Deflection

I am in Lafayette, Indiana, today. The weather was fairly nice, with the lows in the fifties and the high at 81 degrees.

In January, my aunt passed away. Today was a celebration of life for her. She was 91 years old and my uncle is now 93 years old. Actually, I feel that my uncle has now out lived my grandfather by months. Since my grandfather tripped and bruised his brain, his death was ruled an accidental death. Since my grandfather is in as good of shape as my dad and uncle, he would have easily made another five years without any problem. As I have had a change to look at people over the past months, this nineties club is growing fast. Case in point, I know two of dad’s high school class mates that are now in their nineties.

It was great seeing family, again. With my cousins living in Indiana, it has always been hard to see them through the years. And, that drive through Chicago is no picnic. (So, for my trip yesterday, I drove south of Whitewater and then east into Lafayette missing the interstate highways all together. It was slow going in some of the small cities, and it is longer, but it was totally enjoyable driving in the county.) When we were able to spend time with our cousins growing up, we have many fond memories. After my grandfather pasted away, we stated that we would have annual family reunions, since we did not want to get together for just weddings and funerals, but that kind of fell apart with the economic situation of 2008. So, unfortunately, we are only getting together for weddings and funerals. This is really not what our grandparents has in mind. Case in point, my great grandparents Helle was married about 120 years ago and we are still having family reunions. I am sure that this is what my grandmother had in mind for us.

Since I am two hundred miles out of Whitewater, I am going take this time to explore the geology northern Indiana and then travel into Dayton and Cincinnati, Ohio. Since I have had time in the past to visit the Wright-Patterson Air Force Museum in the past, I did not have time to see any of the Wright Brothers exhibits, but I will take time on Monday. I will visit one of my dad’s and uncle’s cousin and spend time with her daughter. We will have plenty to talk about, since her mother also has dementia. Since I will be spending my evenings in hotels, I will have time to write in my daily journal. So, therefore, I will keep you updated on my travels everyday.

But, as it is writing and talked about dementia, I will take a few days just to get away from the house.

Roger