My big bro . . .

February 2011.

Austin Christmas.
Gary. 

Interested and involved and

Fit as a Fiddle.

May 19, 2011

Taking my grandchildren

on a pickup ride thru the pastures

to check on the cows --

and going strong. 

July

Gary and Alice weren't stopping

every Friday like they were.

I thought Alice was upset because I had

unfriended Brittney.

Then, one day on the phone,

Gary told me he was forgetting things.

That he would have a list of things

to do on Friday morning but would forget.

Alice told me her concerns one evening

and we thought it was a new medicine

causing the memory problems and the confusions.

So we determined to get him to the doctor. 

August 23, 2011

Just home from Des Moines Surgery.

Ms Dog, Lady, had missed him
and climbed on his lap.

"Zipper", he called it,
that thing in his head.

October 01, 2011.

Gary's 66th birthday celebration

at April and Harold's

with family all around.
Still the Center of the Household.
The Master of the House. 

October 4, 2011.
Gary gave Beth and I permission
to visit his radiation treatment.
It was fascinating.  It was hopeful. 
But it wasn't the answer to our prayers. 

January 6, 2012

Gary's Hospital Stay.

A slippery, slidey slope,

but still pretty much himself on this day. 
A sight for sore eyes. 

January 23, 2012

A quiet Monday night.

Good Night,

Kind Brother.

Sleep Tight. 

January 24, 2012

Gary hadn't eaten his supper

so I fed him some pears and pudding

while Alice stood by.  I asked him to smile
 for the photo and he did. 

There!  that looks better! 

Thursday, January 26,

Gary moved to the Hospice House.
Monday, January 30, 2012.

Gary departed this life for the next. 

Rest in Peace, my brother.

Rest in Peace.