down on paper, so to speak.
March was next. Things were pretty quiet until the 5th, when we had rain, snow, hail and lightning in the same storm. one of those wet snows that are like trying to move wet cement with a scoop shovel. I was working on the carbs on 94 Ducati and helping Eli with his 64 Falcon project. Jan and I were attending basketball games for Sam and Gus at assorted locations in southern Minnesota, and Leah's 12th birthday party. It looks as if the temperatures hung just above freezing most of the month, so on the 24th we got another dump of 8 to 10 inches of the wet stuff again. I may have waited for warmer weather on that one. On almost the last day of the month it got up to 48 degrees, the warmest day of 2018 so far. Only a few years ago I rode to the Black Hills in the middle of March. Just to show how much it can vary around here.
April started out with more snow and cold temps. I have been getting out to the rest home to visit with Mom and look at her mail. I needed to pay bills and things for her and with brother Phil's help get her to doctor appointments. Not to change the subject, but we just received news that Phil's father-in-law and Laura's father just passed away. This must be a bad time of the year for deaths to occur for more than one reason, it's the Christmas season for starters and in the back of your mind you knew this would happen sooner or later, it's just that it wasn't supposed to happen now. About a year ago now our brother-in-law Steve Johnson passed away after fighting health problems for some time. I covered that last year December I believe. Anyhow back to April. I actually got a couple bikes out of the garage on the 12th,it was 50 degrees!! Almost the next day we had a two day snow that dumped 18 inches of the wet stuff again. Between snowstorms Jan and I managed to get out to the farm, me helping with the Falcon, and Jan with the goats, and doctor appointments for the both of us. We ran to Rochester for the boys basketball, got the Mustang out of the garage, and took the GS to Sioux City for servicing. Eli and I went to a parts expo at Sherburn hoping to find some new old parts for his Falcon, but no luck on that front. At that time I headed south for my first bike trip and ended up in Osceola Iowa with the idea that I was going farther south and then east. One look at the weather channel the next day threw cold water on that idea, so I went over to Council Bluffs and home again. It seems that trips to the south early in the year will usually run into bad weather of some kind. Last year I did manage to get as far as Louisiana and back up through Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky. The weather turned on me from that point until I reached home in 35 degree temps. Oh did I mention by this time we did have a 70 degree day?
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March was next. Things were pretty quiet until the 5th, when we had rain, snow, hail and lightning in the same storm. one of those wet snows that are like trying to move wet cement with a scoop shovel. I was working on the carbs on 94 Ducati and helping Eli with his 64 Falcon project. Jan and I were attending basketball games for Sam and Gus at assorted locations in southern Minnesota, and Leah's 12th birthday party. It looks as if the temperatures hung just above freezing most of the month, so on the 24th we got another dump of 8 to 10 inches of the wet stuff again. I may have waited for warmer weather on that one. On almost the last day of the month it got up to 48 degrees, the warmest day of 2018 so far. Only a few years ago I rode to the Black Hills in the middle of March. Just to show how much it can vary around here.
April started out with more snow and cold temps. I have been getting out to the rest home to visit with Mom and look at her mail. I needed to pay bills and things for her and with brother Phil's help get her to doctor appointments. Not to change the subject, but we just received news that Phil's father-in-law and Laura's father just passed away. This must be a bad time of the year for deaths to occur for more than one reason, it's the Christmas season for starters and in the back of your mind you knew this would happen sooner or later, it's just that it wasn't supposed to happen now. About a year ago now our brother-in-law Steve Johnson passed away after fighting health problems for some time. I covered that last year December I believe. Anyhow back to April. I actually got a couple bikes out of the garage on the 12th,it was 50 degrees!! Almost the next day we had a two day snow that dumped 18 inches of the wet stuff again. Between snowstorms Jan and I managed to get out to the farm, me helping with the Falcon, and Jan with the goats, and doctor appointments for the both of us. We ran to Rochester for the boys basketball, got the Mustang out of the garage, and took the GS to Sioux City for servicing. Eli and I went to a parts expo at Sherburn hoping to find some new old parts for his Falcon, but no luck on that front. At that time I headed south for my first bike trip and ended up in Osceola Iowa with the idea that I was going farther south and then east. One look at the weather channel the next day threw cold water on that idea, so I went over to Council Bluffs and home again. It seems that trips to the south early in the year will usually run into bad weather of some kind. Last year I did manage to get as far as Louisiana and back up through Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky. The weather turned on me from that point until I reached home in 35 degree temps. Oh did I mention by this time we did have a 70 degree day?
