Ol’ Blue

Champion boats and fishing tips and an undying love for cars, golfing with Stan for something different and me playing pinball in the bars.
Bouncing across fields in a high-speed manner, can’t say I was impressed...
I’d rather save the coyotes honestly
than put their lives to the final test.
Before holidays at Grandma Loretta’s,
I can picture you driving up the lane; we’ve lost several family members since then, but those precious memories will remain...
Following moments of your dry humor you would flash that ornery smirk,
I admire your many years at one job and remember visiting you at work.
Each of your dogs would relinquish its spot whenever we decided to go for a drive, country music playing on the radio,
the open road making us feel more alive.
The multiple trips around Calamus Lake are moments that I will always cherish, something we could still enjoy together even as your health continued to perish.
When you built the building in Burwell and painted bedrooms in little girl colors, it really showed a softer side
and proved that you thought of others.
The time you took the girls out fishing, they just wanted to repeatedly reel and cast; I had to chuckle to myself, knowing that endeavor wouldn’t last.
Back in your younger years,
I remember you watching M*A*S*H upstairs, and later in life it moved to westerns sitting in the corner in different chairs.
I can still see you wearing t-shirts or plaid and the SOSOS cabin sign,
us dancing together in Ericson
and times talking on the line.
When you brought the campground to life, my heart swelled with so much pride, and then my heart broke for you, Dad, when your ability to care for it died.
You had to give up everything you built and loved and now your tombstone will be made complete, but you’re walking with ease and fishing again... keep catching the big ones until next we meet.
There’s one important thing to share for anyone who doubts heaven is true, Dad’s last moments here made it clear... may you rest in peace Ol’ Blue.
Love you always, Dad!