Jenni and John added comments to my last entry. They are such sweethearts and we love them so much.

Tonight we are going to live theater. We've had season tickets for several years and enjoy it very much. Of course, you all know that if it weren't for Jane, I'd never step out of the house. She keeps me going.

We sold my car. It was a struggle but after several false starts we advertised on line and a young woman from San Diego bought it. So I'm officially wheeless now. Have to turn my license into the DMV soon. Poor Jane has to provide my transportation everywhere now.

It's been nine days since I made an entry in this blog. It's not because I'm busy. I just don't think of it when I've got the time to be creative. I imagine most of you don't see my ramblings as creations anyway. They are more like footprints in mud.

I do have something very important to tell you all. Jenni and John got married last week. We went to the courthouse with them and acted as witnesses. They are happy and content and feel they've made a good decision. We do too. John is really a fine person.

This is his first marriage but Jenni's forth. We're thankful she found him. He is a real stable figure in her life and she needs that. Now, I don't have to worry about her future.

The first real rains in many months have struck the Southern California coast line and it's not over. It is our form of winter. Rain tapping against the window, wind bending the trees and water running down the streets. How nice.

I've stayed in all day but now am getting ready to go out to a dinner with friends from church. No big deal... just an outing.

I have tried to imagine what it would be like if all this rain came down in the form of snow. We'd be digging out for weeks.

Reminds me ... the horrible events in Haiti. Could I survive such horrible circumstances? I suppose I could but it is hard to imagine.

We've been at the time share for 3 days now. It's in Capistrano or Dana Point; it's hard to tell which. Anyway, we're across the street from the beach, so it's really nice. Magnificent sunsets.

We've been very lazy. Set around all day reading and go to movies and watching lots of tv. Eating too much as well. You know how it is.

We have to come home ... temporarily ... on Thursday for choir practice and then we'll come back for 2 more days to finish our week. Vacation, interrupted.

Supposed to rain tomorrow. That will be different.

I received a 'Nook', an e-book handled by Barnes and Noble bookstores, as a gift for Christmas. It took us a while to get it all set up, with my son's help. Now I have to get some books loaded into the thing. So, I guess I'll have to go to the bookstore to do that.

It's really small and handy. The print is clear and readable. I'm going to look forward to using it. This may be the end of publishing, as we know it. Even Newspapers are using this media. Magazines, too.

Wouldn't it be interesting to live in a world where you could download your reading material into a portable reader and not have to stagger through a store?

It's a sunny warm day in Southern California. I want to say that to 'rub it in' to all you folks in the east and north.

Nothing much is happening since we got home. I've got calendars hanging all over my desk; Kansas Alumni Assoc., Alzheimer's Association, local stores, you name it. I won't lose track of the day this year.

Jane and I are going to go to a near by Time-Share next week. Don't have any plans for big activities but it should be fun and relaxing. Hope the weather holds out.

Happy New Year from Kansas.  Glad Don and Jane made it home to sunny CA.  We all could feel Don's pain facing the wiles of a Michigan winter!  We here in Kansas are having a time with snow, 12" on the ground at this writing.  And bitter cold, -3 this morning and worse is coming down the pike, the weather people say. 

Hope all of you have the best 2010 and may we all see and end to the shouting which has consumed our thinking for the past year. Take care.  From Kansas

Happy New Year!

We're going to be on the road to the airport in about 2 hours. We have to get there very early because of the bomb alert on Christmas day. The flight is 5 hours and we gain 3 hours.

Looking forward to getting home but will miss our Michigan family. They are dear to us.

It has snowed a least a bit in every 24 hour interval we have been here. It's supposed to be 2" tonight and more tomorrow.

I don't understand why anyone would voluntarily live in this part of the world. You have to be crazy or a true masochist.

We have 2 1/2 more days ... and counting. Having a ball with the grandkids. Andria, the oldest still living at home, played in the finals of a high school basketball game tonight. Her team won!

We'll be back in LA on Saturday. Can't wait.

Why would anyone want to live here? It was cold and raining when we arrived on Christmas day. Then it started snowing and has piled up periodically each day since. It is now about 5 inches and growing. ugh!