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Wednesday, November 28, 2018
2018 Pre-Christmas post
I have really been slow on getting out any kind of posts this year. I think that being on Facebook has kind of taken away some of the fun in putting things out there for "fans" to read, plus the fact I actually have to sit down and peck out the words on the keyboard. So anyhow, I have been on a few bike trips this year, not as long as I have gone on and not as many Patriot Guard missions to ride to either, which is not a bad thing come to think of it. As far as photos go, I have found over the last few years that I am not Ansel Adams when it comes to landscape photography, so I just don't shoot many any more.
The last few years have seen the departure of three women in our family. My sister Kathy in 2015, my Mother-in-law Bernice in 2017 and my Mom this May 20th. I have long been thinking about a blog about my Mom's passing and have not gotten around to it till now. I got a call from the rest home here in town in the evening, that Mom was unresponsive with no blood pressure or pulse. She had returned to her room after having supper. They asked if I wanted her taken to the ER or not. I was a little taken aback by the casualness, but I guess they handle these situations a lot out there. I said I suppose she should be taken out to the ER, so I drove out to see what was going on. By the time she got to the ER she was back with us, talking to the doctor etc.. Next the helicopter dropped in. I never did find out why that was called for as she has a do not resuscitate directive, but we never got a bill for it. I called Jan to come out to keep me company while they were running some more tests, but it looked as if she was doing better all of the time. After a while it looked as if they would be keeping her overnight for observation, so Jan headed home, but before Jan got out of the parking lot the doctor was back saying that suddenly she was fading fast, so Jan came back and we moved Mom into a different room to keep her company while she was making the transition from this life to the next stage. Death is not so hard to witness when you know that they are ready and have been for some time, and Mom made the jump to the next stage late in the evening of May 20th at the age of 97. Jan and I were both touching her at the time, I put my hand on her forehead and said the Benediction. The Lord bless you and keep you, that one. So I have been with both of my parents when they are passing on, and actually I recommend the experience as it really brings home the reality of death. Jan has been with both of her parents too, so we are aware of it and are trying to get all of our ducks in a row so to speak for our kids. Our Moms both had things pretty well taken care of years ago, and with my sister Kathy's death a couple years ago we wanted to leave little legal work undone. Mom was as sharp as a tack right up until the end and we would talk politics or whatever was on her mind. I have been somewhat surprised by how much I think about her now that she is gone. I guess it is the idea that someone that has always been there, isn't anymore. Anyone that had known her might not be surprised at one of her last words, "whatever". So those were the last few hours of Bernita C. Kuehl, the first woman that I ever loved. The funeral was at the Trimont Covenant church on a date that saw farmers rushing to get crops into the ground after a cold damp spring, so attendance was a little low. She was interred next to my Dad and sister Kathy at Cedar Hill cemetery west of Trimont.
As I am writing this her home has finally been sold after being on sale for over a year. The fact that the street has been torn up since last Spring with a major construction project did not help. So pretty soon we will be able to wrap this up and move on with things more pleasant.
I suppose that I should get back to the usual Christmas letter format, so I'll start with January first. The weather ranged from a -24 to a +45 during the month and some of the time within days of each other. Jan and I did managed to get out between snow storms and cold snaps to Rochester for doctor appointments, family get togethers and assorted locations for basketball games for the Sam and Gus. Other than that nothing out of the ordinary.
February pretty much more of the same, although paging through my notebook I notice a trend that has been growing over the years- a lot more doctors appointments to be met and traveled to. Jan and I helping Eli and Lindsey while he has been recovering from a torn shoulder among our visits. The weather, always a subject in this part of the world, was somewhat more cooperative, so that we could make a couple basketball tournaments. Later that month Jan had back surgery in Maple Grove to help with back pain that had bothered for some time. That turned into a three day stay at the hospital. I did spent the nights curled up on a kind of couch in her room. Funny thing , I slept better there than I usually do at home in our king size bed. Maybe it 's the humanitarian in me, keeping her company in a strange room. We eased on home and she went right back to bed for a while. That was a lot more painful than she and I expected. I've also been running out to the rest home to see Mom once in a while, plus a care conference here and there. Jan and I did pick out a love seat for her at Hanska furniture for her room that was a hit at the home, the aids all wanted to try it out. I also have been fooling around with bike maintenance and Eli's 64 Falcon project car.
