After a full day, we all headed to Lee and Margret’s for dinner at 5. The house was buzzing with Robert, Forrest, Walker (their boys) and KJ and Lindsey and little Theodore. Robert and Lindsey are married and Forrest and KJ are married. Robert is the oldest, then Forrest and then Walker. Theodore (Ted, named after Uncle Ted) is Robert and Lindsey’s little boy who was about 3 years old. They also had their neighbor and his girlfriend over. Now this is quite the story as their next door neighbor is Helmut Fricker. Helmut is a German guy who must be close to 80 who started Octoberfest in Denver in 1969. He’s an institution up here as he leads off Octoberfest up here every single year too and is a World Champion yodeler. You might have seen him on posters or tv playing a long 10 foot German horn. I first met him 15 years ago and he remembered me. He’s also one of the Country’s top antique book restoration specialists. His girlfriend was a former country singer from Texas and they’re both super fun and nice. He made the boys laugh as he’s like a German Rodney Dangerfield with silly jokes. He also brought his accordion and played and Lee commented how much much Mom would have enjoyed this and of course he was spot on. I can see her sitting there signing along with Roll Out The Barrel and other popular hits from her generation. So, great to connect with family. The two oldest boys (mid 30’s) were Marine’s for about 10 years while Walker is home from England where he’s studying theology and alchemy. Margret is a doll and full of energy. Her Great Grandpa and Uncle were two of the first Texas Rangers in the mid 1800’s. Lee and Margret are a few years older than me, maybe 66ish. It’s great to have family close and Lee kept saying how he’s sure it’s more than a coincidence that we ended up so close to each other. Maybe he’s right. There was a picture of Lee on their refrigerator from years ago I think holding one of their kids when they were born that looked exactly like Tommy. The kids all said how much I looked like Aunt Rose who was their grandma. Makes sense I guess.
After dinner Jag went to friends house and Lori, Ty and I went to Marty and Melanie’s. We showed up to find a new fishing boat in their driveway! He bought it over the phone and had it delivered to his dad’s memory care home in Montana where they went to visit last week. He was waiting to surprise us and didn’t tell us until we walked up on it. We laughed as the dealer was hesitant to take the money over the phone and deliver a boat to a memory care center when he bought it sight unseen, funny. It’ll be fun and now Marty has like four boats! Three river rafts and the new fishing boat!
No smoke again this morning. You can see way off in the distance smoke somewhere over by Glenwood. It picks up around noon and calms down around 5 pm every day. Today James is coming by and then Marty and Mel for buffalo chili for dinner. I have just a couple more things to get out of Minturn. Robi’s old wood dresser that you attach a mirror to and an old chair with swirly arms and legs in green velvet. Then a few chairs are all that remain in the garage.
We have a big week as Jag moves in and then stays at CU this coming Friday to start college the following Monday. Ty this week, I think, is going to Denver to stay with his friend Preston and their family. Amy, Preston’s mom, keeps going on how much they love Ty and what a great kid he is. Ty and Preston could use a few days of hanging out together before school starts. I think both boys will have about two days a week of actual school and the rest of their work will be on line.
I think Lori and I will go to the gym and then hit Minturn to pick up those two remaining pieces of furniture. I might keep the chair but maybe give Margret the dresser. We’ll see.
Before I go, Lori found this the other day and it reminded me of Mom, check it out,
When they asked her to reveal her beauty secrets, Audrey Hepburn wrote this beautiful text that was later read at her funeral.
′′ To have attractive lips, speak kind words.
To have a loving look, look for the good side of people.
To look skinny, share your food with the hungry.
To have beautiful hair, let a child cross it with his own fingers once a day.
To have a beautiful poise, walk knowing you’re never alone, because those who love and loved you accompany you.
People, even more than objects, need to be fixed, spoiled, awakened, wanted and saved: never give up on anyone.
Remember, if you ever need a hand, you’ll find them at the end of both your arms.
When you become old, you will discover that you have two hands, one to help yourself, the second to help others.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, in her face or in her way of fixing her hair.
The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the door open to her heart, the source of her love.
The beauty of a woman doesn’t lie in her makeup, but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
It is the tenderness that gives love, the passion that it expresses.
The beauty of a woman grows over the years ′′
See what I mean? Mom all the way. They even look alike in a way. Be well, make it a great day and God Bless.