Taking time with your best friend always seems so much more fun than "...taking time with your spouse" -- Right? That's what makes it so neat when your spouse is your best friend! Three weeks ago, Deb worked a short day, and then had Friday, the weekend and the following Monday off from work. Since nearly all of my family is in the Puget Sound area, she suggested we take off after work Thursday and head over to the coast. It proved to be an opportunity to accomplish some necessary arrangements for our daughter Erin and her fiance Chris's wedding in September, to see some very special family members, and also to get time with some friends who are really like family. But the best part was we had a great time together. Now how many married folks can say that about a couple of nine hour drives together, and four nights on the road together constantly.
Turned out the weather was great for us, and as always, Deb had her camera ever ready for the trip. We didn't get photo's of everything we wanted, but more on that later. Since we left later in the day on Thursday, we made reservations for a motel in The Dalles. Weather over the Blues was a little drizzley but not bad. We made it to the Dalles before dark. One of the things we always watch for is game along the road. It's just who we are as a family. And of course, we were not disappointed. Saw deer out of Caldwell and Ontario. However, the real treat was the big horned sheep we were fortunate to see. I dare say there are folks who travel across I-84 several times a year and don't even realize they are along the south side of the road between Blaylock Canyon and the John Day River. We stumbled on to them quite by accident a few years back when we were headed to the coast. Our daughter Erin, the Wildlife Resources Management expert and Tree Hugger Extraordinaire suddenly exclaimed, "I just saw a big horned sheep!" I am embarrassed to say, I doubted she knew what she had seen. But we started watching, and sure enough saw more.
We've since learned they winter over on the south side of the freeway, below the cliffs along the river. So, Deb and I were fortunate to spot three different groups of them this time across. Probably saw a total of about forty to fifty in all. The first group had some rams, and the other two groups were all ewes. What an incredible opportunity. We stopped, and took a couple of quick pictures. The problem is right along that particular part of the road the pull-off puts the passenger door right against the guard rail and leaves about two feet max from the driver door to the outside lane. Not exactly where you want to jump out and be taking photos with all the semi traffic. But still, what a great delight and privilege. We made it to the Dalles, and before checking in ran down to one of our favorite Mexican food places and had a great dinner, and bloody mary and ice cold beer. Then in for the night.
After a leisurely get up, and a very "continental" breakfast at the motel it was back on the road. We tried through several texts and phone calls to set up a lunch with two of our nieces in the Portland area, but they both work, and work about 35 miles apart so it was next to impossible to find a place where both could meet for the hour they had. Plus our one niece cannot drive for medical reasons. We ended up picking her up and going to lunch. It was a short visit, and since our grand niece was in school missed seeing her. After lunch and a quick catch-up on the 'Oregon Shaws' we were back on the road for Centralia, Washington.
Our daughter-in-law is co-owner of the Centralia Deli and BBQ. She is going to cater the wedding. Oh, didn't mention, the wedding will be on the "beach" at Kalaloch, Washington. So, we have some cabins, and Debbie our d-i-l is taking care of the food and cake set-up. She is one amazing lady, and of course had several great ideas. It's one less thing Erin and Deb will have to fret over. Plus, we know how dependable she is, and that everything will be done just right. After a couple of hours talking wedding plans, we ran to the outlet mall and then came back by for dinner. Debbie let us stay at her house for the night, and so we entertained her little puppy Sophie. The next morning it was back to the Deli for breakfast, then on the road to Puyallup.
My cousin Janet "SweetPea" was diagnosed with throat cancer late last summer and told to get her affairs in order. I went to see her in September, and got the typical Shaw greeting, "What, you think I'm going to die so you rush over here to see me!" Told her I'd also come over to see my Aunt and attend a High School Class Luncheon, and that it, "...wasn't always about her!" I'm glad she's still here and as feisty as ever. Since I never had any female siblings SweetPea is really like a sister to me. We were fortunate a couple of her daughters were there that day as well, and then one of our cousins popped in, so it was a great afternoon. When you live so far from family, you really value such an opportunity.
Late afternoon we ran "up the hill" to Edgewood where my mom's only sister lives by herself at the young age of 91 years. "Honey" as I named her when I was very young is in fact just that. Such a sweet, loving and caring person. On that side of the family she is The Matriarch. As neat as that is, it also means she is the last one to have all the memories of her generation and the ones befor. Deb and I spent some time seeing the remodeling that had been done to her home, and then we all went up to her favorite Mexican Restaurant in Edgewood for dinner. While the meal was great, as usual, the best part was for dessert we returned to her house and enjoyed a little over three hours of consuming memories and memorabilia from her still very alert mind, and personal archives. How precious that is. And, when Honey is gone, so will be all these beautiful mental treasures. Every time we visit I try to record and capture as much as is possible knowing that valuable asset will not always be there to question. She is so precious, and thankfully, still very alert and blessed with a great memory.
