We take it all for granted...

Hubby and I have been planning a little vacation. A vacation? From what? Does one take a vacation from retirement?! OK, maybe not a vacation, then, but a trip. Does that sound better? You see, one time when we were younger and foolish we bought a time share. It has come to the point that we must use our week, somewhere, or lose it. So, we decided to head to Park City, UT. We might be able to do some fishing. We might be able to visit Salt Lake City and do some genealogy research. We might go hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir rehearse. There are all kinds of things we can do. Sharron has gladly agreed to take care of the Haffies, Tucker, Mama Boots and the plants. So... we are counting the days until departure. As we were talking and planning I recalled that one of my high school classmates lives in Park City. I had talked to him a few years ago and he had said that of course, if I ever got that way to please look him up. So, hooray for Google. I typed in "Rick Perry" and "Park City" by the magic of the Internet.... Rick's obituary came up first on the list. This can't be. I must have typed something wrong. It must be another Rick Perry. Let me try that again. Same results. I read and reread the obituary trying to make sense of it all. This Rick Perry was born the same year that I was. He attended school in the same city as I had. But he's my classmate. He can't have died just one month ago. That can't be right. But sadly, it is. As far as I know Rick is the first of our class to die, to expire, to pass on. No matter what euphemism I use, it comes down to the same thing. I can't see Rick. We can't laugh about things that happened, oh, so many years ago. We can't share stories about our children, all young adults now. We can't find out about everything or anything that happened between graduation and now.
My condolences to Rick's family: his wife, Renee; his sons, Stephen and Travis; and his brother, Geoff. Rest in peace, Rick.

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