Happy 50th Dave

To a man of many interests, many talents and energy to burn, may your second 50 years be above and beyond anything you expect!!
Love, Carmen and Terry

A new High

Just a short note today.
I received a letter yesterday.  It was from Michael Wyum who was a freshman at Sargent Central when I was a senior.  He now farms SE of Rutland.  His wife, who is in a book club, was offered my book by the librarian at Sargent Central.  I am sure she did not know me but when she brought the book home and showed it to Michael he decided to read it.  He wrote such a nice letter and said nice things about the book.  He also mentioned knowing me in high school.  He said he remembered me as a very mature, self-confident, "good guy", who tolerated a lowly freshman during the lunch break most days.  Nice to hear for sure.  As a person walks through life you do not always hear good things about yourself!  Sometimes deserved and sometimes not so much.
I have gotten 3 letters about my book over the last month or so.  I would say that the letters have been so much fun and more important than any money that comes with the sale of the book.  I am not saying that I don't like the money but at this time if you put all the money I have gotten from the book in your wallet and then lost your wallet, you would not lose all that much!!!  At this point in my life I will gladly take the letters.  I am strongly thinking about writing again but have not consulted my editor, Terry, and that is important.
This afternoon I have an appointment with a second neurosurgeon for an opinion on my back.  I have said in the past that I am pretty pain free now BUT I do have concerns.  Details are not important at this time.
Aaron/Amy and kids visited my sister Helen over the weekend.  It sounds like they had a great time.  I was so happy that they did that.  Somehow it seems like my kids have had little or no contact with my siblings.  I guess that is life now days but when I think of how important my siblings are to me and were so much a part of my growing up and my kids not knowing them says that they can not understand Dad very well when they know so little of my childhood.  Of course that is one of the reason I wrote the book but.  No, enough said as I can tend to get a bit off track from time to time.
Actually as I sign off, I intend to sit and write some notes about a second book BUT what will happen I do not know.
No FP this morning as I slept in almost until it was time for Terry and I to leave so no FP and no more thoughts.

Spring is here

No picture today.  Here it is almost 9:15 PM and I can not have my FP coffee at this time of day so I had a DIPA ale, very good!
Terry and I attended a new church, for us, today.  It is called "Our Saviors" which I think was the name of our little country church or maybe that was the Veblen church.  Anyway it is a Lutheran church and quit small.  Some friends from WI go there so we thought we would give it a try.  We have had a terrible time finding a church we like here.
When I heard the pastor sound like a Norwegian I thought we may be in the right place!  It was a nice experience even though it was not the kind of Lutheran Church I grew up in.
My tennis team is finished for the season.  It was a fun time but oh my we did not do as well as I had hoped, thought and planned.  We still had fun.  Terry and I put on an end of the year party Thursday and it was a great time.  Terry made her homemade beans and potato salad and everyone loved it.  I was able to get some nice door prizes and I think everyone was happy.  NEXT YEAR, I am not sure what I will do.  I am torn between no team, an A and B team and just a A team that would be smaller and better.  I have to let things settle a bit before I decide.
The winter flew by and now we are into spring.  Two months from today we will be in GA at Terry's grand daughter's HS graduation.  We think it will then be on to Maine and then to MN.  That is 2 months away but every time I turn around it seems a week or more has gone.
I am not playing tennis every day now, perhaps a bit too often but still not 6 days a week.  AND my back has been fine.  Is it healed, for sure not but if I can be pain free that would be great.  I have a second appt with a neurosurgeon Tuesday so it will be interesting to see what he has to say.
Before we know it we will be into April, hard to believe.  I was thinking today, as I drank my FP, how the time seemed to stand still way way back when!  It is hard to believe that in the 50's every month had at least 50 or 60 days.  I don't understand why they changed things???  If I remember right there was at least two months between Thanksgiving and Christmas and now it seems there are only a few days.  Perhaps we can blame it on the government or maybe I do not remember right.
No, it is time to sign off for the night.

Happy Birthday Mary

Happy birthday Mary, to a mom who is super busy with 4 kids, a husband and a home schooled almost teenager--have a great day.