We sadly told her good nite and headed to a motel in Federal Way. We slept in, had a leisurely breakfast at the motel, along with a girls' swim team. 8-) It's fun to see young people who are so well behaved and share so much team spirit together.
From there it was back on the road for a short trip up toward our friends home. They are like family. Deb lived with them some time when she was in the Navy. They recently moved to the NW when Mike took a job with Boeing to work on the new 747-8. Of course, being playoff, we watched our beloved Green Bay Packers advance to the Super Bowl. We also got to see their new toy, a Harley Ultra-Trike. It is so beautiful. Maybe down the road, but for now I have Rex's Softtail, and that means a great deal.
We had a beautiful return home on Monday, and I did promise to tell you about a picture we didn't get. Deb was driving, we were coming down out of the Blues toward La Grande. Nearing the bottom of the hill we had just passed a Semi and were in the inside lane. In the median was an elk carcass, and sitting on it feeding were two mature bald eagles. Unfortunately, we were unable to pull over with the truck right there. What a fantastic sight though. We felt blessed just seeing such a beautiful sight.
Once again, we had so much joy from being on the road, and what made it so special was sharing it with each of our best friends in life.
This week our first daughter-in-law is On The Road. She went down to San Diego to be with her son (our first grandson) and her daughter-in-law. Tonight she was blessed with seeing her first grand child, a baby girl weighing in at eight pounds three ounces -- Miss Ava Grace Slemp. Adam and Alexis, parents are doing well, and the grandparents are also doing well. We know Rex is watching too.
The birth of a child is a wonderous and spiritual thing. It is God's blessing on us that we are worthy of still trying to perfect human kind. It is a miracle that such a little life began nine months ago, and within the womb has developed and grown to be the perfect image of it's parents. The little tiny fingers have nails, along with little creases and wrinkles. There are eyelashes on those beautiful eyes, and the little feet and toes are such precious representations of adults but in miniature. Life is so precious and delicate, while at the same time such a demonstration of strength and endurance.
We can only wonder and hope about who and what this beautiful little girl will be someday, but today, this evening, she is the greatest miracle known to mankind. She knows no hate, no prejudice, no anger, only a need for love, human warmth and a mother's milk. We thank God for her safe arrival, and for her mother's good health. We ask your prayers over her as she grows, and ask for those same prayers for her mom and dad as they find their way as new parents. The one thing we know she will have--a great deal of love.
Oh, and thanks so much for allowing Deb and me to become Great Grandparents. We are very proud!
In January 2001 I drove 1775 miles from Neenah, Wisconsin to take a new job in Nampa, Idaho. Shortly after arriving, found out I had a couple of new Quality Engineers hired by the company. One was a salty olde dog, former Navy, gruff on the outside, but I was soon to learn with a heart of Gold on the inside, and a man to be admired. From that day Ed LePard has had a significant impact on my life as a true friend. In the sixties, Ed was a member of a Seal Team in Vietnam. Clearly most of his work for his country, if not all will never be told, but he eventually returned to the states after taking a claymore mine in the face while on a patrol. After weeks in the hospital, and considerable face reconstruction, he came out of it and was determined to continue making a go at life and contributing to this nation. Unfortunately, he and his wife split up, but he over came the challenge of a divorce. Taking his Navy education money, he went back to school and became an engineer. He subsequently learned he had cancer, and as with his time and tragedy in Vietnam, rolled with the punches, fought back and overcame his cancer. The great news is while in the hospital in Bethesda he bought a lottery ticket on a whim and hit the lottery. After establishing education funds for his grandkids he went back to work and continued to become a successful quality engineer in the electronic field. During that time, Ed applied for and received several patents, adding to the benefit of the electronics industry, and contributing to society in yet another way beside his service in the military. When I was fortunate enough to meet Ed, we were working together on a team of individuals trying to save a failing electronics company. We actually had the bottom line turned into the black for about three months when the tragedy of 9/11 struck. The economy tanked, the electronics industry dried up, and subsequently we were both out of a job. Once again, Ed didn't let it get him down. He moved to Montana for awhile with the hopes of opening a fishing lodge. Unfortunately, the environmental folks wouldn't approve building on the location, or the business and so Ed moved on. By then, he was old enough to consider just taking retirement. He moved back to Pennsylvania with his Old English Sheep dog Heidi and the two of them set up house together in Carlisle. Not long after that Ed called and let me know Heidi had cancer and they had amputated one leg. With just three legs she didn't