Catching up.

There's been lots going on here. I thought you might want to know some of it. Because I know your heart, I know you are unable to completely shut yourself off from the lifetime of love you had here. So here's a taste. 

Kati, Cass and River came for lunch on Sunday. River is hilarious. I am BiGi, for Bonus Grandma, and she knows exactly where the toy drawer is. She hauls my 50+ year old baby doll around, hugging and rocking and kissing. She loves to tear aound the island and back around by the front door. She's forever wanting to sneak downstairs, so we just push the loveseat over in front of the stairs and it's a good fence. 

Kati and Cassie were here a while ago, sorting through some of their stuff in the shed in preparation for a rummage sale. River and I saw that Denny had the dogs outside, so we had a "race" down the driveway to check out the situation. I was unsure how she'd handle those big, brown labs in her face, but I needn't have worried. The bigger and sloppier the dog kiss square on her boca, the more she'd laugh. 

She's a happy girl. Good eater. Likes to manage the Dora spoon and Stryker fork on her own. Her words are coming slowly. She signs and talks and there's nothing sweeter than that little voice. She's enrolled in a birth-to-3 speech program, standard precaution when you have one deaf parent, per my cousin Laurie. She often signs first, and then almost whispers the word along side. It's the cutest thing. 

And while the voice might be sweet and shy, the giggles are loud and frequent. And Kati can hear them all. It's beyond amazing. 

She hears, Jim. She can hear the cicadas chirping outside. The sound of a chip bag drives her crazy. She will turn when you say her name. 

Kati is working at WSD now. Full time, with insurance. They bought a house this spring ... on the east side over by the fairgrounds. I think it's 700-and-change square feet and they love it. Mike helped us move the big stuff ... on a rainy day, of course. One of your giant tarps saved the day. 

Cassie was diagnosed with epilepsy. It took a while to get the meds straight, but she's finally able to drive again. Happened out of the blue and was really scary for a while, but we're all grateful it's under control. 

Speaking of sick ... there's plenty of that to go around, too. Dick Roherty died. Deb and Denny have COVID right now. Bella was in the hospital today with yet another round of cellulitis. My Uncle Donnie Kuehl had a stroke two weeks ago. He and Lucy are moving into an assisted living facility this Friday, as she's battling Alzeimer's and can't be left on her own. His right side is toast and he can only string a couple of words together at a time. But he smiles. He got lost on the way to Olivia's graduation party in June and we had a great giggle over it that day. I got my kiss, of course, and he was in great spirits. I got another kiss at the rehab place last Friday ... but it was bittersweet because I know there just aren't that many left. 

Bee's funeral was very nice. I pretended to not hear everyone asking where you were. Gary and Jody kind of ran interference for me so I didn't have to face it head on. I sat with Pete during the service, performed by Mr. Froemming. Pete and I held hands. He was kind of a mess. He had been going over there to visit and they played Shut Box, weekly from the sounds of it. Now, I'm not saying he was sweet on her, but I think she was a connection to much of his life and he'd grown pretty fond of her friendship. Losing someone you care about is so hard and my heart hurt for him. At his age, more people leave your life than join it. You'll be happy to know he sold the business, but he's still showing up many days to "help" the new guy learn the ropes ... because you know that guy doesn't do it like Peter Dinker does. 

My mom is starting to not remember things, too. Things like Bella and Olivia. We've taken her car keys away. She does ask about you every once in a while. 

Switching gears ... 

I've stopped mowing between the pine trees for the most part ... they're too big to get through. Jeff has been  helping me with the thistle control and man ... do we have a fantastic crop of milkweed. It's monarch city out there. I'm doing my part. 

Both Bella and Olivia are moving to Milwaukee in a couple of weeks. Liv got a ginormous scholarship for the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design ... a private, prestigious 4-year art school. She's not keen on meeting roommates and talking to strangers, but since their dorms are more like private apartments, I think she'll manage. Bella is still struggling in many ways, but is starting school at the Aveada Institute for cosmotology. She's been working as a server for a year or so at a bar/restaurant along the river and makes killer tips when the boats pull in to listen to the live bands that are there every weekend. She bought a little SUV with a stick shift and thinks she's cool as hell. But I still worry. 

It's going to be so strange without the two of them around. Sometimes my mom calls Bella "the loud girl who lives downstairs" when she's having one of those moments when she can't quite register everything. 

Karla has a new job, working for the county, helping seniors and disabled people get access to the services they need ... medicare, medicade, housing assistance, long-term care placement, etc. She loves helping people and this job is a great fit. One of her first clients was my Uncle Neal. He sold the farm to my cousin Kyle (the house was falling in around him ... no heat, holes in the roof, no plumbing for longer than any of us care to know), and had to figure out where to go and how to get there. He mostly refuses to talk to anyone about anything, but has found a nice connection with Karla. She hooked him up with a cell phone, helped him find an apartment. He trusts her. 

Jody and Gary are in CA for their wedding anniversary trip. I don't see much of them ... eveyrone is so busy. I think by now Gary has fully taken over Summit. No grandbabies yet. 

I bought a trap for my woodchuck friend. Baited it, set it on the landing between the three staircases on the north end of the deck and then forgot it was out there. After a week or so, discovered that a raccoon had gotten trapped, flung itself down the flight of stairs to the concrete patio and died. I had to perform an aerial burial into the field behind the house. Damn woodchuck is still out there. 

Cody and Mandy are getting divorced. Amy is super bummed. I haven't heard the story, but it makes me sad, too. And lil' Caleb is the cutest dad. His Grace is adorable and he's gentle and sweet and adorable around her. She's got Grandpa Mike wrapped around a very cute little finger, too. 

Ms. Dylan, however, is madly in love and getting married in November. Her beau is awesome. I love him. He's just easy ... you feel like you've known him your whole life and he fits. Reminds me of someone. They've asked me to officiate the wedding, so I had to get "ordained" online. We're all going out together ... Lorri and Dion, Jane and Nick, Maria and I. Maria's son Ian is graduating from basic training (Marines), so she'll pit stop in AZ, then meet Matt in CA for the ceremony. 

Last I heard, Jackie had quit her job and was making a living trading crypto currency. She's a Trump fan, but we won't hold that against her. 

Jodi has started back up with Cassie's multiply-convicted pedophile brother, now that he's out of prison again. Which means Jodi doesn't get to see River. As you can imagine, given Kati's whole situation, she's struggling with anxiety. Meds have been increased and she's going to counseling ... which makes me so proud of her. 

Doug and Tammy are well. She checks in every once in a while. 

Sometimes I want to ask you if you traded us all in for a new truck/s, horse trailer, house, cows and whatever else comes with it. People have walked away for less. I hope you find peace within Jim. I really, really do. 

And, I hope you can find your way back to Kati. She would like you to know her daughter.