A Friend's Passing - Bruce Brighton

In August of this year, we traveled to Roosevelt for Theron's 50th class reunion.  We had dinner with Bruce and Deanne Brighton, Lynn and Susan Lemon, and then went to Bruce's house and talked for several hours about the good old days.

Bruce and Lynn are two of Theron's dearest friends and we have kept in touch with them for all these years.  I first met Bruce when I was teaching in Roosevelt.  He was working in the oil fields and was part of our single adults.  He had an infectious laugh.  Tall and lanky, with a swagger and positive vibes, he was a delight to be around.  He was a Roosevelt farmer at heart and was always working at something.

So it was a sad day for us on November 13, 2019, that we received a call from Lynn telling us that Bruce had died.  He was at his home in Gilbert, Arizona, and riding his mountain bike up Queen Creek talking with his son on the phone.  No one knows for sure what happened, but his son simply said all at once the phone went silent and no one answered his calls.  Bruce was found by his bicycle with blunt force trauma to his head and neck and died instantly.  He had swerved for something and went over his bicycle handles.  In this case even his helmet did not save him.  We are saddened and so aware of the precariousness of life.

We attended the funeral in Roosevelt and spoke briefly with Deanne, his wife, and his three children.  Deanne is not doing well with this sudden turn of events in her life.  It makes me wonder how I would handle a situation like this.  Even though I don't fear death, it's such a separation from someone you love for an extended period of time.  Loneliness is something I fear.

I guess these occurrences will be in our life from this point on because we are aging.  Bruce, we loved you and thank you for being part of our life.

Three Four-Year Old Birthdays - Lauren, Brookelyn, Jesse

Because they were born on the same day, they will always be three.  This year those three are four-years old.  They have boundless energy, they are always aware of each other and they are talkative plus!  It has been amazing watching them develop all the social, verbal and mental skills that they have acquired in just four years.

 The chart from the doctor says it all.  There are three, but they are not alike.  They are three unique, loving, boisterous, happy children.

Happy Birthday Lauren
Happy Birthday Brookelyn
Happy Birthday Jesse

Love Grandma and Pa

Another Solar House in the Family

When we returned from our cruise and celebrated Kacy's birthday, Theron also helped Curt install 11 solar panels on his house.  It's all wired and ready to go as soon as Rocky Mountain Power installs a new meter.

His plan is to generate enough solar to put him in the cheaper tier for power costs.  Let the sun shine!!!

October 5, 2019 - Kacy Marie's Birthday

Where did four years go?  Kacy Marie is getting so grown up.  She knows what she wants and how she wants things.  As Brittney wrote, "This girl loves all things unicorn and mermaid.  She is all girl with her love of makeup and skirts with every outfit.  Kacy brings a lot of sunshine to our home.  She loves to cuddle with her mom."  We know that she is the twinkle in her dad's eye.

Brittney made a wonderful unicorn cake and the family had a great time celebrating this smiley little one.

Happy Birthday and love and kisses, Grandma and Grandpa

A Few Days in the Life of Taylor

The young grandchildren usually send the most pictures and get the most attention in this blog.  However, Taylor, our second grandchild; the six-foot tall, 15 year old, macho dude is the focus of this blog.

His mother and dad gave him permission to group date before he turned 16; some big high school dance.  What a good looking young man.

Taylor is on the Herriman High mountain biking team and has been riding all over the place this year.  I think his final ranking in the state was 130 or so out of a gizillion kids.  Way to go Taylor, so proud.

A few days after the state mountain biking meet, Taylor had to have four wisdom teeth pulled.  Mr. swollen face.  He has now lost all his wisdom; better rely on prayer and help from a higher source.

New England Cruise

The end of September and first part of October, we went on another cruise with Jackie and Steve Duerden.  We had never really been through the northeast and had always talked about going to see the fall leaves - although we saw some beautiful ones when we lived in Chicago. 

This was a little 10-day cruise starting in New York and ending in Quebec.  We stopped at Newport, Rhode Island; Boston; St. John's Bay, New Brunswick; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Prince Edward Island, and Quebec. 

Leaving New York harbor was very delightful.  This is quite a city.

We spent a day looking through all the mansions in Newport Beach, Rhode Island and even took a little time to walk the shoreline.  Wow, some summer homes for the Vanderbilts and other wealthy families.  This little harbor is typical of the ones we visited throughout Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Looking out over Cadillac Mountain to the shore.

There were plenty of lighthouses to see.  We also go to watch them fishing for oysters.  The fishermen have two long poles with a rake on the end and they use them like chop sticks to bring up the oysters from the bottom of the bay.  No Canada trip would be complete without Mounted Police in their red uniforms.  

On Prince Edward Island, we visited the Edison museum and the Green Gable House.  Theron enjoyed sitting on a deck chair replica from the Titanic museum we went to and making his famous salute at a Canadian Citadel.

 With my love walking down lover's lane from the story of Anne of Green Gables.

A Little Hospital Time

I had just enjoyed a luau at the Brio Clubhouse, helped clean up, and walked home.  Two hours later, I was wretching and had diarrhea and didn't know what was happening.  After spending a very restless night, I got up around 5:30 a.m. to use the bathroom and well - bloody stool.  Okay, Theron, it's time to go to the hospital and see what's wrong.  After running several tests in the ER, they had me transferred to a short-term patient care room (Not quite in the hospital, but still part of the ER.) and the diagnosis came back that I had a generic e-coli.  I was to stay over night.  I can honestly say that I have never been that sick with anything.  The cramps, the bloody stool, not being able to eat, drinking from an IV.  Don't know where or when it took residency in my body, but I'm certainly glad it's gone.


Jesse had a second eye surgery and he enjoyed it up to coming out of the anesthesia.  He gets a little combative.  His eye seems to be doing very well and we hope no more surgeries.