The original picture with a hand and a tear

The "book ready" picture after Mr. Caron fixed it

The picture on the cover of the book

I received a great letter from a cousin Erlene, who lives in CA.  Her mother, Ruth, lives with Erlene and her husband.  Ruth is a first cousin as her dad, Ansel, was mom's brother.  Ruth was in Mom and Dad's wedding.  Three summers ago Terry and I stopped and visited them on one of our national park trips.  But, why am I writing about Erlene?  She wrote this heart warming letter about growing up on a farm, taking care of the chickens, driving the tractor etc.  She then went on to say how much she enjoyed reading my book and how she has shared it with other family members.  I broke out in a huge smile as she wrote that her mother, Ruth, has already read it twice! 
I continue to have fun with the book.  I purchased 180 books and have 46 left.  Many were given away but many were sold as well.  On line, it is on LuLu, Amazon and Barnes and Nobles, sixty-three have sold.  They sell in the form of hard cover, paperback and e-book.  LuLu sends a check every 3 months IF enough books have sold.  I think I have received 3 checks so far.  I have set up a "book" account at the bank and each time I go in to deposit a check I go through this story of these huge checks I receive and I can hardly wait until I get my first million.  Just to set things in perspective, my last check was for $23!  It does provide some fun.  There are also people in Naples who buy it from time to time.  A neighbor came over yesterday and purchased one for her friend who has a friend who grew up in rural WI.  I continue to make progress to a "break even point" and at the present I have recouped 25% of my investment!  Well, it is better than nothing or 10%.
Terry and I are now thinking about what to do after we see all of our national parks.  We have 4 left and we need to do those BUT after that----.  We are thinking perhaps we will visit the 13 presidential libraries. They are in 11 different states and go from CA to MA.  We will see.
Terry and I remembered to set our clocks ahead one hour so now, for at least the next month, we can say, "It is 10 but really it is 9!.
FP went the way of the cold brew last night, the bottom of the cup came up!

Happy birthday Amy---March 12th

How about that for a treat!  Happy birthday Amy

A Blast from the Past--A Blast of 39 Years

Way, way back in 1969 I signed my first teaching contract.  In addition to having a classroom of 4th graders I agreed to be the assist football coach and assist basketball ball coach.  Henry Brenner was the football coach and basketball coach.  I had LIMITED signing skills and Henry was deaf.  For the next 8 years I worked with Henry.  The football team was cancelled in the fall of 1970 but I continued helping with basketball.  I coached the grade team and took over MANY jobs for Henry with the HS team.  Driving the team bus, being the score keeper, calling in scores were a few of the things I did.  During that time we had Steve Blehm who still holds the record in North Dakota for points scored in HS basketball.  In one district tournament game he scored 85 points which included 34 free throws, pulled down 30+ rebounds and of course was the deciding factor in winning the game.
We moved from Devils Lake in the fall of 1977 and I had not seen Henry since.  He and his wife Jo-Ann now spend winters in Naples.  Terry and I enjoyed dinner with them last Tuesday.  Henry retired in 1992 but he still keeps up with many of the staff and students from the past.  It was great fun to catch up and see Henry and Jo-Ann again.  I don't think I have ever seen such a diverse couple. He is deaf, she is hearing, she is Catholic, he is Jewish and as one can see she is blond and he is dark!  They now spend most of their time in Fargo ND even though they are both from Rhode Island and drove back there every summer for many years.  Henry was a very gifted athletic in his young days on the east coast.
One more tennis match in league and then we are finished for the season.  It has been a season that started with high hopes and is finishing with much disappointments.  Really it is hard to know WHY one can be disappointed when you can get out on the court and play in nice warm weather BUT I did have expectations and hopes of finishing in the top half of the league and from where we are now I can hardly see the top half!  BUT we are not on the bottom.  I did not expect that 3 of my top 4 players would miss 16 of 27 matches or 59%.  It is difficult to win like that. Another factor is experience.  Our team is rated a 2.5 team which is really supposed to be players who are learning the game yet.  Well many players we are matched up against perhaps are on that level but are old now and can not move that well.  However, if you have played tennis for 20+ years you can make a lot more shots than someone who is learning the game.  THAT IS MY STORY AND I AM STICKING TO IT!!!
Our cool winter weather has disappeared and we are now playing and biking in temps that are in the 80's. Terry and I played a bit yesterday afternoon and it was hot on the court.
I have been able to read several books this winter which has been fun.  I just finished The Nightingale which was a good read about WWII.
I woke up at 4 am this morning but if I wake up at the same time tomorrow it will be 5 am, how about that.  I do remember some funny stories about the time change.
It is too early for FP, I may lie down on the couch and see if I can catch some zz's yet.

Excited

Last Monday we had a tennis match.  As I was talking with the other captain he mentioned he was from  Rhodes Island. I said I have only know one person from RI.  Well he knew a friend, Henry Brenner.  We have made contact and Terry and I will have dinner with Henry and JoAnn next Tuesday.  It will be so much fun.  I coached with Henry for several years and during that time I was the assist coach, one time ref, bus driver, score keeper and much more.  Henry is deaf so I often was his ears and mouth.  I have not seen Henry since 1977 when we moved from Devils Lake ND to St. Paul.  JoAnn sent me a picture so we would know them!  I had thought they have not changed in the last 39 years!
I played tennis yesterday and my back is fine.  Terry and I are playing with 3 other couples tomorrow and that should be fun.  My team, we only have 2 more matches left so the season goes fast!
As next Tuesday comes close I reflect on the fact that I have been so so bad in keeping in contact with past friends.  I guess it is only one of my many faults but I do try, each day, to be a better person.
Enough for now.