I'm going to stop here and pick it up with March in the near future before this blog gets too long, so stay tuned.
The last few years have seen the departure of three women in our family. My sister Kathy in 2015, my Mother-in-law Bernice in 2017 and my Mom this May 20th. I have long been thinking about a blog about my Mom's passing and have not gotten around to it till now. I got a call from the rest home here in town in the evening, that Mom was unresponsive with no blood pressure or pulse. She had returned to her room after having supper. They asked if I wanted her taken to the ER or not. I was a little taken aback by the casualness, but I guess they handle these situations a lot out there. I said I suppose she should be taken out to the ER, so I drove out to see what was going on. By the time she got to the ER she was back with us, talking to the doctor etc.. Next the helicopter dropped in. I never did find out why that was called for as she has a do not resuscitate directive, but we never got a bill for it. I called Jan to come out to keep me company while they were running some more tests, but it looked as if she was doing better all of the time. After a while it looked as if they would be keeping her overnight for observation, so Jan headed home, but before Jan got out of the parking lot the doctor was back saying that suddenly she was fading fast, so Jan came back and we moved Mom into a different room to keep her company while she was making the transition from this life to the next stage. Death is not so hard to witness when you know that they are ready and have been for some time, and Mom made the jump to the next stage late in the evening of May 20th at the age of 97. Jan and I were both touching her at the time, I put my hand on her forehead and said the Benediction. The Lord bless you and keep you, that one. So I have been with both of my parents when they are passing on, and actually I recommend the experience as it really brings home the reality of death. Jan has been with both of her parents too, so we are aware of it and are trying to get all of our ducks in a row so to speak for our kids. Our Moms both had things pretty well taken care of years ago, and with my sister Kathy's death a couple years ago we wanted to leave little legal work undone. Mom was as sharp as a tack right up until the end and we would talk politics or whatever was on her mind. I have been somewhat surprised by how much I think about her now that she is gone. I guess it is the idea that someone that has always been there, isn't anymore. Anyone that had known her might not be surprised at one of her last words, "whatever". So those were the last few hours of Bernita C. Kuehl, the first woman that I ever loved. The funeral was at the Trimont Covenant church on a date that saw farmers rushing to get crops into the ground after a cold damp spring, so attendance was a little low. She was interred next to my Dad and sister Kathy at Cedar Hill cemetery west of Trimont.
As I am writing this her home has finally been sold after being on sale for over a year. The fact that the street has been torn up since last Spring with a major construction project did not help. So pretty soon we will be able to wrap this up and move on with things more pleasant.
I suppose that I should get back to the usual Christmas letter format, so I'll start with January first. The weather ranged from a -24 to a +45 during the month and some of the time within days of each other. Jan and I did managed to get out between snow storms and cold snaps to Rochester for doctor appointments, family get togethers and assorted locations for basketball games for the Sam and Gus. Other than that nothing out of the ordinary.
February pretty much more of the same, although paging through my notebook I notice a trend that has been growing over the years- a lot more doctors appointments to be met and traveled to. Jan and I helping Eli and Lindsey while he has been recovering from a torn shoulder among our visits. The weather, always a subject in this part of the world, was somewhat more cooperative, so that we could make a couple basketball tournaments. Later that month Jan had back surgery in Maple Grove to help with back pain that had bothered for some time. That turned into a three day stay at the hospital. I did spent the nights curled up on a kind of couch in her room. Funny thing , I slept better there than I usually do at home in our king size bed. Maybe it 's the humanitarian in me, keeping her company in a strange room. We eased on home and she went right back to bed for a while. That was a lot more painful than she and I expected. I've also been running out to the rest home to see Mom once in a while, plus a care conference here and there. Jan and I did pick out a love seat for her at Hanska furniture for her room that was a hit at the home, the aids all wanted to try it out. I also have been fooling around with bike maintenance and Eli's 64 Falcon project car.
