In Memoriam, 2021

January 2, 2022

I don't ever look forward to writing this particular blog post. Last year it bummed me out so much I didn't come back to MeThinks all year.

Okay, it was a busy year. But, still.

The list this year is so much longer. I don't know how to process the losses. 

The following were mostly from my hometown, Green River, Wyoming. A few were from the neighboring town of Rock Springs, and were known to me. 

I will get to public figures the world lost a little later. 

2021 took quite a bite out of the population around here.

Starting with New Year's Eve, 2020, because he was a close friend--practically family, and it was almost 2021 when he stepped over the threshhold:

Randy Dean Hargrove                                                                         04-27-1956 to 12-31-2020  *

And starting New Year's Day, 2021:

Deryl J. Sweat                                                                                      02-05-1943 to 01-01-2021

Oscar L. Flores                                                                                     02-03-1949 to 01-07-2021 *

Patrick D. Thaler                                                                                  05-15-1952 to 01-10-2021

Sandra Dee Flaten                                                                                01-05-1964 to 01-17-2021

William Jose Da Silva                                                                         11-01-1976 to  01-18-2021

Gary Martin Bakkala                                                                           04-22-1953 to 01-19-2021

Barbara Walker                                                                                    11-22-1925 to 01-29-2021

Phillip Critton                                                                                       05-07-1938 to 01-30-2021

Gary Lee Collins II                                                                               02-25-1982 to 02-01-2021

Robert Ray Baker                                                                                 02-12-1953 to 02-01-2021

Michael E. Becker                                                                                11-30-1957 to 02-01-2021

Jon Anthony Collins                                                                             11-03-1959 to 02-06-2021

Marietta G. Gripp                                                                                 03-25-1924 to 02-07-2021

Joan James Dewey                                                                                12-17-1931 to 02-08-2021

Father Tom Sheridan                                                                             01-02-1939 to 02-15-2021

Norman "Spike" Davis                                                                          07-01-1948 to 02-17-2021

Dallas James Sample                                                                             06-30-1976 to 02-21-2021

Anjelica A, Fajardo                                                                               02-15-1986 to 03-02-2021

Jerry Lyle McGee                                                                                  06-27-1933 tp 03-03-2021

Carl Joseph Bozner                                                                                11-07-1938 to 03-08-2021

Leslie Dawn Wood-Saderup                                                                  02-04-1965 to 03-08-2021

John Ussery                                                                                            11-17-1942 to 03-10-2021

