An anniversary and time marches on.

I mean really, where does the time go? Seems like a lot of stuff lately which makes me reflect. This past weekend was my nephew's wedding. Why I remember when he was just 2 yrs old. I think I took pictures of him in leaves at about this time of year. Now he's married. He has married a nice young lady. They both work for a good company in the cities. The only down side to it all, they are both quite Republican. I/we had so much fun at the wedding. It was in a very small rural church and the reception at the State park. Nice and simple really. Not too much for family. Speaking of family... I have a great one.
These two young kids (well not really kids, both in their 30s) but kids non-the-less put this wedding together on a very limited budget. The father of the bride didn't come through with the flowers, but he managed to put some nice arrangements together once he found Hy-Vee in Rochester at about 11pm the night before! But we all rallied round the bride and assured her it would work out. But you do realize the little things that need to get done that nobody thought of. Like scrambling for a table for gifts and a basket for cards. Not to mention pulling together some tablecloths for said table. Where to put the guest book and "memory" board.  My brother David and Ms K put the champagne glasses together and served. Otherwise it would have sat there. You can see how lots of $$$ can be spent in no time. The whole family rallied to make it a success and also worked clean-up detail the next day. They had good DJs and the music selection was good. I must say that Ms K and I did some serious dancing!! Ooooo my hips the next day. Damn they aren't quite as flexible. It was also very much fun to see BP and Ms A having a good time. They both looked very nice. Good looking and very handsome!!
The next day, Ms A had to work but BP really wanted to go on a walk into the woods with his moms. Actually, Ms K and BP both wanted to show me where they had been fishing the week we were camping. It was catch and release but they both had fish they caught and they wanted to show me where that was. Sunday was warm but the hiking was nice and the scenery beautiful not to mention the company. Thoughts now of when BP was younger and we went hiking a lot. It makes me feel so good that he still very much likes doing things with us. He calls at least once a week if not twice, just to check in as he says. Ms A met us later and we went to eat at the Elba House and had a great time. Talking about the wedding and the weekend in general.
Now here I am reflecting on time and pondering the fact that Ms K and I have been together 33yrs. Now that my friends is a long time. But not really, just a midpoint isn't it? I probably should write a piece on how  we ended up together and here. I really didn't give her much of a choice. I pretty much told her I was coming back to MN after my time in the Navy and if she wanted to come that was it. I wasn't going to wait around. Did I love her at the time and consider it a lifetime commitment? Not really. She loved me but I don't think I realized I loved her until maybe a year later and then one night it was like, my god I think I love this woman and I want her to stick around. Then at some point we bought rings and one day we took them out and she said, "Will you be my friend forever?" "Yes, and you mine?" "Yes. Okay then there you have it." It hasn't always been easy. She has quite a temper and I don't spend $ wisely. But we've learned and we've grown. There were trying times while raising BP. Ms K is type A and I think finished in the top 5 of a HS class of over 600. School for me was so-so. We have a son who is very talented but did not strive to excel in school and pretty much drove her crazy. I nearly got an ulcer trying to keep a semblance of order and sanity as he got thru school. To both of our credit, he has turned out to be a very nice young man. Still looking to find his way, but a very nice and responsible young man. And so, time does indeed march on. Saw one of my best friends last night and realized it had been waaaay too long since last we spoke. Out here in the woods is nice, but not as easy as it should be to see old friends. As I say that though, that's really a lousy excuse. It really is just a matter of making and taking the time...because it doesn't stop...it just marches on. WL

Has it really been since the 11th of Sept that I was last in here? I can't believe that. But yes, it's true. Where in the hell did the month of Sept. go? The calendar says Oct but that can't be! Nooooooo!!!!
So much time has passed that I don't even know what topics to cover. Ms K and I were quite busy helping a friend build a big brick oven. We learned to pour concrete. Just one of those handy little things it's nice to know living out here in the woods like we do. You never know when you might have to pour a slab or two somewhere. With the help we've given him over the summer I think we're set with pizzas and bread for life.