I'm going to stop here and pick it up with March in the near future before this blog gets too long, so stay tuned.
Monday, January 1, 2018
2017 Christmas letter part II
Well I am back to finish off this years report on our activities. It is after Christmas and almost New Years as I peck away at this while it is snowing outdoors and near zero to boot. Tomorrow Jan and I will be traveling to Wadena to the funeral of our brother-in-law Steve Johnson, assuming the roads are not too bad. Jan plans on staying with her sister Paula for a few days while I return home for a check up in Rochester next week. Winter in this part of the country is always filled with uncertainties when plans are made in advance. Actually this is more of an audit of our lives during the year as opposed to an actual Christmas letter.
I believe that I left off before in June so July would be next. We were still in Lanesboro with the trailer. I had brought along our new Bonneville and managed to get some riding in over in Wisconsin and the local area. Did I mention the goats before? Jan is out at Eli and Lindsey's farm looking after them most days, her younger goats as opposed to the older one at home. We did get to a soccer game, a check up at Mayo, and me to a PGR mission. Jan was called over to the home to sit with her Mom who was now on hospice care. Jan spent the day and night with her as she made the transition from this life of joy and pain to the next one that promises to be much better. Bernice Emma Thielhorn joins her husband Fred Leroy who passed away in 2000. She was 92 years old and had been in failing health for the last few years. She left behind her daughters, my wife Jan and Paula Johnson. A man could not have asked for better in laws than Fritz and Bernice. I don't think that I will ever forget church in Alpha and "dinner" at her place afterwards with fried chicken, sweet corn, milk gravy and boiled potatoes, you get the picture? Anyhow, pretty much a life well lived for a farm girl from rural Minnesota that married her sweetheart when he returned from The War, raised two daughters, accepted two sons-in-law welcomed five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Our daughter Rachel flew home for her funeral and later in the month we picked up her daughter Annika, who came for a week long stay. On a subject that everybody our age starts to get accustomed to are doctor visits for our selves and our parents assuming they are still with us. Thank goodness that does it for July. The first part of August found us driving to the Cities to meet the rest of Annika's family, home from Washington, D.C.. I did spend some time putzing with assorted bikes during this time too. My brother Phil and I took our Mom to the doctor one morning for a check up, she has been falling a lot lately, and by noon she was a resident at the rest home here in town. She is there to this day. In the interim I sold her car, and Jan and I cleaned out her house and got it on the market. It would be nice if it sold soon so that problem would be out of our hair, so to speak. On the 21st Jan and I drove down to the former Fairmont Army Air Field outside Fairmont, Nebraska along with half the drivers in the upper Midwest I think. From Omaha west it was bumper to bumper creeping down I-80. I was afraid that we would not get to the site I wanted to set up in and have to get off and head south trying to get into the path of totality. We did make it to the Air Field in time and parked next to some serious watchers with lots of gear. This is an experience that never fails to awe anyone that sees it. The two that I have seen before, we were the only people visible in any direction but not this time! Anything else that month was anti-climactic. So on to September. After Labor Day I rode west again with the GS out across Wyoming into northern Utah with idea of going as far as eastern Nevada, but the smoke from forest fires was so bad the visibility was under a mile in places and it was getting warm. From Logan south to Salt Lake City you couldn't even see the lake, so I detoured into northern Colorado and made my way home. The grandkids are keeping us running to soccer and volleyball games, and Jan and I are cleaning up Mom's house and taking care of her goats too. Football has started so we hosted a game at our place on a warm and sunny Sunday. Jan and I drove up to Wadena to spend a night with Paula and Steve and stopped at Leah's soccer game in Gibbon on the way home. My two brothers Phil and Paul and I took our Mom out for lunch for her birthday on the 29th, she's 97. October started with a lot of rain and cooling temperatures. I was helping Eli with some power trouble for the shop and he scored a 351 and transmission for the 64 Falcon he got from a friend, it's a work in progress. About that time Jan and I headed east for the DeFors house in Burke, Virginia. It's always about a two and a half day trip going out due to the fact I don't want to end a long day on the road in that kind of traffic on a two day trip, coming home showing up here tired is not such a big deal. Rachel, Jan and I did get down to the Vietnam Wall one day. I have