Lost

I've never thought much about what it feels like to have Alzheimers disease. But recently I had an experience which gave me a glimse of what it may be like to experience dementia if not the onset of Alzhiemers itself. On Friday (9/4/2015)  we attended the State Fair; the "Great Minnesota Get Together." Over a million and a half people pass through the gates during the 12 days of the State Fair.

Pat and I got up early planning to beat the crowd and meet our daughter for breakfast at the Salem Lutheran Church Dining Hall, one of the last of the the nieghborhood church kitchens that were a staple at our Fair for decades. We arrived at 6:45 AM and were among the first to pull into the fairgrounds and be directed toward a parking lot and one of the 9000 parking spaces available on the fair grounds. I complained about what seemed like a long drive to our designated spot as we passed open lots and countless attendants with orange flags. But, when we finally clicked the locks on the car door and handed over our tickets we were only a few steps from the gate.

A few hours later, after an enjoyable morning of farm animals and eating our favorite state fair treats, we made the slow trek through an expanding crowd of people, and a rising dew point. We were quite literally heating up but I recognized certain land marks that assured me we were correctly retracing our steps. But once outside the gate and into a parking lot labled camel, I realized we were not in Camelot and neither was our car. I didn't recognize anything and realized I had no idea where I had parked the car. We were lost.

At first, I was confident. There would be land marks, a recognition of the road we came in on. But the further we went the more fearful and confused I became. I decided we needed help to retrace our steps and locate the car. We also decided to find a place in the shade where Pat could wait. She had recently completed some medical treatment and was more rapidly affected by the heat because of it. I found a parking staff member who helped me narrow the possible locations of our car by determining the time and location where we entered the Fair Grounds. He pointed out two likely locations and provided a map. I convinced a ticket clerk to let me re-enter the fairground and got directions to the gate from an information booth attendant.  When I finally arrived at the gate marked on the map a friendly attendant helped me decide on one lot. I walked on through 20 or 30 rows of automobiles continuously pressing the lock button on the car key when I finally heard the blessed sound of a car horn. My good samaritans guided me and with their help I was able to drive directly to where Pat waited and we were on our way.

I was relieved at first but as the days passed I went over my feelings and thoughts from the experience of misplacing the car. I was afraid. I felt helpless. I was confused. My surroundings were unfamiliar. I knew I couldn't find my way on my own. I finally, got hold of myself and methodically retraced my steps and appreciated as never before how grateful I am for those mental skills we take for granted. But it may also have been a sample of a future that may last more that a few minutes?  

Llama Judging

Meet the Kraemers

It seems as we get older, our family continues to change and expand. Through these photographs we are introducing Kris and Annie Kraemer. If you know Pat Cretilli, really well, you know that she was a Kraemer. Her first husband was Peter Kraemer. And you do know Kim -Pat and Peter's daughter. When Kim's dad re-married, he had three more children, which gave Kim four siblings, including her stepbrother, Ollie Bauer. Her other three sibs are Eric, Kristopher (Kris) and Andrea (Annie). It has been great have the opportunity to get to know Kris and Annie better and a joy to have their regular presence at family events. Sadly, their increased presence in our lives is in part the result of a series of sad events events in theirs. First, Eric died tragically and suddenly in 1999. Erics death is an example of how random death can be and how fragile life can be. As some of you know, Kim's dad, Peter Kraemer died in 2003 and four short years after that Kris and Annie lost their mom, Charmaine. Reciting these events with out more detail does not do justice to the way in which Kim and her brother and sister responded to the death of their dad and to the support and care they provided Charmaine during her treatment for cancer. Suffice it to say, we have been proud of how she has shown her love and generosity for her family. For Pat and I and, I suspect Ollie, a gift from these losses has been a greater presence of Kris and Annie in our lives at Christmas, Thanksgiving and other times throughout the year.

Hopefully, you will get to know them better but for now I've posted a few pictures from recent holidays. Kris is 26 and lives in St. Paul and Annie is 22 and lives in Madison WI.

Photo #1: Ollie, Kris and Annie with their best punk band pose, modeling gifts from their big sister (Christmas 2008)
Photo #2: Kris and Annie (Christmas 2008)

The Grand Canyon

Niether Pat nor I have ever been to the Grand Canyon. Everybody should see it. What a wonder -not part of the orginal 7- but it has got to be on many people's list as evidenced by the number of languages one hears spoken as you walk the rim. Our pictures do not do justice. We arrived on Monday, April 18 and Left early this morning Wednesday April 20th.

I wish I could begin to explain the nearly 2 billion year history of the formation of the Grand Canyon. The power of "Mother Earth" is awe inspiring. There is a geology walk along the rim that provides a geological overview and a guide to the layers of rock that were created as a result of the collisions that formed the the North American Continent. The walk took us through the 1,840 million years and showed us formations that outlined the volcanoes of the past, the various forms of limestone, igneous and sedimenary rock and their ages, through signs, samples and telescopic aids.

I am overwhelmed at how powerful our earth is and how small we humans are even with our advances in science and technology. I get the feeling that is we don't behave ourselves there is no doubt in my mind that the earth will survive even if it has to swallow us up and start all over again. We are really small and it contians all the secrets necessary to start over again, if necessary.

