Sorry I missed the summit

[Jon Holdman]

In another thread, McKellar Newsom mentioned my missing the summit. I'm very sorry to have bailed out on everyone who attended. I'd intended to say something sooner.

I've lived here in the Denver area for 13 years now. About ten years ago, my sister (who lives here too) and I persuaded my grandma to move out here from rural MO. She was 82 at the time. Our family farm is about five miles from the nearest town and 70 miles from the nearest city, Springfield. Our folks travel around with their business, so she was alone a lot of the time.

In late January, she took a fall. She went to the ER, but they didn't find anything. In the next week she had two more trips to the ER, but still they found nothing. On the third trip the doctor pretty much said there's nothing wrong other than being 92 and we can't fix that. In early February we moved her to a skilled nursing facility. Thursday a week before the summit she was up and about and doing rehab. On Sunday she asked the CNA if it was OK if she stayed in her bed until she died. Monday before the summit she was non-responsive and she passed the next morning. On Friday of the summit we were back in Missouri laying her to rest.

It was a tough two months. I honestly can't believe that fall was the final straw. She seemed fine right after that, and even went out to eat with us and the great-grand kids the next Saturday. But it was a downward spiral after that. Enjoy your days. Enjoy your loved ones

[Jon Klaus]

Thanks for sharing, Jon. And for the reminder of enjoying our family and time here on earth. My parents are in their 80's and my mom was diagnosed with ALS in September. My brother also has serious health problems related to his Muscular Dystophy. Our days are short and we need to redeem our time. Especially with family. A good reminder for me who can become overly focused on REI and business.