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This will be my last post for awhile as I head south again. It will be so nice to see Janet and Pippen again plus spend some quality time with my parents and my brother. I feel so guilty at times being so far away from my family. Then, it's to the VA again for my check up....

Snowing again this morning and if it wasn't so pretty I would get upset because we have so much already. Hopefully when I get back spring will have sprung. I really want spring fever instead of cabin fever....

I hope you all have a great weekend and seeya soon, lots of hugs and love for all my special boomer friends.....Easy

Mike is watching his neighbors goats while they are gone and his bud says to him, "I called you this morning but got your answering machine. It said you would baaaaack in an hour".....

The bank was closed last Thursday because they ran out of propane gas. No cold cash......

We have a hardware store that has been closed for 30 years but is open by appt. It's been picked at like an eagle over a dead deer....

We call it the mall but you probably call it a thrift store....

The garbage truck recently hit a parked car in front of the bar and the driver dumped the truck and took off. He hasn't been sen since. This story smells...

Deer are dying in the waist high snow in the woods....

A snowbank on Quarter Main St. is now the third largest mountain in Upper Michigan. Ski passes can be bought at the town hall which is also closed because of no heat....

There will be no garbage pick up this Monday. Applications for driver can be turned into the town hall which is still closed...

The school librarian just had a baby with red hair. She's mum on who the father is but every guy with red hair is a suspect. It has caused two divorces and Willy went bald trying to change his color to black and it came out blue until it fell off....

Valmer Wuokko is the oldest person in Trout Falls. He's 102 and recently reported his car had been stolen. It took Bert the cop three days to find it in Valmer's garage. Good solid police work....

Mabel's dryer broke so she hung her sheets outside to dry in sub freezing temps. They froze and wouldn't fit through the back door so her husband Fred used them for dry wall in the barn....

Four guys tinkered with Mutto's pick up for hours trying to get him back on the road. It was cold, no gloves work and a run to Iron Mountain for parts but they fixed it. It was no fun but they found time to laugh. Now, Mutto could get to his Dr's appt. Monday morning. The buds sat in his heated garage with a 12 pack and the stories began to flow. I sat there taking notes in my mind of how much I like living in Trout Falls. Sometimes I think I'm back in Maybury with Andy......Easy

Did you catch the lunar eclipse last night? I did but not for long because it was -18 outside. The sun is out this morning and were nearing the end of this nasty weather. It's going up over 30 Saturday and that would be ok with me....

Let's play a game. I didn't get too excited seeing a shadow in front of the moon but I have seen things that are worth remembering and you have too.....

I've seen the Grand Canyon, Niagra Falls, Pikes Peak and Hollywood too. I've seen Japan, Fats Domino and Chubby Checker. I've seen trout streams and meadows full of wild flowers. I've seen my boys being born and I've seen my Grandfather die. But, I've seen one thing that stands above all others. I've seen my angel. I've mentioned this before but bears repeating....

I was heading into brain surgery and the pastor, my family and friends circled my bed to pray for me. At the last second a short red haired nurse asked if she could join and we said yes. She held my dads hand on her left and my brothers hand on her right. After the prayer she was gone and I was off to surgery. My primary tumor wasn't a tumor after all but an infection and I retained half of my eye sight and I would be ok. These were miracles one and two....

The same nurse came through a wall of my room one night, or I think she did, and I had been crying. I couldn't drive a car anymore, I couldn't provide for my family and I couldn't read or write. I didn't think I had much to live for but this angel with a Brittish accent sat with me and pointed out all the things I did have to live for. Seeing some of the things above, I guess. By the time she left I felt better and her presence gave me chills and changed my attitude.....

A couple nights later she came again, changing my IV's and I told her that she was the only nurse who could do it without waking me up. She smiled and said she had to go. Off to Africa to preach God and sing to the locals. And then she was gone.....

