Moment in Time: Dad, Culver's and the Number 4

A year ago today, Dad died.

Where did that year go? I recall a year ago that Mom, Mary and I were spending lots of time with him at the nursing home in Columbus. The siblings Paul and Ruth were on either coast trying to decide what to do. I was with him as he passed on. It was sad, but I have no regrets for him or us. He lived a full life and he lived it well. He was a good man. As Ruth alluded to in her blog, little nuances, little memories blip in and out. Something I see or do reminds me of him. I may shed a tear or I may laugh. And above all, I am grateful he was my dad.

The nurses at the hospital and those affiliated with Hospice told us, almost exactly, what to expect. I recall that someone asked me how long Dad would live. I said that he would make it at least until the 4th of July. When questioned about this, I said that his dad was born on July 4. And....4th of July was a huge thing in Columbus. Mary and I spent a lot of time at Culver's sharing memories and lunches as we sat with Dad in his final days and hours. And...Dad was born on May 4. I believe in many cultures that the number 4 is a number of completion. Dad lived a complete and wonderful life.

Today, I actually took lunch and went to Culver's. Memories flooded back of the time with Mary and what we were doing a year ago. And...the number they gave me for my meal was the number 4.

In a few weeks, I will venture back to Manistique, MI with Mom. She asked me the other day if I would have time to take her up there. I knew last year that this would be a yearly trek for her. It will be fun to go up there with her and to let her reminisce and visit Dad's grave.

What has happened in the past year? Many things. It's so hard to believe that he's been gone a year....but as he always said, "the only thing constant in life is change." Life has changed for all of us because he's no longer here to share his wit, his humor and his stories with us. However, those stories were deeply ingrained in us and he still teaches us as we move on.

Sleep well, Dad.

You are missed and greatly loved.

Wild Heart

For those that you know me, I grew up in a small town, fondly known as the Red-Bud City (a/k/a Columbus). In August of 1970, Mom and Dad moved us from Princeton, IL to Columbus. Every 4th of July the town would host the 2nd largest parade, invite 40K plus people to town to watch Drum & Bugle Corps competitions, eat brats, drink beer (when we were old enough to) and revel in a Wisconsin summer.

Since the 4th of July this year is a Wednesday, the City of Columbus has started their celebration a wee bit early....on June 29. Now...just so you all don't think I have gone out and found a boyfriend....NO...I haven't....I couldn't be that lucky......Last night (June 30), a country band named Wild Heart was to play in the Main Stage/Beer Garden area at Fireman's Park. When I saw that and knew I was going to be around, I decided that I was going to go, even if it meant going alone.

My friend, Anne, and I went to see a movie Ratatouille which is a Pixar animated film which was AWESOME. Afterwards, we went car looking. Not shopping....just looking.... She and I are both thinking of something "new" when our 1998 and 1999 cars bite the dust. The goal...something station-wagonesque (Ford Focus comes to mind).....so that if we were going to a dog show or the vet clinic, then one maybe two dogs could go and we wouldn't have to take the huge behemoth vans. I want a Ford Escape, but my problem is, I don't want to sacrifice mileage that my 1998 Cavalier has. I currently get about 30 mpg. That's what I need. I love the Toyota Highlander and RAV, but I'm not paying for the Toyota name....I looked at the newer improved Toyota Scion Box Car (B) but I can't stand what Toyota did by putting the speedometer in the middle of the dashboard. That is the dumbest thing I have ever seen. I drove a Yaris all the way to Kansas and home and I don't like it. So...we looked at the Chevy HHR which reminds me of a Bonnie and Clyde getaway car or a mob vehicle. I believe that Chevy calls it their retro Suburuban. Since it's built on a Cobalt frame (the Cavalier replacement), I'm thinking I may go with that....it's unique, has fold-down seats and gets 30 mpg. With my Cavalier approaching 190K miles....I think that may be the direction I head for a car.....stay tuned.....but then I still want to build a new home.....

After Anne and I visited at her house and played with RB and Penny, her lovely Irish Setters, I drove to the Park to listen to Wild Heart.

Sister Mary (no...not a nun....but my sibling) said that she and Scott might come on out to listen and I should call her when I got to town (which was about 8:15 or so)...Of course...I called her but it went to voice mail. While I was standing there listening to the band, about 9:20 or so, I felt my cell phone vibrate in my pocket.... it was Mary....and, the band was playing so I had to walk away from where they were so I could hear her...

She was apologetic for not being able to come over. She was concerned that I was there by myself. I told her that I was standing there, beer in hand, listening to a great country group (for free...well...$2 for the can of beer) and I'd be just fine. After all, I am used to doing things by myself. I ran into people from work in Madison who have moved to Columbus and shared a funnel cake with them, I ran into another friend from work (who grew up around the corner from me), I ran into the gals from my dental office in Sun Prairie and ran into another male friend that I had briefly dated last year. He and I had a nice visit for about an hour. It was a good time and I stayed until the very end of the concert. I'm not sure that it ever gets easier doing things alone...but if you want to do things it's better to go it alone.

The crowd was small probably because of the Rhythm 'n' Booms celebration of Fireworks that was going on in Madison.

It was a glorious Saturday....perfect weather and a great way to spend time....even if it was alone.

Wild Heart played one of my favorite songs by Sugarland...called, "Settlin'" in their last set called the "party set."

With apologies to Sugarland - here's my current theme song....

Fifteen minutes left to throw me together
for mister right now, not mister forever
don’t know why I even try when I know how it ends
lookin’ like another maybe we could be friends
I’ve been leavin’ it up to fate
It’s my life so it’s mine to make

I ain’t settlin’ just gettin’ by
I’ve had enough so so for the rest of my life
Tired of shootin’ too low so raise the bar high.
"Just enough" ain't enough this time
I ain’t settlin’ for anything less than everything.

With some good red wine and my brand new shoes
Gonna dance a blue streak around my livin’ room
Take a chance on love and try how it feels
With my heart wide open now you know I will
Find what it means to be the girl

Change her mind and change the world

I ain’t settlin’ just gettin’ by
I’ve had enough so so for the rest of my life
Tired of shootin’ too low so raise the bar high.
"Just enough" ain't enough this time
I ain’t settlin’ for anything less than everything.

I ain’t settlin’ just gettin’ by
I’ve had enough so so for the rest of my life
Tired of shootin’ too low so raise the bar high.
"Just enough" ain't enough this time

I ain’t settlin’ just gettin’ by
I’ve had enough so so for the rest of my life
Tired of shootin’ too low so raise the bar high.
I ain’t settlin’ no, no, no, no, no, no….
So raise the bar high.

Enjoy the holiday week....for those of you traveling, be safe. I have to work all week (except Wednesday) and I will be home again next weekend, before heading out on the road again....but I'll save some of that for another post....