Phyllis Buell
September Journey

When the days go by at a somewhat even pace – sometimes it seems as if they haven’t gone by at all.

That happened to me this past week.

My second oldest granddaughter called to tell me she was flying from Colorado to spend the weekend with me.

Misty Buell (Ken and Julie’s daughter) Weifenbach and her husband, Jessse, live in Thornton, Colorado with their two sons, Titus and Marcus.

The boys are growing up way too fast. They are in the 7th and 5th grades.

Jesse is an engineer. Misty is employed at their church.

The boys are busy with all of the things kids do now days.

Last year their 4-H projects were two turkeys. Their names were Leftovers and Quill. Leftovers was one big boy. I don’t think there were any leftovers whenever he was around.

A farm nearby kept 4-H project fowl for quite a few “city” 4-H members. That allowed them to take part in that area of 4-H.

After the fair was over, Jesse built a huge wooden carrier for them and Leftovers and Quill traveled in luxury to Murdock to live there on the farm for the winter.

This year it seems there was a turkey shortage and the boys didn’t get theirs ordered in time. So – they took part in other phases such as a wind turbine project and public speaking.

Misty declared this past weekend to be a Granny’s Weekend and indeed, it was!

Jesse’s Grandma, Donna Koch (American version is Cook) lives in Denison, Iowa.

When Mary and Joseph Cook, my great great grandparents came to America, authorities changed their German name Koch to the American version – Cook.

Merle and I enjoyed meeting Donna and her husband Don at Misty and Jesse’s wedding many years ago. Family showers were our other meetings.

Merle and Don had so many things in common. Their birthdays were on the same day, July 13th. Don was a year younger than Merle. They both became Rural Mail Carriers in addition to farming and both lived to the age of 90. Don was the youngest of 13 or was it 16 (?) children born to his family. Several of the children did not survive, quite a common sorrow in earlier days.

Dee Sorensen, Jesse’s Mom drove us to visit Donna. That Iowa town has built a large series of apartments to care for their elderly citizens. Donna lives in one of the Independent apartments. She is quite the “card shark” I was told.

The weekend went by too fast as time spent with loved ones always seems to do – especially as we grow older. One thing we didn’t get done was make potato salad!

I can just imagine what you are thinking. Potato salad?

Well, the fact that she wanted to learn how I make my potato salad really flattered me. I made potato salad for all of the grandchildren’s graduation parties – except Dustins.

He didn’t like potato salad – mine or any one elses!

It meant more than she will ever know to have her take time and effort to visit me. I know – from experience, how easy it is to put things off, sincerely intending to do them later.

Then, we find that later comes earlier than we thought it would.

Thanks Misty, for the wonderful “new” memories! Next time we’ll have that potato salad lesson.