The Event ~ Celebrating 90 Years!

February 28, 2014 my father-in-law turned 90 years young!  It was an occasion to celebrate in a special way.  Kathy, Tim and I planned a special birthday open house to honor him.

We planned the celebration for Saturday afternoon March 1 at his Faith Church in Bayard for his many family and friends to share in the event with him.  Unfortunately, weather did not cooperate.  It blizzarded early that morning for most of the morning, and cleared about two hours before the event.  Fortunately, his immediate family who had to travel a distance arrived in Scottsbluff on Friday nite.    A few close relatives ventured out to join us on Saturday afternoon, but the weather cut the expected attendance in half.  Only a few friends ventured out in the cold and icy roads, and several expected relatives didn't make it.

But it was still and eventful day for those of us who had the privilege and blessing of celebrating 90 years with him.  He received so many cards in the mail that he so much enjoyed.  His nephew put him in headlines by putting his picture on the cover of Newsweek magazine.

It was a special event.  Leo has been and still is an inspiration to all of his family.  He has been blessed with a good and healthy life, loving children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and I am so blessed to have him as a wonderful father-in-law.  I thank him for loving me like a daughter.

 

The Event ~ Childhood Friends Reunited

Last week Tim and I had the pleasure of reuniting with my bestest childhood friend.  We visited Heidi and her husband Dave at their new  retirement home in Chino Valley, AZ.  It was the first time I had seen her in about 32 years.  I stayed at her house in the summer/fall of 1981 when I went to Missoula for my Grandpa Gallwas' funeral.  What a treat it was to see her again and catch up through the years and reminisce. 

Heidi and I - Feb 2014

Heidi Gasser and I met at church camp either the summer before or the summer after 4th grade.  Camp was held in the mountains of western Montana near Big Timber.  Heidi was from Sand Springs, a remote tiny dot in the bare, desolate ranch land somewhere about 150 miles northwest of Terry.  I don't remember what led us to become such soul mates back then, but we did.

Heidi at church camp - 4th grade (?)

Heidi and I remained pen pal friends through all these years.  We continued to meet at church camp in the same location through 8th grade.  Throughout high school we maybe got to see ech other once a year.  I remember visiting her at her ranch home.  And I remember her coming to Terry a couple times to visit.

Heidi and I at our house in Terry - 1966 or 67 (?)

We would write letters faithfully almost weekly.  Since her last name was Gasser and my last name was Corneliusen,  I would  "buy" gas from her and she would "buy" corn from me in our snail mail correspondence.  It was so silly.  It was so funny. 



Heidi's wedding

We were "maid of honor" in each other's wedding.  She was also the wedding singer at my wedding.  Heidi always wanted to be a writer, journalism was her major, and today she has authored three books based on the life of her "cowboy-rodeoing" Grandmother.

Having a long-time friend is really something special.  Long-time friends enrich one's life, and Heidi has certainly enriched my life.  Friends are a blessing, but long-time friends like Heidi are extra special. It was an eventful time to renew our childhood ties.  Hopefully, we will see each other again and not wait so long!      

NOTE ADDED JULY 2014:  Heidi's husband Dave died July 30 due from reoccurring cancer and other health-related issues.  My heartfelt prayers and sympathy extended to Heidi during this time.