We had an uneventful trip but found out after we got to Chris and Laurie's house that there had been a bomb threat on a plane that arrived in Detroit just after we arrived. Some nut was going to blow up the plane.

We are getting ready to go to my teenage granddaughter's basketball game. She is tall and athletic and is good in any sport she tries. I must cut this short.

It's going on 5 years since I was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. I still function pretty well but I know things are not right and I'm beginning to drift a bit. Jane can really see it and would probably reject the 'a bit' part of that statement.

I've nearly stopped writing. I have no creative juices left and set around a great deal, staring at the wall. My head feels like it is stuffed with wadded-up paper.

I suppose I've been fortunate to have done so well for this long. I haven't given up yet. For all you old timers who have followed me along, hang in there. I still have a story to tell. It may be badly told, but be patient with me.

I can't believe how quickly time flies. Christmas is 4 days away! Wow!

Jenni took me shopping for Jane today. We had coffee and wondered around a store or two. I can't say here what I got her 'cause she will read it, but I think she'll like it.

Sweet Jenni and her 'sig. other', John, had an interesting thing happen. They were working a Wayne Foster show at a big home in Carona del Mar Saturday night and the singer lost her voice. John jumped in, and though it was not his style of music, he sang well and for 3 hours, held up the show. He's pretty remarkable.

Got to run. Lunch with friends.

Jane and Laurie, our daughter-in-law in Detroit, are plotting on the phone for Christmas. We are leaving Christmas day to visit them for a week. They are making plans for gifts and activities.

We may get to see snow. It usually does when we are back there. They often have deer in there back yard as well.

My thoughtful daughter-in-law is arranging tickets for the 'Little Caesars Pizza Bowl' game on the 26th between Ohio and Marshall. She knows how to get to her father-in-law.

I can't seem to get myself 'into' the Christmas mood. To my chagrin, Jane has bought me a Christmas gift which means I will need to buy one for her. ugh!

I can't buy clothes for her... I don't know what size and color and style are beyond me. Jewelry is a real risk for the same reason. Perfumes and cosmetics is like advanced chemistry...

I suspect, looking back over our 54 years of marriage that I've hit the mark less then 10% of the time when I bought a gift I thought she might like. With a record like that, birthdays and Christmas are not my favorite time of the year. I'd rather have a tooth pulled.

69 years ago today, I was 8 years old and visiting my neighbor, Dicky Dale Miller. We were lying on  the rug, playing when the phone rang. Dicky's mother answered it in the kitchen. The conversation was brief. She walked in to and announced, "The Japanese have just attacked Pearl Harbor. We are at war."

Not knowing what to expect, I looked out the window, imagining I would see bombs dropping on the empty lot next door. An icy hand gripped my gut. I had two brothers already in the military and my folks had been talking about the possibility of war.

I can't remember what happened next but I suspect I went home. My world had suddenly changed, permanently.

For all of you born since that time, you will never really understand what happened. I don't understand most of it. It was a time of immeasurable heroics, insurmountable evil, horrible danger, and sacrifice beyond anyone's imagination.

We continue to look at war as the solution. Let us hope and pray that we can overcome this fixation that war is the answer to any problem.

It's been well over a week since I've written a blog. I just can't keep up. It has been a busy week, though. Thanksgiving and all got in the way. We had Jenni and her family, including Justin and Travis, over for a traditional dinner. We all ate too much, as usual.

Now, Christmas season is rushing up to smack us in the face. We have all kinds of music things to prepare for at the church. Then, on Christmas Day, we leave for Michigan for a week with Chris and his family. We will be back on January 2.

I'm sorry I failed to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving, but I'll do that now. In addition, let's make this holiday season one that will be memorial... Peace, love, understanding, forgiveness, giving and temperance.

It's been a busy week. We've seen several theater productions and went to see the movie, "The Men Who Stares at Goats." What an odd movie. Funny but, in the end, ran out of gas. Can only push an improbable premise so far.

We saw a musical at the Coronado Play House last weekend. It was a segment of Handles life when he wrote the Messiah. Beautiful voices; beautiful music; wonderful story.

