I was pretty concerned about my brother when we were here the first week of July. He was unkept, his hair and beard needed trimmed, and he looked like a homeless man. I had some long talks with his house staff and come to find out, they’ve been trying to help him at the level he is entitled to in this setting, but he wasn’t letting them. His sense of pride and modesty made him refrain from seeking help or letting them assist with his hygiene. I told you yesterday that he had a long man-to-man chat with Mr. FixIt and he seemed more enthusiastic..or perhaps more accurately…relieved afterward. 

Yesterday he was a totally different guy we sat and visited him for quite some time at the day program and I started asking him about sports figures childhood memories. We named a player and asked who they played for and he knew every single one we could name. I asked him what color the rooms were in the house where we grew up and he knew everything. Again he promised he would come to day program five days a week. He was clean so obviously he allowed the staff to help him. I left feeling lighter than I have in months and I felt really good about having him in this location.

After we left my brother, we went to the courthouse. I’ve hit a snafu in trying to get Mr. Virgo’s military headstone. As it turns out, for some odd reason, they listed my name as Ginny, not Virginia. He died in Mesa County and we are in Garfield. The gal on the phone from Mesa County said she would need a copy of our marriage license. So, I stopped in the County Courthouse to get a copy. When I explained what I needed it for, she said SHE could get me a copy of the death certificate! So, I hit the jackpot and now, hopefully, the government won’t care that my name is wrong on the certificate and I can get his headstone. I know it’s crazy that I’ve waited all this time, but it was just too hard for so long, then it was too final. I’ve been ready for over a year to get this done, but I knew I’d have to take care of some of it while I’m here.

Once I had the certificates in hand, we moseyed over to the Brew Pub for supper. Mr. FixIt had an awesome looking Reuben sandwich and I had the BEST summer salad…mixed greens with strawberries, walnuts, and Gorgonzola cheese topped with seared salmon. Even though it was 95° out, we sat out on the patio in the shade across the street from the old Amtrak Station. There was a lovely breeze and we didn’t mind it a bit.

The Downtown Farmer’s Market is held every Tuesday evening from 4-8 in the summer. They had just finished setting it all up when we were done eating so we wandered through the booths. We bought some Palisade Peaches and homemade granola. Again, I only saw two people I knew. This town just isn’t the same anymore. However…it is still lovely. Just WAY too busy for me. We haven’t even considered going to the hot springs pools. At this time of year, it’s what my daughters referred to as “People Soup!” Ugh!

Feeling relieved, we are heading back to Denver today. I’m looking forward to a few days of lay low action as we wind up our Colorado vacation. We head out a week from today. 

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“As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.””

Genesis 8:22 NLT