That's the way it is.....

Does anyone ever wonder who helps the person who helps everyone else?

Class Reunion; A Great Time!

In the summer of 2007 Wilder Idaho had a 5 class reunion at our small park. We had a bunch of people show up from the classes of '71 thru '75 and it was a great time! I was not suprised that we didn't get a photo of everyone together; the classes tended to group together and no one thought of it. This first one is of my class:

 

Now, this was not the usual look we had; we were not the most attentive bunch and it took a bit to get us this way. This is more like us:

 

Now, my class was always one to be on the move and busy with stuff, usual stuff that would get us in trouble. Not much different here as all the other classes sat around in chairs and casually talked over the good old days. Not us guys! We stood in a circle and laughed and roared and told stories for quite some time!

There were a total of 24 that graduated in my class. Wilder is a city of approx. 1400 people, a farming community. The ones that showed up, especially the guys, were most definitely the movers and shakers of my class (um, again that means the ones that got into the most trouble!).

This next photo was the the ones who stuck around to the bitter end. It was really a wonderful time, I moved around and talked with most all that were there. It is so funny, I was in the class of '75 and back then most of these people would not have given me the time of day but on this day we were all equal and so happy to see each other! We will do this again!

One of those down times

 Sitting in central Tennessee in the middle of an ice storm, not able to get down the road toward home. Of course I really don't have my own home any more as I kinda screwed that one up, too. I've always figured I was a pretty good sort of guy. So why is it I cannot find the right women to be with forever? I've tried 3 times. I always thought those people who have been married/divorced multiple times had something wrong with them. Maybe I was right.

Good Times, Bad Times....

(reposted due to a problem with the original)

At the moment I am sitting in the Portland Airport waiting for my connecting flight to Eugene. This has been the worst week+ of my life; my daughter, Jesse, lost her husband Joshua in Afghanistan on January 3rd. Their daughter, Kadence, is just  15 months old. I am on my way to Joshua’s funeral in Roseburg, OR. As a father, how do you help a daughter who has lost the love of her life after less than 2 years of marriage? Their marriage had just gotten to that wonderful stage where both were losing the “single” attitude and melding into a truly wonderful family. I do not blame Joshua for his choices, he was Army when he and Jesse re-found each other. I am so grateful for Josh and all those who truly put it all on the line to defend what we all enjoy each day. He is a hero and we must remember that always.

My daughter is doing much better than I could have hoped. She knows her future is now nothing of what they had planned, but is ready to make the changes necessary to carry on. There will be those times when the burden will almost seem to much, but she knows this and has had the training to continue on at those times. So I guess I have already answered my question; what is a father to do? I have already done it with the upbringing we gave her. Now I can just be that support at times she needs me, and know she is strong and will prevail.

Family and Friends; They make the difference!

In this world it is so easy to find fault, to complain, to be angry. When horrible things happen you just want to strike out, to punish someone for the wrongs done. But then, out of the bad things come good things. This is a photo tribute to friends and family who have stepped up to make the difference in our family tragedy. Without them this would have been unbearable, but when you are surrounded by so much love you can prevail.....

This is, of course, just a few of the people who helped us with being there, but dozens if not hundreds of others helped in bringing an overload of food to us, babysitting and simply emailing, phoning or writing to give us support.

Thank you all so much!

Family antics

Well, after my latest marriage failure, I am now living with my mother while employed as a long haul truck driver, driving most of these states. This works well for mother; she loves me around for awhile then gone for a couple of weeks. I spent 20+ years away from my mom and now I have the chance to catch up. When I come in she and I always end up at the kitchen table talking for quite awhile, sometimes for hours. Most of what we talk about is family, and the hi-jinks that have taken place!

One of my favorites: Dad was out with his friends (some drinking involved). Mom always took the scrapings from supper and threw them in a pot to feed to our current dog the next day. That evening she left the pot out on the kitchen table.

Mom went to bed before Dad came home, but later heard him come in with his buds. At one point she heard Dad say, "Yes, she is a pretty good cook" and for a moment wondered what they had gotten into to eat. Then it hit her: they had tied into the greasy, fatty supper leftovers! We have told that one over and over, and never tire of laughing about it!!

Where I have been the last few weeks?

Okay, life has gotten a bit more interesting since I went to work for Doug Andrus Distributing. Now I am available for ALL 48 cont. states plus Canada(must get a passport)! And am making a pretty good stab at them already. Let's see: Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Kentucky, Alabama, Idaho, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Tennessee, Washington, Oregon and Indiana. When I ran for Cheney Transportation before moving to Idaho Falls I also drove a lot in Nevada and California. THEN add a few more states I was in for IdaCal in the 80's: Kansas, Michigan and West Virginia, South Dakota and Arkansas. Save for Louisiana I have pretty much hit all states not bordering the Atlantic Ocean! And I do expect I will make the Atlantic sometime, which is cool as I have never seen it.

Now then, here are a few pics I have shot as I cruise America!

Lots of rock pics in Utah and Arizona, this is in AZ

And Sunset pictures......

You should see all the kinds of cactus in AZ!

Rivers all over, this one in Wyoming.

The trees were changing in Pennsylvania.

And in closing, a most unique McDonalds right over the freeway!!

It is really amazing how far you can get in a few days. On a good day I can go about 650-675 miles. We are expected to try for a minimum of 2500 miles per week, 10,000 per month. AND do it legally!!! I can drive 11 hours and work an extra 3 hrs per a 14 hr period. Working means truck maintenance, loading/unloading, etc. The bad part for me is you can find yourself driving thru the night and trying to sleep during the day!! My XM radio keeps me sane!!