Retirement Party

This was funny!  I'm at the YMCA working out, and ran into a former co-worker, Shannon Behm, who congratulated me on retiring, and says to me, I'm sorry I wont be able to be at your retirment party tonight.  I say to her, What party?  She says, Your party...didn't you know about it?  Me, NO.  her, Well, I'm sure it's tonight @ the Green Mill,  Me, What time?  5:00 pm.  Well nobody called and told me.  Good thing I ran into you.  So I ran home, dressed, and drove into Willmar, right past the Green Mill, without thinking, heading for the former Blue Heron( we had other parties there). I pulled into the parking lot, which is empty, thinking, I'm the first one here, or no one is coming to my party.  I sit in the car for a minute or two, then realize I'm at the wrong restaurant, and proceed to Green Mill.  I arrive, my friends are waiting, and I tell them about how I found out about the party.  We all laughed about it.  It turned out Diane Johnson forgot to call me and confirm the date and location with me.

Above is Joanne Versteeg, Bev Marcus, and Becky Reiter

More of my former co-workers, and some previous retirees

Vi Ceske, and Char Adams

Barb Miller, Vicki Anderson, Gayle Rehns

Pat Radabaugh, Jan Maxfield, Vonnie Feistner, Betsy Jasper

I only had one glass of wine!

On the left the quilt made by the staff, and on the right, the one Carolyn Fiskness made

which I thought was the staff quilt.  I was totally surprised by having two quilts.

Jan and Carolyn holding up one of the quilts

I received many nice gifts, and really enjoyed the party.

Easter, 2010

Lorrie and Danielle with their families came here to celebrate Easter together

They filled the eggs with candy and color-coded them for each child to find their own colored egg.

That worked out perfectly.  Luckily, we had a nice warm day.

Caught Liam smiling!

Nevie, Liam, Aidan

While the grandchildren looked for eggs, Liam examined a leaf in the grass.

Nevie looking for pink eggs

Sawyer finding his orange egg

The hunt is on!

The Cousins

Jon, Sawyer, and Alaina

Trying to get a good family photo of the Gorts

Jon and Earl enjoying the egg hunt with the children

Winter to Spring

After returning home from Maryland, we embraced the indoors, and the bitter cold again.  Couldn't wait for winter to be over.  Then one day I decided to go to a talk about Heart Health, and meet the new cardiologist in Willmar who was speaking @ St Mary's Church.  This was in the middle of February.  He was very personable, and towards the end of his speech, opened it up to questions.  I decided to tell him about the symptoms I was experiencing since December.  I had three episodes of heartburn, and jaw pain with it.  He approached me afterwards, and said he would like to see me as soon as possible, and have a stress test done.  So two days later, I had the test done.  It was abnormal, and he suggested I have another cardiac catherization done .  So the following week, on Feb. 26, I was up in St. Cloud Hospital, with a overnight bag packed just in case , and had the catherization done.  Yes, I stayed overnight, due to the fact that I had two stents put in.  One was at the same location as my first stent(less than 2 yrs. ago), which was clotting off, and another below that, which was 80% blocked.  Following this, I started cardiac rehab for 18 sessions, did well, and was determined to change my eating and exercise habits.  Much of what has happened is genetic, but I feel better doing what I am able to control for myself.