Four Years

This month marks four years that we moved to Mesquite. April was a month that we had a number of significant milestones in our lives. Of course Jennifer had her Birthday every year, but we also started our careers with Marathon in April 1991 in Louisiana. The last April milestone was finally procuring our home here and getting our stuff shipped up here. August was another month we had significant milestones. So the “A” months were always interesting.

In some ways it seems like yesterday that we were pulling out of Butte in a spring blizzard. We got to the top of Homestake pass and the weather improved and the trip was on. A couple of days later we finally got to Lafayette and got into our apartment and then started work. We had some fun conversations on the way down and were envisioning our new path that we were embarking on. We listened to a couple of books on tape on the way. It was quite an adventure that overall went smooth.

We only really got lost /turned around once and that was in Farmers Branch Texas. Of course this was pre-GPS days and were navigating via maps. Jennifer was the navigator and I was the pilot. Jennifer’s dad had Triple A and he had ordered us a trip pack from them. They sent you a pile of maps that covered the segments of the States we had to cross to get from Butte to Lafayette.

Well the Farmer Branch area had some interstate construction and the signage was very confusing, plus you had exits on the left, and tons of traffic. These two country bumpkins had hit the big city and that threw us for a little bit of a loop. We got it figured out and we made it, but there was some cussing (me) and tears (Jennifer) until we got it figured out.

When we got to Louisiana we found out that the day before was some very heavy rain storms. All of the ditches were completely full of water and it was obvious from the debris on the edges of the road that they had been submerged the day before. So we got lucky that we missed all of that. Our old 1981 Mercury Zephyr (which actually was new to us) would not have done well in water.

Hard to believe that was 35 years ago, like I said in some ways it seems like yesterday, when in reality it was a long time ago. We saw lots of interesting things on that trip. We both thought Oklahoma looked like one big golf course with the rolling green plains.

It is a little strange at times for me as I meet new people here that do not know I am a widower or who did not get the opportunity to meet Jennifer. It is hard for me to fathom that she actually only got about 8-9 months of total time here. Just yesterday, I was at the pool visiting with some folks and one of them asked why my wife was never with me. I explained that she had passed. Of course it always gets a little awkward, they feel bad and apologize for not knowing. I don’t mind talking about it, but it is awkward.

Like I have said, it is still very hard for me to get my head wrapped around the fact that she is not here, I still find myself saying I need to remember to tell her this or that, and then catching myself saying well that is not going to happen. I always get a pit in my stomach and it makes me cringe.

Well enough of the memories for today, I better try and do something productive.