been there several times but it never fails to impress, as I know a couple of names on the Wall. We stayed about a week and went home to more cleaning at Mom's house and a birthday party for Sam at his house in Rochester. We had some of our cedar siding replaced on the east and west ends of the house as it was looking tough in a few spots. I guess that is not bad life for the product which is 5/8 inch rough sawn cedar plywood that was first put up in 1975. I did get my Mom's car sold about as soon as I put it out in the driveway with a for sale sign, one less thing to think about. Jan and I were back and forth to the farm, Jan with goat trouble and me helping out with things. We are into November now and the weather cooled off naturally. We are still following our grandkiddos around to assorted activities, luckily gas is staying down somewhat. I did have a couple bikes out when there was a small window of nice weather. Jan has been seeing doctors at New Ulm for assorted pains, and we were to Rochester for Thanksgiving at the Theobalds. It did stay nice enough to be able to vacuum up leaves yet. December saw us moving Mom's stuff into a storage unit that I lined up the end of November. The house is essentially empty now and ready to put on the market. which I did a week later. I did make it to a couple of PGR missions after that. One in Fairmont for a USAF pilot who had flown B-52s, B-57s in VN among several types during his career. Jan and I were back to Rochester for Sam and Gus' Christmas program and I caught a PGR mission in Byron the next day. I spent some time in Eli's shop trying to get that old Falcon apart, with some success. On the 22nd we received word that our brother in law Steve Johnson had passed away. Christmas eve found us at St. Pauls' for Leah and Aaron's program. We had Christmas on Christmas day at the farm with both of my brothers and their wives, two of our children and their families. Just missing the DeFors this year as they stayed in the D.C. area. I don't blame them the weather has really turned brutally cold and some snow now too. Jan and I drove up to Wadena for Steve's funeral on Saturday in below zero temperatures. The entire funeral was indoors at their church and he was cremated so no burial is planned. They are going to spread his ashes at his golf course from an "urn" that looks like a red and white fishing bobber. We all got together at their house with the bobber in the middle of the table and it is very cool how not uncomfortable it was to have him right there. Anyhow, the next morning I did manage to get the truck started at -27, dropped Jan off at her sister's house and headed home. So that pretty much ties things up on this end. I know that I have probably skipped over a lot of details in this edition but there is a limit on how much detail I want on the web. I know that you all will just be dying to see the next chapter sometime in the new year. Have a happy New Year.
Pete 1-1-18
I believe that I left off before in June so July would be next. We were still in Lanesboro with the trailer. I had brought along our new Bonneville and managed to get some riding in over in Wisconsin and the local area. Did I mention the goats before? Jan is out at Eli and Lindsey's farm looking after them most days, her younger goats as opposed to the older one at home. We did get to a soccer game, a check up at Mayo, and me to a PGR mission. Jan was called over to the home to sit with her Mom who was now on hospice care. Jan spent the day and night with her as she made the transition from this life of joy and pain to the next one that promises to be much better. Bernice Emma Thielhorn joins her husband Fred Leroy who passed away in 2000. She was 92 years old and had been in failing health for the last few years. She left behind her daughters, my wife Jan and Paula Johnson. A man could not have asked for better in laws than Fritz and Bernice. I don't think that I will ever forget church in Alpha and "dinner" at her place afterwards with fried chicken, sweet corn, milk gravy and boiled potatoes, you get the picture? Anyhow, pretty much a life well lived for a farm girl from rural Minnesota that married her sweetheart when he returned from The War, raised two daughters, accepted two sons-in-law welcomed five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Our daughter Rachel flew home for her funeral and later in the month we picked up her daughter Annika, who came for a week long stay. On a subject that everybody our age starts to get accustomed to are doctor visits for our selves and our parents assuming they are still with us. Thank goodness that does it for July. The first part of August found us driving to the Cities to meet the rest of Annika's family, home from Washington, D.C.. I did spend some time putzing with assorted bikes during this time too. My brother Phil and I took our Mom to the doctor one morning for a check up, she has been falling a lot lately, and by noon she was a resident at the rest home here in town. She is there to this day. In the interim I sold her car, and Jan and I cleaned out her house and got it on the market. It would be nice if it sold