We helped on a Habitat for Humanity House and working there I learned to hang siding. I even got to use my very own electric drill. I didn't just have to hold it or hand it to someone...I got to use it on my own. Nails in and out, all by myself. I learned the hard way that the siding has to be locked in or things get all out of whack and then you have to take down all the siding you've put up and lock in that which you've missed and proceed up from there. I'm glad I learned that early on in the project. The young lady who is going to be living in the house with her husband and son was very nice. She was up on the ladder and scaffolding with me. She proceeded to tell me about the 3 jobs she is working and how she coordinates them all. I didn't complain about anything, all day.
Last week Ms K and I went camping at Whitewater SP. We got in very late on Sunday night. Set the tent up and went to bed. Next morning I had to call and check to see that I didn't have jury duty. I had to drive to where I could get phone reception. Car dead as a door-nail, panic. Can you go to jail for skipping your duty???  I rode my bike to the ranger station and carried back a charger to get it started. Success on the car and no jury duty. It proceeded to rain the whole day...we slept the afternoon away as the night's sleep had been shitty to say the least. Woke to pouring rain and wetness in the tent. Waited for the rains to cease and then got things dried out and put together right. It seems that if you set your tent up in the dark...some things aren't put on right. Darn! But we were now going to stay dry. BP showed up. Can't keep him from a tent site if he knows where there is one to park himself. I knew he'd come so I brought out the steaks and we had a great meal. I had one cooler full of nothing but beer.Oh, there was some Amaretto in there as well as some Baileys. We slept great and stayed dry.
Next day I had to take my Mom to the clinic in the AM and was going to meet her at ten. She lives on the family farm which is about 12 mi. from the park. Car dead as a door-nail, panic! Can you go to jail for parental neglect??? Rode my bike to the Ranger station with the "second verse, same as the first". Charger in hand back to car. Oh, called my mother from the ranger station. She came and picked me up. Car started. Well, we can't keep doing this so Ms K decided to take the car and go home, get the battery receipt and get a replacement. Long story short, it took her 2 tries to get a battery that worked. The store dude gave her one that didn't fit the first time. Although she told him it was not going to work, hell what does a woman know anyways. Oh that reminds me on the first day I asked the lady at the ranger station about the charger and she said she didn't know how to use it but ,"Don't you have a man with you? He'll know." I left with no comment. Car battery charged up and Ms K returned to the camp but not until about 5:30 pm. The whole day was shot with those damn batteries. More Amaretto and Baileys...a good night's sleep.
Wed. arrived and was absolutely drop dead gorgeous. The valley was beautiful. We had hauled the bikes with us so we took them off and went on a ride. At about the 7 mi mark, here comes mom with a lunch she had made. We told her that we'd meet her at the site. We rode about 2 mi more and then headed back. Back at the site were not only mom but BP and his lady Ms A. Mom rolled out this warm, scrumptious quiche, warm squash and then apple brownies with warm, rich, sinfully delicious caramel sauce. OMG it was soooo good. Ms K and BP went fishing for the afternoon. I, my mom and Ms A sat by the fire and either read or slept. They eventually left and I just read and waited for the fisherman to get back. When they returned it was time for brats. Yummy!
Thursday started with me waking in a panic to the sound of raindrops. Shit, I did not want things in the screen tent to get wet. Up and out to shut all sides of the screen. Back to sleep for 2 more hours and then the weather was much nicer.....for a while. But alas, the WINDS picked up and if it was not staked down, it would have been bad. Pack out day and we did, JUST as the heavens opened again. Rain, not sun. Before we left to take a shower, we decided by golly since we have these bikes, we're going to ride them again. We did, in a steady rain just to say we did and then, finally home!! Camping is never just set up the tent and laze around. It is always an adventure of some sort! It was so very beautiful. I love this time of year. I love the colors, I love the smells. I love the cool crisp mornings and nights. Good sleeping weather.
Oh my, just to catch up has taken a lot of time. I'd better get to bed and maybe continue tomorrow. So far the car has continued to start. I still have the tent to open up and clean but the dishes are clean and put away. Man I have to get to bed, but dang it, Faye Ray just threw up so gotta clean that up. And on that note I bid adieu. WL