Steven Dale Myers                    08-30-1976 to 03-20-2021

James Louis Steiss, Jr.                02-09-1954 to 03-20-2021

Dewayne Lee Herren                 12-17-1976 to 03-31-2021

Jeri Lynn Coleman                    12-31-1959 to 04-04-2021

Irene Medina                              09-30-1940 to 04-11-2021

James Arthur "Art" Kalivas        04-14-1950 to 04-12-2021

Richard S. Lee                            07-05-1947 to 04-30-2021

Brandy Winter                            09-11-1984 to 05-01-2021

Rachel M. Elmer                        03-05-1975 to 05-10-2021

Dean Stover                                12-22-1944 to 05-10-2021

Bernice Ortega                            06-08-1931 to 05-11-2021

Bill LaVern Baker                        05-20-1935 to 05-15-2021

JoAnn Lee Welch                        06-47-1958 to 05-17-2021

Margaret Dillon                           02-03-1926 to 05-19-2021

Jeraldine Jasperson                      05-11-1935 to 05-20-2021

Lawrence Cauthorn                      05-17-1944 to 05-20-2021

Kenneth Doyle D'Spain               06-06-1938 to 05-24-2021

Kathy Jane Coffey                        06-30-1955 to 05-29-2021

Lawrence Henry Lowell               08-11-1940 to 06-03-2021

Nelia "Nellie" Boren Castillon     08-27-1965 to 06-11-2021

Aaron Bradey Jereb                      04-21-1982 to 06-18-2021    

Marion Guerra                               04-27-1938 to 06-22-2021

Gary Johnson                                 08-14-1960 to 06-29-2021

Larry Paine                                    07-17-1943 to 07-01-2021

Rudy Edward Maestas                    11-13-1961 to 07-01-2021

Rose Marie Cudney                       08-20-1949 to 07-02-2021

Cody Siler                                       12-26-1979 to 07-09-2021

Beverly Mae Whiteley                   11-01-1932 to 07-11-2021

Joyce Arden McGill Zimmerman Warlow    09-07-1926 to 07-19-2021

Leonard A. Kaumo                         11-26-1953 to 07-22-2021

Everett Eugene Pawleska                09-02-1950 to 07-22-2021

Keith Alan Murphy                         12-16-1959 to 07-22-2021  *

Terry Leonard                                  02-15-1962 to 07-26-2021

Sidney "Dale" Sturlaugson              10-15-1936 to 07-27-2021

Danny William Krause                     12-27-1945 to 08-01-2021

Tosten Christopher Flaten                11-13-1986 to 08-02-2021

Scott Zuck                                         12-08-1964 to 08-04-2021  *

Benjamin Frank Bradshaw               07-06-1963 to 08-06-2021

Pamela Jane Clark                             10-08-1944 to 08-10-2021  *

Bryce Morgan Hunt                          08-27-1992 to 08-11-2021

Robert Donal Wurm                          06-05-1933 to 08-11-2021

Katherine Starkovich Schock            11-04-1943 to 08-14-2021  *

Joseph Leroy Harsha                         09-09-1977 to 08-15-2021

Mike King Walker                            11-05-1959 to 08-23-2021

Daniel Jayson Fry                             04-03-1974 to 08-24-2021

Lucinda "Cindi" Holcomb                 02-28-1958 to 08-25-2021

Dennis W. Pirtle                                04-04-1957 to 08-27-2021

Troy Lance Lowseth                          07-21-1972 to 08-27-2021

Gabriel Rudy Lamorie, Jr.                 07-16-1962 to 08-28-2021  *

Delma Jean Miller                             11-14-1934 to 08-31-2021

Dale Wesley Williams                       08-22-1950 to 09-01-2021

Debra J. Irish                                     11-01-1957 to 09-01-2021

Orlando Aragon                                 10-03-1955 to 09-02-2021  *

Leopoldo A. Montoya                       04-11-1929 to 09-04-2021

Susan Heslip                                      01-21-1946 t0 09-04-2021

Lee Albert Kobernick                        06-04-1940 to 09-05-2021

Dale R. Reminc, Jr.                            08-07-1986 to 09-05-2021

Noel Huber                                         01-14-1966 to 09-06-2021

Juan C. Lerma                                    06-24-1961 to 09-08-2021  *

Harvey Lee Ogden                              10-10-1944 09-10-2021

Carolyn F. King                                  09-25-1942 to 09-10-2021

Helen Clary Michie                             01-14-1973 to 09-11-2021

Mark Wayne Smith                            12-21-1968 to 09-12-2021

Phyllis Ann Maggio                            05-16-1945 tp 09-16-2021

Marjorie Penner                                   No birth date, age 94 09-17-2021

