Kids arrive, exhausted, after the usual journey from hell. Fortunately they manage to catch an earlier flight.
Saturday is the Pioneer Day parade at Kamas. Has to be the best parade, tons of free candy – see pictures. The pride in their history, veterans, the flag and the country puts our country to shame. The wokes, libtards, illegal immigrants and the so called religion of pieces and permanent offence seem to hate everything about our country. Pity they don’t all find somewhere else to go to. Time we got our country back before it’s too late.
After dinner the adults go shopping for food whilst I take the rug rats swimming for a couple of hours – see pictures.
Then it’s Dominos Pizza for tea – surprised how good they were – just need a good topping of our own pepperoni.
Kids try on skis and boots ready for winter. The girls and Wendy get a manicure – how old are they?
After Jasper helps out in the Christian Centre Pantry it’s two day trips to Thanksgiving Point. Well worth the money and plenty of interactive museums and kids activity centres. 3 day trips for $37 wha a bargain.
For some bizarre reason Fiona’s obsessed with doing the Bloods Lake hike and insists on Kurt doing it. Perhaps she’s trying to kill him off. Mike is convinced I’m trying to do him in and gives up with just a mile to go. I have to admit the lower clockwise route is tough but at least it avoids the mountain climb and the need for ropes and crampons! Think it’ll be my last hike there.
Take Kurt and the kids to the annual Oakley Rodeo. Wendy gives it a miss, thinks it’s boring, once you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all. Kids enjoy it as always. Great junk food for all, including deep fried Oreos.
Then as if we’ve not had enough punishment Wendy and I take the kids to a Circus in Salt lake. Wot no animals! It’s 106F and there’s no air conditioning or even fans inside the tent. Wendy and I survive and Kids have a great time, but it’s not a real circus without animals. Just another example of the Woke screwing with daily life.
Mike shows Jasper how to Fly fish. He didn’t catch anything but had a bite he lost. Tells us all he could tell by the feel of it that it was a Cut Throught Trout – bullshit.
Kids have had an awesome time in the 3 weeks they’re here – see pictures. They go to the Lagoon courtesy of Mike who just loves it, white knuckle rides galore for fun and time with the grandkids, he’s such a happy Chappy with them; Willow Creek play park; hikes; bus rides; swimming pool complete with climbing wall; Beatrix goes climbing; chairlift rides; football for Jasper; new friend for the girls; rodeo; two parades; Circus; two days at Thanksgiving point. Wendy and I are exhausted.
We take Kurt and Fiona for dinner at Black Rock while Mike baby sits the kids. He takes them to dinner wherever they want to go, decide on Sammy’s; then it’s an hour at Willow Creek park; then back to Mikes place to enjoy all the tons of candy he’s bought in especially for them. We pick them up at Mikes and enjoy some superb Cognac and Sailor Jerry for Fiona. Mike really enjoys having them and will gladly do it any time. And the kids really enjoy being with Mike – he spoils them rotten.
As I was in front, as usual, I can only surmise that he must have caught the barrier and it knocked him off his bike. If only he’d been wearing a helmet, I’m convinced he’d be alive today, but no he’d never wear one. I’d even offered to buy him one but he said he wouldn’t wear it. But that’s my buddy Mike, he did it his way.
They take Mike off down to the University of Utah hospital, despite park city hospital being less than a mile away. I suppose given his head injuries they think it’s the best place. Then it’s all a blur. The fire brigade take his bike to the fire station; we try to get in touch with Marianne, eventually Joanne gets in touch on a golf course. Then we all dash down to the hospital.
Wendy and I are sat in the waiting room when we see Marianne and Carmel come through the doors. Marianne’s in tears and carrying a white bin bag full of his clothes. The awful thought goes through me, oh my god he’s died! No, but Marianne says he’s still alive, but they don’t think he’s going to survive.
Eventually we get to see him in his room. He’s still semi-conscious and fighting with the nurses to take the drips out. He’s in hell of a state. He has a DNR in place so staff are questioning what they can do. They consider operating but don’t think it will make any difference. Over the next two days they move him into a hospice room within the hospital whilst he dies!
Wendy and I visit with the family on Monday. Drehan and Jack have arrived.
Tuesday morning I set off to be with him and the family but 20 minutes into the drive Marriane rings me to say he’s just died. I continue to the hospice room. I even valet parked to save time and not miss his departure, not necessary as it took over 3 hours before he left the hospice. Eventually they wheel him out of the room draped in the USA flag and playing taps, everyone stands and salutes. Very moving. Eventually we all say our final goodbyes at the lift door where he is taken down to the mortuary – see video.
I know it’s tragic but at least he died doing what he enjoyed and didn’t end up a vegetable.
Park City will never be the same for me.
Drought and wildfires may be driving bears, mountain lions, coyotes and other wildlife into Utah neighborhoods in search of food, water and shelter.
I’ve a yearning to try Crawfish so we set off down to Bucket of Crawfish with Michael and Laurie. What a great evening we have. Just one big very messy laugh. Wendy and Laurie laugh their heads off at our antics. A full bucket of Crawfish and an hour later I’ve had an ounce of meat. Thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster for the plastic table cloth and plastic gloves – what a mess. Well that’s bucket list item out of the way.
Meanwhile a few hikes and bike rides before we leave. Not the same without Mike. Miss my early morning call to remind him what we’re doing that day. Conversation always the same. Mike “What’s up buddy”. Me “just to remind you what we’re doing etc.”. Mike “10/ 4 buddy, sounds like a wiener”. No more coming through the door with a cheery “Howdy folks”.
Our last week’s very hectic, saying goodbyes. We take Mike’s family out to Full house; then Marianne takes us all out to Glenwild golf club; we go round to rob and Jeris for Elk Meatloaf – awesome; out to Blue Boar with Ruth and Mark; Sarah and Brett for dinner; Friday night we finally get a night in; Carol and Angela for dinner; Dan for dinner – he’s on his own as Joanne’s gone to Boston; and finally awesome dinner with Dan and Joanne.
Meanwhile we take our stuff to Dan’s lockup; 165 garage lockup; and all the wine (70+ bottles, mainly red) and spirits to 3rd floor cupboard at 165. I’m cream crackered by the end of it all.
Tuesday 1 September, picked up at 0430 by Uber to go to the airport – wot no Mike!
Delta to Atlanta and then Virgin upper class to Manchester – fortunately get in lounges at both SLC and ATL. Make my own bed up and no one reads me a bedtime story. Arrive in MAN early and as always we have to park up waiting for a parking slot. Welcome back to batshit bonkers Britain, Im sure it’ll be the first of many crap encounters.
Brief narrative, I’ve let the pictures tell the tale.
