(As we celebrate Dad's life the next few days, I am re-posting this interview I did with him 6 years ago when dementia was beginning to get a grip on him.  I did not want these stories to be lost!  Enjoy!)

originally posted January 31, 2009

It's been 55 years since Dad wore this boxing robe.  I can just imagine him prancing into the boxing ring, bouncing around punching the air, ready to rumble!

(As we celebrate Dad's life the next few days, I am re-posting this interview I did with him 6 years ago when dementia was beginning to get a grip on him.  I did not want these stories to be lost!  Enjoy!)

originally posted January 29, 2009

This is my dad, Bud House.

Before.  Before he ever met Mama, before I was ever even thought about, Dad was a champion boxer.

Dad was always proud of the fact that in all of his boxing years and championship bouts, he never got knocked out.

Just when our family needed a wonderful distraction from the bad health stuff that is bombarding us right now, my brother Mark and his family visited Mama from Texas for a few days, providing much-needed energy and laughter to us all.

We spent some great times hanging out with them...and my 4 oldest grandchildren loved playing with their Texas cousins.

It's a tough job, but somebody needed to do it.

Who better than Gramaw?!

While Kim has his perfectly-weeded vegetable gardens, this is MY garden...a chaotic mass of unique wild charm.

Kinda like me...

My view from our cabin porch swing this morning...I am blessed....

My dentist asked me today, in his normal chipper voice, "How are you?"

Now I normally respond to that common greeting by saying, "I'm great!  How about you?"  But today it would not have been the truth.  Or even close to it.

If you think all the fun action is happening ON the Little League diamond, you'd be wrong!  All kinds of fun happening OFF the diamond too.

Like belly-button contests...no, I didn't participate in that one....

A month ago, I didn't even know this place existed.

I was blissfully unaware of what was happening deep inside my body.

This is a post that I dreaded writing, but in my desire to "keep things real," I feel I need to.  

I have rectal cancer.