Six months went by and I finally went back to the hospital on a bus to find out the name of this nurse/angel. Of course, they had no record of her and no one remembered her. I do...I saw her and my father and brother held her hand. She was the sweetest thing I've ever seen.....Stay warm....Easy

I have the chance to go back and find out what I was like when I was 14. I remember that kid but as the years go by it's harder knowing what did happen as opposed to what I think did. There in lies the rub. I'm talking 1963 when Kennedy was President and life was one big Camelot. I'm also talking about the coins I buried in my backyard. I was a go getter, a Gene the money making machine, and it was because my parents barely got by and if I wanted something extra I had to buy it on my own. I was small for my age and my first paper route was small too. One day another kid quit and I offered to do his route after mine and the next day I had two routes. Six mile to seven mile, both sides of the street. It was here my coin collecting began....

At 14, I wanted to please everyone and I wanted everyone to like me. It worked about half the time and I took stuff too personal and buried my time making money and doing things. I was a hot shot shortstop destined to play for the Tigers but that was my Dad talking. I excelled in the boy scouts and came in second as boy scout of the year in Detroit. But, second best was not good enough and I worked harder to please by example....

It didn't work then nor does it now. We can't possibly please everyone all the time. They say half of the people who look at us will not like us even before we speak. I've spent my whole life understanding this and I can safely say I'm a better person then that 14 year old kid with a brand new Montgomery Ward bike and a complex mind. I was in turmoil then and not so much now. I've learned to take it easy.....

I wanted to be Wally but was more like Eddie Haskell. Now, I call it the Easy and Pete syndrome. lol. I always went against the grain like reading a book at the lake on a hot summer day or befriending the exchange student from Isreal. And I buried my pennies in the backyard and I'm not sure why. I know they were new and shiny and I wanted to keep them that way. Almost like wanting to hang on to my youth. Spooky...Gives me chills....

When we were kids life was grand. We felt safe. Wouldn't we all want to go back and be that guy or girl who had their whole life in front of them. Besides the bomb shelters and Cuba we invented the burbs. Us baby boomers went along for the ride. Ah my, what a ride it was. The manicured lawns, a garage, a new Ford, the three bedrooms and a den too. Hula hoops, the twist and flubber too....

And then Kennedy got shot, Vietnam was a whisper in a pentagon back room and it was time to grow up. The party was over for us boomers. A time to stand up and go out into the world and take a side. Be all we could be. The bubble of Camelot burst and we'll never get it back. Oh wait, I can by remembering it and writing it for you....

I know what I will find when I dig my pennies up. They will be like me; aged with time but still the same, Bob Seger. Maybe I packed them good and they will still be shiny and untouched since I touched them last. This isn't about the coins. It's about finding myself again.......Easy

One of the huge black squirrels is flying from tree to tree in a curcus kind of show. The Chickadees are twitting around the feeder and the temp is over 20. About time. There is one well worn path out the driveway with car tracks barely visible in the yard. Were still not out of the woods for winter; in fact we are deep into it. I'm two weeks away from leaving again and I'm happy about that. I'm getting too old to do this winter stuff. I need to get out with people.....

Folks have two hobbies up here; ice fishing and NASCAR. A gang of us are meeting on the other side of the lake to fish at high noon and THE race starts at 3:30. Buggidy, buggidy, let's go. I'm pondering whether slapping on the snowshoes and walk across the lake but the enrgy is gone so I may just walk the roads to the other side. This will be one of my few decisions I have to make today which doesn't say much for my social calender......

At about three the gear will be pulled up except for the guy who is catching all the fish. If Dale Junior starts fast they will all be gone. It's off to someone's camp that has Direct TV and cook up the fish, tell lies, scream at the screen and have a few beers. Budweiser no doubt. I won't be going with this gang. I'll walk home, hopefully with a pike to eat for dinner. I'll bring my backpack this time instead of putting the fish in my pocket. I've retired my blue down jacket when the zipper broke and maybe the house won't smell like fish anymore.....

