August 9 Almost in person

Infra red roasted, micro waved, coffee was a treat as Sheba and I went for a walk to try to get a picture of an Amish carriage . I missed the same guy twice who waved enthusiastically, but zipped by so fast and I couldn’t get my act together.

The Amish Farmer’s market was open till noon in Boscobell so we just had time to get some "just picked "Wisconsin sweet corn, button squash , and  broccoli micro greens.  The best purchase however was the  “Apple Cider Doughnut” little container of wax that you heat. I can just leave it open in the hot Casita  and when you open the door you are greeted with a most delightful aroma as opposed to the funky, old lady, porta potty, mildew smell.

We found another favorite restaurant that I could slip into a booth with Sheba.  Honest, It really was too hot to leave her in the car. We had “Pastys” Wisconsin style (ground beef, potatoes, carrots cooked in a pastry shell and smothered with gravy plus a salad bar, so again I have left overs.   

We then discovered that my new computer doesn’t even have a USB port! What the heck are they thinking? So we had to put our Technotard brains to gather to figure out how to get her desk top to play the videos on the flash drive Steve had so graciously given 7 of us. Finally after clicking every tab, no swear words just silent prayer, “Whoohoo” a video began . I got to be a fly on the wall with a first hand interpreter at my side as we relived the 50th wedding anniversary. Sept. 1993  From  the whole family joining in making and putting up the decorations to the quests arrival to the messy cake feeding scene. There were three  videographers at times so Steve had to collate them all .It was great. 

We then went on to the interview Steve did with his Mom trying his best to get her to tell of the courtship of his parents and the circumstances of there getting married in Az. She would never admit it but it looked like a con job to us.

By now we had to take a potty break so why not steam up some of that freshly picked corn with salad stuff I had and of course some “squeaky” cheese curds compliments of Andy’s gift to my kids. (Fat chance of them ever getting any.) And then the to die for Amish Zucchini bread with raisons.. No restaurant could have beat this feast.I had tried to get Jean to go kick up our heels in town on a Saturday night, but she insisted the town is dead after 6:00  even on Saturday everyone is watching Lawrence Welk He really is still on! 

So we went back to the 80th birthday party Jan 2000. It was intended to be a surprise altho advertised in the local paper.Jean had hidden the paper but some clueless friend called her apparently wanting  to be sure she would be there and told her of the notice in the paper.  

I got to meet the Lutheran Church crowd, the fellow workers at Rayovac , neighbors, friends and relatives.   Rayovac for the girls apparently was like A.O Smith for the guys. Perhaps a bit of Nepotism. It was obvious she had less stamina as she was constantly pulling up a chair, but otherwise sharp, gregarious and apparently having a good time.  Her diagnosis of metastatic colon cancer was known at that time and chemo had been tried but made her so sick she chose to stop it.  She died one month short of her 81st birthday.   I am so grateful to Steven Fritz for having preserved these memories of her for me and to Jean for helping me know who was who. We had great fun and a perfect bonding experience.