Had a doctor appointment this afternoon. I have an inherited blood disorder ... hemochromotosis. I store too much iron which can damage my organs. I get a pint of blood taken out every three months. Lot's of fun.

Anyhow, that's a little of what is happening on the left coast.

Don sees his lack of blog entries as failure.  My excuse is plain old procrastination!!

Add to that my ongoing war with a new laptop and not much comes from Kansas.  But the older has spoken.  Don, I will begin to send you those memories to which you can respond.  Somehow we need to figure out how to get these on a site for all to see.  Such will be the glory of our rememberings!  I am sure.  Jan in Kansas.

I'm a failure. I keep forgetting I've got to write a blog. Days pass and the reality hits me in the face.

I'm trying to watch Sunday night football while I write this so, if I don't make sense, you'll know why.

Jan, I said I'm ready to write but I didn't say I was going to write it. I think we should both write incidents from a biographical point of view then read each other and see, how it fits.

I have some stuff in long hand. I'll type it into a e-mail and send it soon.

Sorry it's been a while since an entry came from Kansas.  Don suggests that it is time we get to writing something, and I agree.  So 'ol Bro, let's work out a strategy and get on with it while the proverbial iron is hot!  I've got all kinds of images stuck in my brain picturing those days in Marion when you were the big brother and spent some energy keeping me in line.  This should be a fun project.  Your the experienced writer, so let me know what is next.  You have to remember my creative products for 29 years were no more than 20 minutes in length, two pages double spaced type, with a lot of extemporizing going on between lines.  Maybe such a form is what we need?  We'll talk.  That's it for now.  Weather here is great Fall type temps and beautiful leaves.  Winter is just around the corner.  Until next time.  Jan in Kansas.

Jane admonished me today for being a couch potatoe. I have to agree, I don't do much but read, watch tv, sleep and eat. I try to reve my motor once in a while, but not very successfully. She points out that, if I'm bored, it's all my fault. And she is right!

Soooo.... I started writing again. Nothing too daring, just doodling with a memoir. That's not too surprising since most of my published writing, so far, is autobiographical, even the stuff I pass off as fiction. (See Moonshine Harvest)

[Jan, this is our chance. Let's combine notes and see if we can get this thing started. What do you say?]

My memory is still pretty sharp for things in the distant past. My first page of scribbles was kind of fun. Of course, I know full well what it's like writing a complete manuscript. Not just writing but re-writing and re-writing, over and over again. ugh!

The fund raising walk for Alzheimer's was Saturday and we had a great time. I had a team of 5 and we raised about $400. The crowd was huge... they guessed over 3000. The weather was fine; a typical So. Calif. day... sunny and warm.

Jane insisted I not walk because of my knee and hip. I worked at the sign up desk for Advocates. Advocates for Alzheimer's Disease receive notices of legislation, etc and reminders to contact legislators on matters important to our cause.

I've let this blog set for a whole day and haven't found a way to end it. So, this is it!

Jane, Jenni and I are going down to Balboa Park in San Diego for the annual Alzheimer's Memory Walk. My team is "thetripover" and we have over $400 pledged. I've done this every year for the past 6, although we missed last year because of the big wild fires.

I think we have only 4 walkers this year, which is kind of disappointing, but we'll still make an appearance. I'm going to work at the Alzheimer's Association desk instead of walking. My knees and hip are too gimpy to keep up.

I hope the weather holds up. It's been nice since we got home from our Kansas trip.

To say our trip to Kansas was a success would be an understatement. We had a ball!! Visited with people we hadn't seen in years and dashed around Kansas City and the eastern edge of the state with abandon. Though white knuckled most of the time, Jane did all the driving and she was great.

Jenny took us to the airport and came to pick us up. She's a wonderful help. I think we'll keep her.

We are pooped... too much activity for old folks. I fell off a ladder again the day before we left, pounding my head and knees. Then, in Dallas, as we were changing planes, I fell again in an elevator and banged my head. Probably a good thing. It's the least important part of my body.

I've got to get rested up. We have the Memory walk this Saturday.