The other realization I had was that while there are many reasons I didn't appreciate geology as a boy - lack of aptitude being only one. But another may be that the good sisters -as I remember- never did attach years to the formation of those layers of rock. I wonder if that had anything to do with our Catholic education. It is hard to reconcile 1.8 billion years with a seven day creation story.

As ended our visit with the Gales last Sunday I asked Uncle Jim if he'd ever been to the Grand Canyon. "Why would I want to go up there? It's _ _ _ _in' hole isn't it? Indeed it is, but what a hole!

Two fun days with the Gale Family

We have had a fun packed and busy two days. Yesterday we went over to Uncle Jim and Aunt Karon's and watched Braydon (he is two) but we did not get a picture of him, swimming in the pool with his "Gramma" Deb and "Grampa" Paul Langness. Braydon is the son of Natalie, who is Brandon Langesses girlfriend. Braydon did go under at one point but Grampa Paul Langness was right there to swoop him up. Also swimming were Tommy our nephew and Chris, his eleven year old son. Later that evening we went to a series of one act plays directed by students of Cody Langness' wife Rachel She teached drama at a high school in south Phoenix. Four of her students directed a one act play. Three were funny and we laughed our sides off. One of the plays written and directed by the same studen dealt with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)of soldiers and was tough to watch but excellent.

Today we went to Paul and Debby Langness' home and had a beautiful Persian meal which Debby made in spite of the 90 degree plus weather. She must be related to the late Gramma Cretilli who made pasta in her kitchen in the summer heat. We have some wonderful pictures of the family to share and lots of memories from this trip. Tomorrow we leave for the Grand Canyon. We have really enjoyed seeing all the family here. We are looking forward to making our way back to Minnesota too!

Pictures: 1: Chris Gale ( son of Apryl and Tom)playing with Chris "Carter". 2. Nicole (daughter of Kathy Gale) 3. Jim Gale and Pat 4. Kathy Gale and friend Del 5. Tom Gale and Family 6. Tom and Apryl 7. Jim and Karon Gale.

A Visit To The Langnesses

Last night we ate "dad burgers" at Deb and Paul Langness's. They also threw in some hot dogs, a favorite of Dan Lockwood's. Dan believes that no bad can come from eating a hot dog, which speaks to the powers of mind that can be acheived with practice and discipline. The "dad burgers" were great and complemented by a Scots-Irish Italian Salad prepared to perfection by Uncle Jim, who had already gone to bed. So though physically not there, his presence was felt.

This is a smart family full of engineering and computing expertise. Dan described his work on the escape pod for the space shuttle. If your firewall fails call Cody Langness. I learned the science behind those wireless devices we carry around and why I can't use the Samsung phone that came with my Verizon plan if I switch my network to Sprint. I also concluded that space exploration is over until somebody finds a way to make a profit from it. So maybe there is not a compelling vision for space exploration. Does that mean there is no legacy emerging from the Space shuttle the international space station, or the moon landings? So don't save up for a ride in space, if you don't expect to be here in a generation or two. We also agreed -well those with expertise agreed-that mining platinum from an asteroid, would be a really good paying job.

Uncle Bill Gale has found a way to pull pictures off the blog, so maybe he will take some of the family photo's and turn them from trip pictures into Bill Gale art.

Pictures:
1.Cody Langness and his dad Paul
2.Mike Gale and Pat
3.Jim Gale Jr. and Pat
4.Brandon and his girlfriend Natalie
5.The Langness family, Paul, Brandon, Casey and Debbie
6.Julie and Dan Lockwood with Chris Carter the Langness dog

A day at the Desert Botanical Gardens

Pat and niece Julie went off to the Desert Botanical Gardens while Paul played golf with great nephew, Casey. There are so many lovely blooms in the gardens right now and Spring is really the best time to tour. We have had a few days with the Gale family and tonight we are going to dinner at Deb and Paul Langness' home. They are Pat's niece and nephew and the parents of Casey. Also, it is likely that Brandon, Cody and his wife Rachel and Brandon's girlfriend will be at the party. Pictures should follow from that party since Uncle Jim and Aunt Karon and if we are lucky we will see Pat's other nephews Jim, Tom and his wife Apryl and others possible. We are having lovely days and cool evenings. Last evening we went to a cool restaurant created by Dr. Andrew Weil. Foods are all pretty healthy and pure but really delicious. We loved it. Dan and Julie were our tour guides there.

In Scottsdale

Click on photos and they may enlarge and give a better perspective

We have arrived in Scottsdale enjoying the great hospitality of Dan and Julie Lockwood,our niece and nephew. Yesterday we had a great drive through Arizona's beautiful mountains and pine forests. We drove through the painted desert and the petrified forest, to which these pictures do not do justice. Today we spent the afternoon with Uncle Jim and Aunt Karen. Uncle Jim is ornery as ever which means he is mending well from his recent surgery or the sight of Paul reminded him of his roots in the home state of Hubert Humphrey and the Democratic, Farmer, Labor Party. In truth he was happy to see us and especially his sister formerly know as "Patty".

News from home for those who don't already know: Carson Westra made the AAA 13 baseball team in Inver Grove Heights. We are right proud of the boy who is really taking a step up to play with 13 year olds at the Triple A level. Go C-MAN!