On the way back I'll stop at the culvert and fill up a 5 gallon jug that will kick my butt the rest of the way home. I take my time and I know my lmits and it's not like I have much to do until the race starts. I'll watch the start and not much else until the last fifty laps. I'll listen while I man the command post doing who knows what. I have a roast thawing if the fish aren't biting and it will work out either way. It will be a good Sunday dinner.....

Now, I have a grey squirrel hanging from my feeder and the black one is at the bottom catching what seeds fall. They battle with each other and I have a ringside seat. Best seat in town. The grey swats with his tail at the Chickadee who land on his back and I laugh. A lot of nothing is a lot. It's time to get ready to head out on this lazy Sunday of promise. I'll take it Easy.....

I'm seeing red today in a nice way. This St. Valentine must have been quite the guy. I heard he ran with his bud Christopher. Today is a day to make someone happy besides ourselves. It's a chance to tell our friend/spouse how much we truly do appreciate who they are and what they stand for and why we smile thinking of them. I have no fancy store bought cards or these neat downloaded wishes I've recieved but it doesn't stop me from relaying some kinds words to you today....Happy Valentines day!!!!

To the husband who works two jobs and drives a beat up ole car that he prays will stay on the road. He buys McDonalds to take home to the family and says he ate his on the way but really didn't. He only had enough food for them......

To the wife who keeps the home running while he is gone. She is the mother and mentor, the laundry lady and the cook, she is the one who appreciates the man with two jobs and never complains.......

To the police who keep us safe, to the firemen always on call, to the pastor of our church and to those who run our cities, states and government too. To the common man and woman who get caught up in a recession and fear where they will sleep tonight. And to the ones who do the jobs most of us won't...

To our soldiers in harm way so far from home. These are our hero's and our family too....

I have much to be thankful for and I give the praise to God and good friends. He gives me friends that cheer me up, who send me nice cards and comments that make me smile. Ah...It's just another Thursday...A Valentine Thursday wish to you this morning!!!!!

Easy.....

Good morning,

My cousin Sherie does have Leukemia and is heading to Mayo clinic and chemo. This hurts me in many ways since I do know what she is going through and what lies ahead. Uncertainty, Cancer, fear and reality. Please pray for Sheri and her husband Ken. And the Heikkenin family.....

My dad had a blood transfusion and is stable. He already is asking to come home and I love his spunk. Please pray for him also...thx...

It's darn cold and tough stuff for me lately and when I feel this way I write.....

"pulled out his favorite pen and began to write"

This is a tease on the new book I am writing.......