I know some of you are interested in Don's trip back to Kansas City for his 50 year reunion at KU Medical School.,  They had a great time and on this Monday are trekking down to see family in Southeast Kansas.  They will be flying back to CA on Wednesday.  Don's AD is progressing.  We will keep the blog going as time goes on,.  For you care givers who read this, I hope I can encourage Jane to contribute some of her experiences and thoughts as the days continue on.  She is a great resource in this journey over for many of you.  All of you take care in the days ahead.  Jan in Kansas

When you live in a place where the weather almost never changes, you begin to whine whenever there is a cloud in the sky. We may get a few showers today. Of course, the day is nearly over and nothing has happened yet sooo....

Of course, any rain would be a miracle, given that we've been in the worst drought ever. The water situation is getting so bad that it makes you feel guilty just to take a shower.

Jane and I are hustling around getting last things done before we leave on Thursday for Kansas City and my 50th Medical School Reunion. But the Gods are against us. Jane drove out to the base hospital to get last minute prescription refills and the pharmacy was closed. And, my doctor has failed to call in a last minute refill on a new prescription he gave me the last time I was in.

I was sitting here watching the baseball play off games and decided to check my blog. I was surprised to see I hadn't made an entry for 6 days. Wow!

My days without wheels have been OK. My friend Knox Williams came over Monday and took me out for lunch. He had a few errands to run and by the time we were through it was 5 o'clock. We had a great time visiting and I think he enjoyed it. I sure did.

The sports events on TV are my crutch. With the new football season starting, I'm in heaven. Jane forces me to go to the gym regularly, so I don't get moldy.

Looking forward to our trip to Kansas City next week.

Our two days in Palm Springs went well. Rode the tram up to the top of the mountain. Spent a lot of time visiting with our friends, Hal and Elizabeth Forney. It was a nice two days.

I can't quite grasp what attracts people to Palm Springs. I can understand if you are from Kansas, but a Californian?

Jenni and my talk at the 'Because I Care' conference yesterday went very well. There was a pretty good crowd and we were well received.

Jane and I are about to leave for a two day stint at a friends time share in Desert Springs. Sounds HOT but we'll spend a lot of time by the pool.

My sweet grandson, Travis, wrote me a 3 page letter lamenting my loss of driving privileges. It was truly beautifully written and I appreciated it so much. How could we live life on earth without loved ones near by to support and cheer us on?

I went to play my usual round of golf this morning and, on the 9 hole, I became ill. Two doctors playing with me fluttered around and made sure I wasn't in extreme danger and one of them drove me home.

It was terribly hot and I had probably failed to keep up my hydration. I became very faint and nearly passed out.

Anyway, I survived. A little rest and food and lots of water really helped. I think I'll be OK and plan to go back to play next week. (but not if it's so hot!)

My first week of not driving is behind me and, I must say, it's been rather boring. But it is all for the best, I know. Many of you have written encouraging comments and I appreciate them. When I get to feeling blue about it, all I need to do is think of those incidents when some elderly man or woman hit the accelerator and plowed into a crowd of people. There, but for the grace of God, go I.

Jenny has mentioned several times that she and I are going to talk this Saturday, the 26th, at the 'Because I care community health fair' at the San Marcos Senior Center, 111 Richmar Ave., San Marcos, CA at 10:30 AM. Come and meet us there.

Hi from Kansas.  Change is happening it seems.  It will be good to see Don and Jane in October.  We can hash over the changes which all of us are facing.  The good thing about facing change is  we can share the burden of it all.  We don't have to face it alone.  Those of you who read this blog, who face AD as a care-giver or as one with AD who receives that care know the truth of having folks sharing the journey "over" with you.  Staying connected on this trip.  That is what Don's blog has been about from the beginning.  
                  
