Mitigwa and other adventures
Bobby and I spent Friday and Saturday and Cub Scout Camp Mitigwa, up near Boone, Iowa. We were to come back today, but we fled when the rest of our campground packed up on reports of storms.
Here Bobby demonstrates his "sparker" firestarting tool.
The camp has a replica of the original Fort Madison, one of the early U.S. outposts in Iowa Territory. Some retired guys give the scouts a history lesson. This one is dressed in an early 19th Century army uniform, while on onlooker demonstrates early 21st century Cub Scout dad camping attire.
After it rained yesterday morning, it was very steamy. We roasted marshmallows and turned in.
While Bobby and I were still reading Harry Potter (we're about 425 pages in), a Dad came by our tent and told us everybody else in our campsite was leaving because a big storm was approaching. Knowing Bobby wouldn't want us to stay alone, we joined the bugout and got home about 11:00 pm. It was a bummer packing up early, but we had the consolation of a nice shower and a soft, air-conditioned bedroom to sleep in.
So we get to bed and sleep well. I woke up to the storm when it finally got here at maybe 6:00 am, and I just lingered in bed listening. The phone rings after 7:00, and it's Vickie's mom telling us that the hospital has called, saying that Don, Vickie's stepfather, is dying. It's very sad that Dorothy has to go through this with a second husband.
Vickie, Dan and I are old hands at this drill; it seems like yesterday that Vickie's father was dying, even though it was the summer before Bobby was born. Don was diagnosed with Leukemia about a year ago (I think), but he has remained lucid and surprisingly vibrant, though his energy flagged noticeably in recent weeks.
We visited the hospital this morning. He is lucid and reasonably comfortable, and his grip is surprisingly firm, but he doesn't look great. Don shooed me and the boys out after a little while, for which I was grateful; it's hard for a nine-year old to be hanging around a cancer ward, and it was good to get Bobby away from there.
It appears his kidneys are failing, which I guess is a normal thing with Leukemia patients. The doctor says he might have up to two weeks. His daughters are driving down from Minnesota today. He has two sons in Colorado.
Meanwhile, Dan has a gig at Java Joe's coffeehouse this afterroon. I will be there to videotape it, especially in case Vickie can't take a break from staying with Dorothy. We'll all stop by to see Don afterwards. Meanwhile, a prayer for Don and Dorothy would be appreciated.
Here Bobby demonstrates his "sparker" firestarting tool.
The camp has a replica of the original Fort Madison, one of the early U.S. outposts in Iowa Territory. Some retired guys give the scouts a history lesson. This one is dressed in an early 19th Century army uniform, while on onlooker demonstrates early 21st century Cub Scout dad camping attire.
After it rained yesterday morning, it was very steamy. We roasted marshmallows and turned in.
While Bobby and I were still reading Harry Potter (we're about 425 pages in), a Dad came by our tent and told us everybody else in our campsite was leaving because a big storm was approaching. Knowing Bobby wouldn't want us to stay alone, we joined the bugout and got home about 11:00 pm. It was a bummer packing up early, but we had the consolation of a nice shower and a soft, air-conditioned bedroom to sleep in.
So we get to bed and sleep well. I woke up to the storm when it finally got here at maybe 6:00 am, and I just lingered in bed listening. The phone rings after 7:00, and it's Vickie's mom telling us that the hospital has called, saying that Don, Vickie's stepfather, is dying. It's very sad that Dorothy has to go through this with a second husband.
Vickie, Dan and I are old hands at this drill; it seems like yesterday that Vickie's father was dying, even though it was the summer before Bobby was born. Don was diagnosed with Leukemia about a year ago (I think), but he has remained lucid and surprisingly vibrant, though his energy flagged noticeably in recent weeks.
We visited the hospital this morning. He is lucid and reasonably comfortable, and his grip is surprisingly firm, but he doesn't look great. Don shooed me and the boys out after a little while, for which I was grateful; it's hard for a nine-year old to be hanging around a cancer ward, and it was good to get Bobby away from there.
It appears his kidneys are failing, which I guess is a normal thing with Leukemia patients. The doctor says he might have up to two weeks. His daughters are driving down from Minnesota today. He has two sons in Colorado.
Meanwhile, Dan has a gig at Java Joe's coffeehouse this afterroon. I will be there to videotape it, especially in case Vickie can't take a break from staying with Dorothy. We'll all stop by to see Don afterwards. Meanwhile, a prayer for Don and Dorothy would be appreciated.
posted by Joe at 12:17 PM
3 Comments:
Our prayers are with Don and Dorothy and naturally, Vickie and you guys too.
Peggy, thank you.
Wow, Joe I am so sorry. I missed this yesterday.
I know that this has to be so crushingly hard.
Our thoughts and prayers will be with you all.
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