Easy was sitting in the Club staring at himself in the mirror behind the bar. Copies of the best selling books he’d written were leaning against the mirror looking back at him. One had been about the Vietnam War and he stared at the picture of Easy and three of his fellow Marines who were partying at China Beach the summer of 68. The second was about Trout Falls and the people who lived there. On the cover was Easy and Pete who was Easy’s lifelong friend and resident sidekick. Easy had written this introspective book with him as the lead but it was Pete who became the star. Kenny Wayne Shepard was singing “Blue on Black” on the jukebox, Bert the cop was to Easy’s right at the end of the bar playing crib with Moose. He was off duty.
At sixty, the years were starting to show on Easy’s wrinkled face that was three days behind a shave sporting his pearly whites. His hair was cut short but not Marine Corps high and tight and he sipped his coke with ice and a lemon alone looking at his past and pondering of the meaning of it all. Everything was a story to Easy and his thoughts were on seeing himself and his books in the mirror could be turned into a neat short story. He pulled his notepad out of the back pocket of his Levi jeans, set it on the bar, pulled out his favorite pen and began to write.
“Hey Easy. Where’s Pete?” Easy grinned and looked over to the Haymaker twins who were talking about the accident that had happened on quarter Main Street last night. Easy couldn’t tell which one was Junie and which one was Janie and only a handful of people could. Most were family. I don’t think even the sisters know who they are. One thing everyone knew is that the Haymaker sisters were hot. Easy said, “He’s down in Detroit doing another one of those speaking gigs”. It was a bit disingenuous that whenever anyone saw Easy they would ask about Pete. It didn’t bother him one bit, right, but was happy for his best bud. Easy changed the subject to more pressing matters, ”Anyone actually know what happened last night?” Easy couldn’t decide if he was just being neighborly or a beat reporter. Bert the cop had worked all night on the case but no one was talking and Arvo Kempinen’s brand new snowmobile had been smucked while parked in the empty lot across the street. It had been quiet in the Club last night but the jukebox was blaring and no one heard or saw a thing until Stevie Y. came in for his two beers before calling it a night. Stevie Y. was the president of the Trout Falls bank and fairly new to Trout Falls. Most folks say it takes 20 years before being accepted but Stevie Y. was ahead of the game. He was tall with a commanding presence that stood him apart from most and he said after coming in the door, “Someone smashed Arvo’s sled”. The Haymaker sisters, Bonnie, the evening bartender and a couple other stragglers went outside into the wintry night and saw first hand that the yellow and neon green shiny brand new sled was now a broken accordion. “Holy Wa”, muttered Bonnie and she asked, “Anyone seen Arvo?” No one had and that was curious but it hit Stevie Y in a more curious way since he had sat down with Arvo and his wife approving a loan for the sled two days ago. So, Stevie Y had some vested interest in a small town where the business and the friendships intertwine like hemp rope.
Bonnie ran inside to call 911 and this was odd because the Club was across the street from the fire department where Chief Bell slept in the back on nights when he best not be driving home. Chief Bell was retiring in the spring after 44 years running the Trout Falls volunteer fire department and his reputation preceded him. These men and women were respected for the time they give up to chase fires and such. The gang was still standing in the parking lot bouncing back and forth to keep the feet warm and bursts of steam came out of everyone’s mouth when they talked. The sky was black and clear and the temp below zero which was nothing new but a pain nonetheless.
Out of the quiet night came a siren and Bert the cop was on his way while the lights came on in the fire department garage and the steel garage door opened and sounded like metal was being crushed. A fancy red fire truck and the ambulance were parked side by side butt his sled was not on fire, this sled was dead. Things were starting to get good and in Trout Falls it can be good and funny fast. Down the River Road, Tom Tully heard the call over his scanner, gathered up his gear and headed out in his van/restaurant to make a few bucks out of someone else’s misery. In ten minutes he would be handing out hot coffee with or without shots and brats with the best hot steamy buns this side of the Haymaker sisters. But, I digress. Tom resembled Earnest T. Bass but was a whole lot smarter and was in negotiations with Stevie Y to build a restaurant/general store on the empty lot right where a crowd was growing looking at the smucked snowmobile and saying stuff like; where was Arvo? Why was the sled here? Bert the cop pulled into the lot sans siren , got out of his cruiser wiggling his huge frame and walked over pulling out his notebook and taking charge. Everyone loves it when someone takes charge because no one really wants to but it was Bert’s job and he did it well “You going to put some of that police tape around it Bert?” Janie Haymaker thought this was funny but was only asking. “Yea. I think everyone should just back up and away from the crime scene. I may have to take tire prints and everyone looked down to their feet wondering if they were standing in evidence. Crinkled red plastic taillights were scattered in the muddy snow.
Junie told Bert what they knew which was little and Stevie Y said he was the one who saw the sled first and Bert was at square one like it happens on that ‘The first 48’ show on A&E. Bert called Arvo on his cell phone but got no answer but Mabel said that she thinks Arvo and his wife went to the Casino up in Streaking Feet. They had a propensity to gamble and thus happy feet. Stevie Y didn’t even want to think of that scenario but did groan and Janie Haymaker asked him what was wrong twittering her eyes and Stevie said “Nothing” and Stevie looked at Janie who was as cute as a princess, it was Valentines day, and the night took another unusual turn when Stevie Y fell in love with one of the Haymaker sisters. Gotta get in line for that in Trout Falls……

