Goshen, MOC Rally and catch up

The month of August till 16 September I spent some relaxing down time on Zig’s farm. We have walked a somewhat parallel path with the loose of our spouses and have supported each other through those times and continue to do so by email. We agreed to tell it like it is and accept any emotional pain it might cause. I really know Zig has helped me by being a sounding board.

He took me to the Mississippi river and let me man the helm of his 32’ twin I/O boat. Thanks Zig.

I stayed on the farm each evening (by choice) to take care of his cows (7), chickens (6 and a chick), barn cats (over 20) and dogs (3) as well as Nikki. 

During the Days Zig was at work I puttered around with some items that didn’t work or needed a minor touch up. He did let me help put a new horn on his boat too. I enjoy “puttsing”, that is my relaxation. 

As I mentioned above Zig has been there when I needed help. Well he was there again because Nikki (15 plus years old) told me it was time for her to move on to puppy heaven. Looking back I now recognize even more signs but when she quit eating for five days and lost 1/3 her body weight I knew the times was near. She passed away on Friday the 13^th of Sep. She will stay on the farm when she had the freedom to roam. Zig and I did tie one on that night.  A picture  from 2010.

Thank you Zig for the continued support. 

The 16^th I moved on to Elkhart, In. (a two day trip) and had some routine maintenance done on the trailer and hooked up with Montana Owners Club members in Elkhart. 

On the 23^rd we moved to the Elkhart 4H Fairgrounds or the 10^th MOC Fall Rally gathering of the Montanas. We have 116 rigs here with over 230 people. The Wagon master and two assistances have done a wonderful job. Of course all the volunteers and coordinators make the rally succeed. 

I know folks are wondering how I am doing so I will give you a little in site on some of the Adult Supervision I have here. I was a little down when I was chatting with Rosetta and made the mistake of telling her, “I did not really care.” I do believe it was in reference to how long I would be around. Anyway, this Marine received a “BUTT CHEWINGS” better or as well as any Drill Sergeant could deliver. (Note: June of 2011 Ann had a discussion with Rosetta about me needed friends like her and George to keep me on track.) Any way I did adjust my attitude and try to walk a straighter line. What a great group of friends I have helping me through all this. 

I have commented that I feel I know about 75% of the people here at the rally. 

At one of the evening happy hour gatherings one friend told me my mustache looked terrible. She was a beautician and had the tools to trim it. I thought I liked the wild and bushy look but after my attitude adjustment from Rosetta I said what the heck I can always let it grow back.  (Note: I have said it was my protest for loosing Ann.) So on Tuesday Morning at 10 AM I had my stash trimmed. 

Here is acopy of the blog entry made by Linda:

 We had the Amish dinner Saturday night and I received over 30 invites to ride with someone if I needed a ride. Have I told you what friends I have. Thank you to all.

I will close this blog with a couple of Butterfly stories.

Story one: Tammy (daughter) and I held Ann’s Celebration of Life at the PA house on the 13^th of May 2012. I asked Anne to say something along the lines of a prayer for Ann. She found a poem by Emily Post (I believe) titled Fly Away Butterfly. Letting the spirit fly away. Anne acquired a butterfly from a teacher she supports. She read the poem and when she quoted the words “fly away butterfly, fly away” Anne looked at me and said, “John let the butterfly go.” I spent about 3 to 5 minutes trying to remove the butterfly from the flower it was feeding on in the small container. Finally I pulled the flower, with butterfly still feeding, out and held the flower in my left hand. I moved my right finger over close to the butterfly and it moved from the flower onto my finger and after a movement flew away. 

Later Tammy  and friend compared notes and said Ann had to touch me one more time. 

Story two: Around 15 Aug 2012 I was fishing with my long friend Harry at some rock quarries he had fished for over 30 years. Harry and Ruel were at the celebration of life. We had be fishing for a couple of hours. I was holding my fly rod in my right hand with my thumb on top when a beautiful Monarch butterfly landed on my thumb and started taking the moisture off my thumb. After a short while I twitched my hand and the butterfly flew away.  Harry said, “Damn, I have NEVER had that happen to me before.” 

 Story three: John and Sharon (MOC members) live in Bonati Springs Fl. about 2 hours drive from Barbara Ann (Ann's sister). They drove up to see Ann the weekend after Easter (2012) when Jim and Vickie were there. John and Sharon left their house at 10 AM and pulled in at 4 PM. All John said was we had to wait for an accident to be cleared on the interstate (4 hour delay). I was surprised and did not understand the reason for that dedication.

Sharon filled me in on the dedication to Ann. In March 2009 when I went home for Dad memorial service, Dave and Betsy took Ann to a MOC luncheon. The host mention Ann had lost her son at the beginning of the gathering and it choked Ann up so she went outside. (This I knew) Sharon said she happened to walk outside and saw Ann sitting near the truck and walked over to talk with her building the bond.

Now, for the rest of the story. Sharon had a medical issue last year and they did not know if they would make the Fall Rally. John did not know if she would make it period. This spring her back pain got so bad they put electrical implants in to manage or shunt the pain again John and Sharon did not know if they could make the trip here.

Yesterday Sharon asked me if I had any association with butterflies. I confirmed I did. She said before she went into the surgery for the implants she asked Ann for help. When she came out and was in an atrium or someplace like that she said there was a larger than normal gathering of butterflies and she just knew Ann was with her.

I then told her the butterfly story.

I took Sharon into the trailer and let her pick one of the butterflies off the wall to take with her.

We never know the impact we have on people.