Musings from my own home

As soon as I saw Justin pulling up in my own car at the airport last night, I began to cry. It was so good to see him again, we really missed each other. On the way home I told him the story about Lori fearing David's demise Sunday night. I will tell you also: When we got home from the bus trip, there was no David to be found. The radio was blasting Irish music, his computer was still active (no screen saver up yet), the dishwasher running, warm hamburgers in the fridge, a cooling grille on the patio, sliding door open to the patio but screen shut, window open in the family room.....but no David! Hmmmm.....the car was there, the bikes were there. Lynn walked around the house to see if he was out there. I encouraged Lori to call some of his music friends to see if they knew where he was. When asked what I could do, Lori said I should just pray he was alright. Finally she called her neighbors on the hill whom reported they saw him out walking....and he appeared on the porch! Lori ran to him and threw her arms around David and just sobbed in relief. He had left his cell phone at home and was gone at least an hour, by our account. David did not expect us to come back so early, as last year's outing got home at 9:00, not 6:00! It was a huge relief to see him safe and sound, and he has promised to keep his phone with him at all times, or at least, let someone know where he is going. He walked about 8-10 miles total on Sunday, now that the weather is nice.....Justin listened intently to my story and then shared his.

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Saturday Justin had to attend the funeral service of one of his classmates. Howard died of some yet to be explained cause, much too young. He told me about the other classmates who were there, those who rose to speak about their friend, coaches from Little League ("how do they remember a specific game from like 9 years ago???"), and remembrances of what Howard was like. My friend, Jami, who is a prison counselor, uses the movie "The Bucket List" as a teaching tool for her inmates. At the end of the movie, Jami asks her 'class' to write their own eulogies, what they want said about them when they die. Interesting and introspective....Justin found that out the hard way Saturday at his young friend's service.

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Justin also made me roar with laughter on our ride home. He was lamenting the time change, the return to daylight savings time. It seems he overslept Monday morning, but remembers dreaming about the game where you take a hammer and pound on the head of a mole as it pops out of the hole. "That would be my snooze button...." which made me laugh my head off! We stopped at Pizza Hut for a cheap pizza to share at my house, as he decided to sleep over. Sadly he was gone before I crawled out this a.m., although I was actually awake before 9:00 a.m.

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Hey, Lynnie! My suitcase is empty! This a.m. I got the washer busy with the contents of my suitcase and ran the dishwasher, which made me feel quite productive. One wash basket already had unfolded clothes in it so I have more than I started with to deal with today. I can actually put my luggage away in far less than the usual week! I still need to make appointments for my hair and my toenails, both which look tough. Mostly the toes need work, the hair is probably good for another week. In my opinion....

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I am still reeling with excitement about finishing the book "My Life in France". During my afternoon rest, I started reading the book I bought in Onalaska's Barnes and Noble, "It Happened in Wisconsin". The book tells about various newsworthy and perhaps lesser known things that took place in WI, not the least of which is it being the birthplace of the Republican Party. Also stories about the Peshtigo fire, Ed Gein and his horrible crimes, and the circus! It will be fun to take this trip and perhaps finish another book in less than a month! I still have the book about growing up in Manitowoc County collecting dust here so that will be next. A monster is created, perhaps.....

Captured on film, or with a digital camera....

Justin is looking at the scrapbook and other memorabilia in the church parlor before the funeral service for his grandpa, Arno Hackmann. His cousin, Tabitha, is on the sofa behind him. The lovely stained glass window is perfect, especially on such a day as this!

The pallbearers, nephews and grandsons of Arno, carefully place the coffin into the hearse for the short ride up the hill to the church cemetery. Due to the terrible weather, only a few folks went up for the placement of the coffin into the grave, as the committal service was held in church instead. Justin, JR, Uriah, Kevin, Ron, and David served as the pallbearers, the last two being Arno's nephews.

Some of the family and a guest assembled this pictoral board for display in the church parlor along with Arno's confirmation certificate, written in German, with his confirmation verse serving as the sermon text. On the table also was the scrapbook I had put together after Lucile died in 2007.

This is a keepsake photo taken in the school gym where the funeral luncheon was served. The color made a perfect backdrop for Allie, me, Justin and JR. JR is now at his base in Germany, having had to delay his orders due to the funeral. Justin was concerned that having JR in uniform would overshadow him but I think they both look just great! We all do!

If you click on the photo, it will come up full-sized, if you'd like a better view!

Here is the family photo taken after the funeral service and luncheon, minus Marian and her family, and Diane, who could not make it, plus a guest of one of the family members. The last time a family picture was taken like this was after Timmy's funeral where all but one of the children of Arno and Lucile were together. Nancy, though quite tall, is hard to see in the back row. My Justin is one end, and his good friend and cousin, JR, is on the other. Barb is the shortest one of the family, unless I would have been in the picture, which I opted to forego...

So good to be home!

I am home and in my family room, enjoying pizza with Justin. He is staying overnight tonight after collecting me from the airport. I was a bit late getting in as there was a 'paperwork' problem between the plane and the gate. Really? What they finally did was print off the report at the gate and ran it down the gangway to hand it to the pilot through an open window. I guess once the 'doors' are closed, there is no opening them or something. It worked! We were delayed, though, which means Justin would be kept waiting for me at the original time. I turned on my cell phone quickly and sent a text telling him I was running late. He had the flight info and such so he could have tracked it on the computer but he did not mind waiting. He had his laptop or something along to watch while he waited. No worries!

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I am ready to go sleep in my own bed tonight so will sign off for now. I hope I can sleep okay, expect to, anyway. Taking an allergy pill seemed to make things better and perhaps it will stay this way!

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Oh, and one more thing-----I finished a book in less than a month! On the plane I read the last chapter of "My Life in France", Julia Child's autobiography and it was fascinating. Strangely enough, I am recommending a book to you!!!