My cousin was taken to the hospital Thursday night with Leukemia like symptoms and they had to give her a blood transfusion and a bone marrow biopsy and I've been there, done that. My own personal memories came cascading back like a bad dream that was far too real. I was sitting in his living room and he was chain smoking cigarettes and beside himself with fear for her life. After many tests it appears she probably does not have Leukemia but they are awaiting test results due in today or tomorrow. I have become the resident expert on Leukemia and it is an honor I wish I didn't have. But, I do and I settled him down and assured him that the doctors were doing all they can do and like in my case, having Lleukemia doesn't necessarily mean a death sentence.....

I am running short of propane and needed an empty tank to hold me over in this incredible winter of below zero weather that seams to go on longer then that American Pie song. I've been off my game and I fear my cancer coming back and it is easier to console others then it is to console myself. Living alone three miles from nowhere makes it worse and I realize we all need someone to listen, offer support and keep us on track. We walked in knee deep snow behind his barn to find the tank and I barely had the energy to follow much less help pull the tank back to his driveway where we put it into the back of my neighbors pick up truck. He did it because I needed the help. I said goodbye to him with a hug and many thanks and he went back into his home where he is alone for now and I know that feeling for sure.....

Republic isn't Kansas Toto and our propane dealer was closed being Saturday and my neighbor suggested we head to Iron Mountain to get the tank filled. Iron Mountain is sixty miles away and the roads are slick but he didn't care because I needed help. Here is a guy who came from Wisconsin with his wife to take it easy at his Island camp and I was taking up half of his day. Good friends are there when we need them just like I was being a good friend to another friend. What goes around comes around if we let it happen and do our part when we'd rather be inside next to a roaring fireplace drinking hot chocolate. It was no fun being out in below zero weather pulling propane tanks with a rope trudging through deep snow like it is no fun to be galavanting across Marquette county in search of Propane. We do what is necessary because we are all in this life together even though we live far apart or have other plans. Why do we help others? Why do we care? We do it because we DO care.....

I took a chance and we stopped by the home of the guy who worked at the propane place and he was working on his truck that wouldn't start. I pleaded my case and he dropped his tools and we jumped into my neighbors truck and he opened up the shop and filled my tank. Zippity do dah hoorah.....

Four lives came toghether on this Saturday morning for all sorts of different reasons but we all had one thing in common; helping a friend in need under miserable circustances. This is why I live in Republic. This is why I love a small town. Nothing against Detroit or Chicago or any other large city but in a small town we all know each other and we cover each others back, so to speak. We don't do it for a reward. We do it because we want to and a friend needs a helping hand. We all bring something to the plate in our own different ways. We do it because it is the right thing to do and because of it one person feels better about his wife, one person stays warm, one person set his disabled truck aside and one person did the right thing to offer a ride. And in the end we are all blessed on a cold Saturday morning.......

Have a great Monday and when someone asks you to do something you may not want to do, do it anyway. The reward is more them worth the effort involved....Easy

I was watching 'Leave it to Beaver' reruns and realized how good I had it as a kid living with my parents.....



I was fed three good meals a day...

My dad cut my hair for free...

My mom did all my laundry...

When I bought my first car I got my insurance on my dads policy on the cheap...

Got all my clothes free...

Had a small allowance in return for good school grades...

Recieved pre-marriage counceling for free....

Had a little brother to pick on....

Had two ace mechanics, dad and said little brother, 24/7...

Parents offered me the wisdom of Solomon...

Snacks were always on top of the fridge....

Free on the job training in life and living...

Had my family cheerleaders when I excelled....

Gas was 18 cents a gallon...

A dollars worth of gas took me to Ann Arbor and back...

When I was sent to my room I had tons of good stuff there....

Had a library of great books in the basement...

And...drum roll please.....found smiles and no anger at home...

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