get around well, but Ed would take her for rides in the new Dodge Ram truck he bought just before leaving Idaho. Ed and his family weren't close, and I tried on numerous occassions to talk him into returning to Idaho where we could just be a couple of olde retired guys hanging out together. But, his daughter and grandson were in that area and he had hopes of reestablishing family ties someday. In the fall of 2008 Ed had a stroke and once again was challenged beyond what the vast majority of any of us ever are. But, in the same old manner, he fought back, got out of the hospital, moved to a nursing home, and subsequently managed to get enough mobility that they allowed him to return home. Being alone, it was clearly tough, there wasn't anyone there to pick-up a dropped dish, or help with his shoes and socks in the morning, but Ed faced it and won. Then he had another stroke and went back into the hospital. I was able to take a 5000 mile bike trip in the summer of 2009. Saw lots of family and friends along the way, but my trip ended up at Ed's house. I was only there for three nights, but I went to the hospital every day, and we were able to share lies, swap stories, and talk Navy. It was some of the best three days of my life. Just seeing the smile on his face and watching his eyes light up because it was someone new to talk to was the greatest reward of all. In addition to the Navy, another love we shared was for a good scotch. And of course, I drank his scotch. The doctor wouldn't let him have any alcohol. But, he made sure I'd found where he kept it so I could have some when I went back to the house at night. Now on my budget a good scotch is on occasion a Johnny Walker Green Label. However, after winning the lottery, Ed said the one thing he promised himself was he'd drink nothing but the best scotches. His everyday, around the house sipping whiskey was Johnny Walker White Label. I love Ed for who he was, but gotta say, it was no bad deal being offered White Label anytime I went to visit him. Of course, good scotch is only half the fortune. The other half was seeing the relics from wars gone by Ed had collected and displayed in his home along with numerous stories he had to share from his personal experiences. How I loved just sitting sipping his 'good stuff' and hearing his 'great stories.' I remember when he called me just before Thanksgiving that same year and told me he was doing the holidays with his daughter and grandson. It is impossible for me to describe the joy I heard in his voice as he told me about looking forward to sharing time with his family. I don't have any idea what happened or why he and his family were estranged, but I do know how much it meant for him to get back with them for that holiday. After the visit his call was just as filled with the excitement of having seen his grand. I was so happy for him and hoped it would increase in frequency, but it didn't seem to happen. Ed was very fortunate to have a good friend and neighbor, Bill Piekos who looked in on him, helped get him groceries, picked him up on weekends and took him out for drives, and often invited Ed to the house for holidays. People like that are precious few, and worth so much. Without family, Bill became like family to Ed. I'm just glad Bill was there for Ed and cared enough about another human being to look in on and after him as much as he did. On January 6th, Bill wrote to say Ed had gone into the hospital again, and tho he was stable was likely going to be there some time. I called the hospital a couple days later, but the nurse said Ed was unable to talk. On January 11th, Bill emailed again to let me know they were taking Ed off the ventilator and stopping all medicines except for morphine to manage the pain. Bill called Ed's daughter to see if she wanted to be with him at the end, but time was not ample enough for her to get there in time. That evening Ed passed at 2025 Eastern time--only Bill was there with him. So not to take from the tragic shooting in Arizona, but we had politicians lining up to go down there and make speeches and talk about how sad it is, and it truly was. But it's also sad that here we had a Navy veteran who but for the love and kindness of Bill Piekos would have died alone, after everything he's done for this country, both as a military member and a civilian. I guess there's just no political advantage in recognizing this one lone sailor. But Ed isn't alone, there are a number of soldiers, marines and sailors giving their lives every day for this nation, and half the time, in half the cities throughout this country no one even knows who they are or from whence they came. Where are our values? How can we accept all the freedoms and privileges we have because of these people, but then leave them to die by themselves, unacknowledged? What happened to what's really important? It seems the only thing the majority values anymore are votes, and what someone else can do for them. Ed, I know the members of your Seal Team haven't forgotten you! When I called your Team member Dennis, he made sure word was passed to several other team members. Ed you are part of a very elite brotherhood, and do not go alone and unrecognized from them. To every member of those Seal Teams, thank you for what you do, that we never hear or know about. Thank you for the family you have among yourselves. And Ed, thank you for letting me be your friend, and share in your life just a little bit. VR, Mags