soon so that problem would be out of our hair, so to speak. On the 21st Jan and I drove down to the former Fairmont Army Air Field outside Fairmont, Nebraska along with half the drivers in the upper Midwest I think. From Omaha west it was bumper to bumper creeping down I-80. I was afraid that we would not get to the site I wanted to set up in and have to get off and head south trying to get into the path of totality. We did make it to the Air Field in time and parked next to some serious watchers with lots of gear. This is an experience that never fails to awe anyone that sees it. The two that I have seen before, we were the only people visible in any direction but not this time! Anything else that month was anti-climactic. So on to September. After Labor Day I rode west again with the GS out across Wyoming into northern Utah with idea of going as far as eastern Nevada, but the smoke from forest fires was so bad the visibility was under a mile in places and it was getting warm. From Logan south to Salt Lake City you couldn't even see the lake, so I detoured into northern Colorado and made my way home. The grandkids are keeping us running to soccer and volleyball games, and Jan and I are cleaning up Mom's house and taking care of her goats too. Football has started so we hosted a game at our place on a warm and sunny Sunday. Jan and I drove up to Wadena to spend a night with Paula and Steve and stopped at Leah's soccer game in Gibbon on the way home. My two brothers Phil and Paul and I took our Mom out for lunch for her birthday on the 29th, she's 97. October started with a lot of rain and cooling temperatures. I was helping Eli with some power trouble for the shop and he scored a 351 and transmission for the 64 Falcon he got from a friend, it's a work in progress. About that time Jan and I headed east for the DeFors house in Burke, Virginia. It's always about a two and a half day trip going out due to the fact I don't want to end a long day on the road in that kind of traffic on a two day trip, coming home showing up here tired is not such a big deal. Rachel, Jan and I did get down to the Vietnam Wall one day. I have been there several times but it never fails to impress, as I know a couple of names on the Wall. We stayed about a week and went home to more cleaning at Mom's house and a birthday party for Sam at his house in Rochester. We had some of our cedar siding replaced on the east and west ends of the house as it was looking tough in a few spots. I guess that is not bad life for the product which is 5/8 inch rough sawn cedar plywood that was first put up in 1975. I did get my Mom's car sold about as soon as I put it out in the driveway with a for sale sign, one less thing to think about. Jan and I were back and forth to the farm, Jan with goat trouble and me helping out with things. We are into November now and the weather cooled off naturally. We are still following our grandkiddos around to assorted activities, luckily gas is staying down somewhat. I did have a couple bikes out when there was a small window of nice weather. Jan has been seeing doctors at New Ulm for assorted pains, and we were to Rochester for Thanksgiving at the Theobalds. It did stay nice enough to be able to vacuum up leaves yet. December saw us moving Mom's stuff into a storage unit that I lined up the end of November. The house is essentially empty now and ready to put on the market. which I did a week later. I did make it to a couple of PGR missions after that. One in Fairmont for a USAF pilot who had flown B-52s, B-57s in VN among several types during his career. Jan and I were back to Rochester for Sam and Gus' Christmas program and I caught a PGR mission in Byron the next day. I spent some time in Eli's shop trying to get that old Falcon apart, with some success. On the 22nd we received word that our brother in law Steve Johnson had passed away. Christmas eve found us at St. Pauls' for Leah and Aaron's program. We had Christmas on Christmas day at the farm with both of my brothers and their wives, two of our children and their families. Just missing the DeFors this year as they stayed in the D.C. area. I don't blame them the weather has really turned brutally cold and some snow now too. Jan and I drove up to Wadena for Steve's funeral on Saturday in below zero temperatures. The entire funeral was indoors at their church and he was cremated so no burial is planned. They are going to spread his ashes at his golf course from an "urn" that looks like a red and white fishing bobber. We all got together at their house with the bobber in the middle of the table and it is very cool how not uncomfortable it was to have him right there. Anyhow, the next morning I did manage to get the truck started at -27, dropped Jan off at her sister's house and headed home. So that pretty much ties things up on this end. I know that I have probably skipped over a lot of details in this edition but there is a limit on how much detail I want on the web. I know that you all will just be dying to see the next chapter sometime in the new year. Have a happy New Year.
Pete 1-1-18
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