HAPPY HOLIDAYS HOMIES-
Okay, there are some years where it is necessary to really over-describe our activities. You know like the car salesman who advertises “premium pre-owned vehicles when all he has to sell are used cars. Well, not this year Bubba… we have a lot of ground to cover and let’s face it most people have consumed enough social media that they have the attention span of a crazed jackrabbit on crack. So..here we go.
The year started with the final days of Jack “We’ll see you when we see you” Tasler. By all measures of life he took a full swing at the plate as a Dad, a cop, a real estate broker, and a farm owner-just to name a few jobs he did. He enjoyed telling stories and planting trees which are two things that the world could always use. He will be missed.
While we won’t go through the whole saga of late January, housing developments brought about the emotional decision to pull up the stakes and leave Port Huron. Well, actually we got pissed at the landlord and said “it’s time for us to Fly.” After some consideration and clearing it with some deputy sheriff from Otsego County, we chose to move up to the Northern Michigan community of Gaylord. Jon set down some roots in Port Huron with his wife to be and Breanna was and is hanging in Lansing with Cal so Mel and I packed up and with the help of Amanda, Caleb our other daughter from another mother, Kim, and Jon and Cecilia we crammed a house load of stuff and a lawn tractor into a U-Haul truck and took off to the Great White North.
Shortly after moving Mel and I started pumping up the jams at Boomer Boot Camp, a fitness program for “experienced” folks at Big North Bar Bell. We have made great strides bending, stretching, squatting, and lifting…. And that’s just getting out of bed to get there shortly after 6 A.M. Seriously…it’s a great group of people doing what we can to stay healthy so that our wisdom can be shared for a little longer. Thanks, Carrie and the other staff (for reminding me how many cuss words I can mumble under my breath and still smile).
May was the start of the inevitable healthcare rollercoaster that aging families go through—yes your family will go through it too unless you are getting younger and the last time I checked no matter how much I drink you’re not getting younger. After a number of falls (some of which had brother Don as collateral damage) Mom started care at a care facility and safety and health concerns make it the best place for her. Unfortunately much like “Saved Like the Bell” summer reruns aren’t welcome and neither was it good news when Dad’s health challenges led basically in the same direction over the next couple months. If you want more details call…but that’s all about this for now. Later in May Gaylord (our new home base) was rocked by a once in a century tornado. Fortunately, this and other nearby communities joined together to do a lot of immediate healing and although there was loss of life (and of course a trailer park) people kept their heads up and their nose to the grindstone, their shoulder to the wheel (see the Boomer workout for details)… seriously people joined together and by a few weeks everyone had power, water, and internet…and new places to live…. And our summer came in with hope and sunshine.
In June Mel turned 30 (again) and Jim attended his (some mystery number year) class reunion. We aren’t saying when Jim graduated, however, his high school was one of the first to insist students used tablets —okay they were the same ones Moses used to carve the commandments, but … oh well.
Now, in early July there is this thing called “Alpenfest” in our town and I was convinced to enter the senior over 30 division of the “no hands allowed” Pizza eating contest. With no practice or any idea how this worked team Jim (with family and friends cheering) made the podium. Next year I’m bringing home the championship belt since I figured out how to pick up, drop, swallow, stuff and go… In later July Mel visited Perry and Jim revisited Burlington for a “few” days that turned into a month. What happened—stress==Covid==a mini stroke—brother Don in the hospital while Jim also got Covid and poison Ivy just for fun. You see… life is complicated, however with the help of the Willem “army” some plans and activities got on track so that the healthcare system didn’t gobble up all the family resources and people will have roofs over their heads. Many challenges led to many lessons and summer disappeared.
August, however, didn’t slip by without some great news…. Jon and his soon to be wife…dropped the “soon to be” and adding to that he became a step-dad instantly. Oh in the family building “overachieving” category… they are expecting. This goes to show you that the human race will produce good things if you wait and don’t try to tell the universe the timing of things. In short, we are adding multiple family members by next letter and for goodness sake my kids better start doing their own blessed letters as this thing is turning into a novel. For now, we welcome Cecelia and Chelsea to our carnival. As fall rolled in Mel and Amanda renewed a sporting tradition of joining an official bowling league. It wasn’t long until Caleb found out that bowling can be enjoyable and even when it’s not there’s plenty of “beverages” to provide incentive and attitude adjustment.
October brought out the Halloween in all of us and as November came in we went to the Lions-Packers game where Caleb’s Lions squeaked out a win which was good because leaving Detroit with all our Packers gear on might have been a little more colorful in terms of language.
Well… that pretty much brings us up to Thanksgiving… We spent the “meal” part—the most important part with Caleg’s clan at his Aunt’s home. The food was fantastic, the conversation was friendly, and the dogs were lively and entertaining…oh and the beer was cold. If you are asking for more than that then you have truly forgotten how to be thankful and “no turkey and pie for you!”
It’s four weeks until Christmas and five weeks until the ball drops. You never know what might happen for sure, and yet the wise folks out there will remember…
Life can change without much warning
So count your blessings every morning
and if the day goes just all right
Count them twice again at night
Life is full of crazy dances
So it’s okay to take some chances
Have some fun enjoy some labor
But always Love thy Neighbor
Share some Peace and Joy…now and always
The Whalens’