Just a brief thought about all this vitriolic debate over health care reform, the wars ongoing, too much government, you name it.  It seems to me we are a society deeply entrenched in what is called OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder.  We can't speak to one another in some civil form of debate on the issues, because each side is so obsessed with their point of view, there is no room for any other voice, from any other place.  This plague is everywhere.  We obsess in politics, sports, food, religion, at every point you turn, someone is shouting at someone else.  These talk show folks on all sides of every issue  who are no more than entertainers purporting to be skilled analysts of their particular set of interests, fuel the fires of our OCD.  And we move further down the road away from any productive moment which might make the difference in the lives of all of us.  This all drives me crazy.  I believe it takes us in the wrong direction. It devalues people like all of  you, who face real life every day, who are trying  to make substantive change which might impact this plague which brings us to this regular discussion around AD and all of its ramifications in your .lives.  The energy, time, and resources we are wasting in this obsessive/compulsive boondoggle is a sad commentary on where we are as a people,
From Kansas.  Jan

I did it again. I brushed by another car stopped at a stoplight yesterday and my rear view mirror dinged her tail light and scratched her car. This is the third or forth time in the past year I've done something like this. Jane is giving me threatening words.

I have to admit, I scare myself sometimes but I really don't take big risk. And, I try to be very watchful of signs and traffic. But, somehow, I just get a dent here and a scratch there.

I've wondered when the axe will fall on my driving. Maybe this is it. My world will suddenly shrink from a radius of 60 miles to two blocks. It depresses me to think about it. I'll miss the freedom but even worse, it's an admission that I'm not competent anymore.

I've gotten an interesting set of comments over the last few days. Some admire my spunk in the face of adversity and others question my diagnose, since I don't seem to be declining at the rate one would expect.

I've learned not to let my bleak times spill out on the page too much. Who would want to read sob stories? I've also questioned my diagnoses as well, even to my doctor. He has assured me, I'll get there. The trip is long and slow, but I'm going to reach the end.

I haven't shared some of my day-to-day upsets that have prompted me to stop questioning my diagnoses. I've found I can't converse without forgetting a word or common name. I've become so uncertain about this that I refrain from talking when in a social situation.

I have long ago given up trying to remember a list of items or 'to do's' that Jane gives me. They must be written down.

So, you see; I'm not as normal as I 'look.'

Jane's birthday is tomorrow. I bought her a card last week and hid it then, I couldn't find it. A real Alzheimer's moment. I was sitting at my desk today and saw it sticking out from one of the organizer slots. Whew!

It's Sunday night again. Seems like it's Monday then Tuesday and then Sunday night again. Time zips by.

I have a busy week ahead besides my usual golf on Thursday and working my half day at the Interfaith Center on Friday. I've got a dental appointment on Wednesday... the beginning of a series to correct several things wrong with my teeth. I can hardly wait ... ugh!

I rushed off to the Alzheimer's Association offices in San Diego this morning to meet with Pilialoha  Estall, the woman in charge of Public Policy and Donor Relations. Yes, she and her family are from the south Pacific --- Tahiti, specifically --- and, among all her other talents, she dances hula, etc. in a professional group.

We met to discuss Alzheimer's programs and activities in North San Diego County. There is a paucity of activity up here because it's hard for people to travel all the way to San Diego for events there. I encouraged her to work up some programs and told her I'd be willing to help.

We went to the ballgame last night on the spur of the moment. Good game --- the Padres beat the Nationals --- and we had a really good time.

My nephew, Fred Hayen, Jr, commented on my blog entry about health care reform and it's provoked another thought I didn't mention in my first entry.

His point was that health insurance should be portable across state lines, a service rarely provided now. I have even a bigger problem with health insurance companies. They are another profit making entity between the patient and the doctor, skimming off their share before paying your bills. If you take a holistic view of medical cost, they are adding a huge amount to the total cost of health care.

Why do we need a hundred different, for profit, private organizations to manage our medical bills. Why not nationalize it. It's worked for Medicare, the VA, the post office and it can work for our medical care, as well.

Socialism you say. Well, maybe so. But as a modern, compassionate country we cannot afford to continue seeing a third of our population suffering from inadequate medical care.

It was hot in San Diego County today. I played golf but had to stop after 9 holes because I was feeling woozie. Dehydration, I suspect. That's happened a couple of times before. I just don't tolerate the heat like I used to. Another part of being 75 years old.

Jane and I went to a wonderful event yesterday put on by the Interfaith Organization that provides emergency services for the poor and homeless in north San Diego County. Jane and I volunteer. There must have been 4 or 5 hundred volunteers and donors at the event. We heard some wonderful stories from people who have pulled their lives back from violence, drugs and alcohol. It was truly a moving event.

I have to do my couple of hours at the facility tomorrow afternoon. I input statistics.

I know you all must have some opinion about the new health care bill they are working on in Washington, D.C.  I hope I don't step on any of your toes -- politically -- but, as a doctor, I have some ideas I'd like to dump.

First, before anything else, we need tort reform. If you don't know what that means let me give it to you in a simple one liner: we can't keep paying out million dollar settlements to someone who believes they were hurt by a medical accident or mistake. It's not that these people should be abandoned but we need arbitration and adequate oversight to temper these astronomic settlements. It is a major reason for over-use of lab test and procedures.

Second, we need to stop rewarding doctors for doing procedures. A general practitioner can be called to an ER in the middle of the night and spend 4 hours working up a patient for a $100 fee. When he refers the patient to a surgeon for an appendectomy, which takes less then an hour, the surgeon is paid $1500. Does that make any sense?

Finally, all this crap you're hearing about killing grandma to save medical cost is a bunch of lies. No one in this country would ever allow that to happen. It would, however, be a good idea to have a board of doctors approve major procedures -- such as joint replacement surgery -- on patients over 75. Just as any decisions in life, there are times when it is better to do nothing, both for the patient and the costs of medical care.

Don's dilemma and his noting a penchant to reclusive behavior is not all AD connected.  I think it is a family trait which presses in on us as we Hayen boys grow older. 

My career path took me, as did Don's, into the public on a daily basis.  I can say with complete candor that it was not always my favorite place to be.  Did it pretty well.  People tended to like me and I could connect with folks.  But one of the fruits of retirement is that I can relate from afar, I can pick and choose where I socialize and where I don't. 

Interestingly, I have chosen a part-time gig working three nights a week as a church custodian!  Yep, always wanted to try this so I'm doing it.  There will be folks around, but mostly it will be just Jan cleaning toilets in a pre-school and day care facility in  a large UM church not far from us here in Lenexa.  I am looking forward to much quiet time in the night - just cleaning, vacuuming, dusting. 

I have not missed the sometimes frenetic pace of life which I left behind.  Don't miss being center stage every week.  So 'ol Bro, this reclusive trend may be part of the Trip, but it is also part of who you and I are at this stage of our living.  The other side of this is that we dare not really recluse ourselves.  You do have much yet to do, as do I.  And it will need to be done in the midst of community and not in isolation.  Fortunately, you have Jane and I have Connie to help keep us out there.  So it is a balancing act you could say.  Meanwhile in this early day of my retirement trip, I'll enjoy my quiet, private, cleaning binge!  From Kansas.  Jan

This blog must be a real drag to read sometimes. It's all about me, me, me. Very narcissistic!

My excuse --- I guess --- is that the subject is about MY trip over... right? I have to describe my bumps in the road and how I cope. When I sit down to write, I try to find a subject and it always falls on what has happened in MY life the past few days or what is going to happen in MY life in the future. Forgive me, but that even bores me.

I appreciate your loyalty in returning to read this drivel. Perhaps that occasional pearl I throw out is worth it. Thanks.

I'm becoming very reclusive. I'd just as soon sit in my room and watch old newsreel footage on the military channel then get up and out into the community. If it weren't for Jane, I'd never see or speak to another person.

The man in the house next door is like that. I don't think I've spoken to him more than 10 times in the 3 years we've lived here. I suppose if I use him as an example, I'll make the effort to be a little more social.

Jenni's over tonight to cook dinner for us. There was a time - not too long ago - when she wouldn't be caught dead in the kitchen. But she's teaching herself to cook by trial and error and she likes it. She wants to demonstrate one of her favorite recipes.

She drives a big, red Ford pickup truck. It seems so out of character for a tiny little woman.

Had lunch with my daughter, Jenni, today. She is such a sweet, beautiful young woman. She took me over to her work and introduced me to folks and showed me around. She handles costumes for Wayne Foster Entertainment. Quite impressive.

We discussed our plans for the talk we have to give next month. I have an old talk we can salvage and play off of, I think. We'll slice and dice it and see how it works.

Jen's a funny kid. She talks a mile a minute and knows it ... but that doesn't stop her. She doesn't want to waste any time when she's talking to me. She spills it all out. It's refreshing and funny. I get a big kick out of her.

We're having classic Southern California weather right now....sunny, low 70's, cool breeze from the west. Couldn't be better.

This evening we are going to a viewing of the Caregivers part of the HBO documentary 'Project Alzheimer's.' There will be a panel discussion after. You can view it and the other three parts on HBO web site. It is very well done.

I've sat here staring at that first paragraph, trying to think of something to follow it up with. No luck.

Has it really been over a week since I last posted? I swear I made an entry 2 or 3 days ago. Maybe I'll find it and plug it in.

I was catching up on Kathie Hatfield's blog the other day. She writes at www.knowitalz.com. She's a care giver for her father who is in his late eighties and has Alzheimer's. She has a great sense of humor and her blog is a blast to read. Anyway, she always reminds me that I should lighten up a little. I can't change what is happening and 'stuff' happens, whether I like it or not.

Justin has been down from his father's place in Big Bear for the past month. He goes back this week. He just turned 17 and I think he's past his difficult times. He made it through the past school year with flying colors and he's just a nice young man. He played golf with my group of old codgers last Thursday and had a great time.

I promise to do better. I'll start by making an entry every day this next 7 days.

Don mentioned the immense complexity of doing a family history, especially when many of the family are no longer with us.  Remembering, having the written documents from which we might conjure up memories, gathering all that and writing it down in a clear way is a huge undertaking. 

I have boxes of stuff which I've pawed through a few times, with a need to spend some significant weeks putting in usable form.  It's hard work!  Very easy to procrastinate!  And then there are the many resources which are now so accessible through this medium the Internet. 

By the way Don, if there is time we should take in the National WWI Museum here in KC, MO.  It is a great resource on that period of our history.  Our Dad and two of his brothers were in the Argonne battle.  Any of you who come back this way should try to take in this great resource of information covering our country's history in that early 20th century period.  The weather is still beautiful back here in plain 'ol Kansas.  'Til next time.  Jan

Jan was complaining about the struggle to get through the web site where we are supposed to write this blog. They changed the access route recently and it's not easy to figure it out.

It's good to see Jan back scribbling some thoughts. His move into retirement sounds a bit tentative but I think he'll find his groove.

We've discussed the idea of writing our families history. It would be a major project and very intimidating. I wonder if my memory is still intact enough to engage in such a task.

Good Grief!  It has been a while since I posted here.  The trail to writing this blurb had changed almost more than I could follow. 

I'm into the sixth week of this retirement gig and it's pretty good.  I'm still trying to get my mind around the fact that the world where I spent 29 years is no longer where I live. 

Don mentions the hot weather out there.  We have enjoyed the coolest run of July days which I can remember in recent years.  70's in the day, 50's at night.  If it keeps it up we'll have  a  population explosion here in the Plains! 

I've plowed through a zillion boxes of stored memories in the past month.  Lots of family history which I will need to catalogue at some point.  I've decided it is my lot to do some collecting of story from our family's past.  The problem is that I wasn't around while a bunch of it was taking shape.  Don and I, our spouses, one sister-in-law, and one brother- in-law are the surviving people who may have some of the details.  And none of us is getting younger! 

My word of advice to all of you, I think I've said this before, is get your family story details in place before all of the principles who lived it are gone.  I hope to stay in touch here with more regularity. 

The wedding sounds like it was a blast.  Sorry we couldn't make it out for the big hoohaa.  From Kansas.  Jan

I drove Jane to the hospital this morning for outpatient surgery to remove a cataract from her right eye. I was sitting in the waiting area and a woman across from me smiled and asked if I was 'Dr. Hayen.' It turns out she lived down the street from us when we first moved back to California in 1963.

Her daughter went to school with Jenni. We had a long conversation about the 'Woodland Way' folks, where they were, who was still living and what they were doing.

It amazed me a bit that I could still remember names of many of the people we talked about.