Robin Denise Kizzire                        05-21-1966 to 09-17-2021

Marvin Max Stark                              04-14-1937 to 09-21-2021

David S. Swindell                             11-24-1937 to 09-23-2021

Kayla Marie Lewis                            12-10-1987 to 09-23-2021

Gerald "Dean" McCreary                    03-18-1934 to 09-24-2021

Charles Darnell                                  10-06-1952 to 09-27-2021

Ted K. Walker                                    12-29-1951 to 09-29-2021

Michael Buckner                               06-30-1959 to 10-01-2021  *

Wiley J. Morgan                                01-31-1937 to 10-01-2021

Roger Leroy Sanchez                        01-10-1950 to 10-02-2021

Bonnie Yvonne Lamb Mullins          07-23-1962 to 10-02-2021

Darlene Van Valkenberg                    08-10-1943 to 10-03-2021

Michael Francis Tamosauskas            07-11-1959 to 10-03-2021  *

Jacquelen McGee                                12-14-1938 to 10-04-2021  *

Cynthia Louise Turner                         07-12-1954 to 10-04-2021

Richard Kit Deichmueller                    08-25-1948 to 10-05-2021

Eileen Bell Wadsworth                        03-21-1969 to 10-05-2021

Justin James Lehar                               09-26-1981 to 10-07-2021

David Alan Wallace                              06-28-1951 to 10-07-2021

Cynthia Diane Harsha                          04-07-1954 to 10-08-2021  *

Jessica Scott                                         10-16-1978 to 10-10-2021

Mary Margaret Busse                            06-02-1960 to 10-11-2021  *

Robert Dale Cannon                              10-02-1953 to 10-11-2021

Deborah Kay Davis                                07-30-1954 to 10-12-2021

Dean Martin Dawes                              04-12-1952 to 10-13-2021

Raul Ray Oakley                                    04-15-1955 to 10-17-2021

Brandon Craig Hetrick                            08-26-1972 to 10-19-2021  *

Christopher Brent Heath                        07-01-1988 to 10-21-2021  *

Bonnie J. Patten                                    04-01-1958 to 10-24-2021

Barbara Gunyan                                    11-21-1951 to 10-27-2021  *

Maria Elena Sisneros                            09-04-1980 to 10-27-2021  *

Jeff Pedersen                                         12-20-1961 to 10-28-2021  *

Patricia Mitchell                                    06-18-1955 to 10-29-2021

Samuel Lamorie, Jr.                               06-11-1965 to 11-05-2021  *

Joe B. Gomez                                        11-21-1938 to 11-10-2021

Anna Beth Alexander                            10-03-1942 to 11-12-2021

Helen J. Urrutia                                      07-31-1923 to 11-14-2021

Sandra Lynn Tull                                    12-01-1945 to 11-15-2021

James Eugene Punches                           08-05-1940 to 11-16-2021

Mary Gail Elizondo                                12-18-1952 to 11-17-2021    

Maria "Dora" Gomez                              02-06-1955 to 11-17-2021

Sophie Arguello                                      11-07-1934 to 11-17-2021

Kathleen Faccio                                       08-13-1948 to 11-19-2021

Tom Joe Brangham                                  01-02-1947 to 11-20-2021

Johnny LeRoy Faccio                               12-24-1948 to 11-23-2021  *

Mary Faye Keister                                    04-05-1951 to 11-27-2021

leslie Ann Wilson                                      01-15-1956 to 11-28-2021

Diane Katherine Dolinar                            06-15-1948 to 12-04-2021

Evelyn Louise McDonald                          07-02-1927 to 12-05-2021

Stephen Stringham                                      07-10-1943 to 12-07-2021

Michael D. Magana                                    04-18-1988 to 12-08-2021

Alfonso Joe Bernal                                    07-29-1937 to 12-20-2021

JoAnn Ruth Dice                                        12-16-1930 to 12-20-2021    

Kelly Ann Porenta                                        02-22-1959 to 12-21-2021  *

David Alderik Violette                                08/1939    to 12-22-2021

Catherine Zweiner Pawleska                       02-10-1930 to 12-25-2021

2021 was indeed a rough year. My condolences for these losses. 

 January 10, 2021

2:40 p.m.

I live with chronic pain. Most days, I am able to shove it into the background and get on with my day with only occasional moans, groans and gripes.

Then there are days like today. Days when every breath hurts my whole torso; days when my joints aren't happy being still or being in motion; days when even my skin hurts and my clothing feels like a torture devise. 

On days like this I wish I could just lie naked on my bed, covered in the softest, lightest blanket I can find and not move. 

That's what I wish for, but I don't have time for that. There are things that have to be done. 

So, here I am, at the keyboard, bitching about it.

Let me just add this--I am grateful that extreme days don't happen that often. Yes, I am completely miserable, but it will pass and I won't be so inclined to gripe about the usual chronic pain I have daily. This is a forceful reminder of how lucky I am that it's not like this every day. 

I think my biggest mistake today was eating. I should know better. Days like this, food hurts, too. But I cooked for Mom and had a bit myself. And here we are.

Ugh. Ow. 

__________________________________________________________________________________

 Hey, there are upsides. Another story in the can. Another Drabble win. The dog still loves me. And the sun is shining. 

__________________________________________________________________________________

I'm thinking about getting one of those hair-cutting deals and doing an at-home do-it-yourself haircut. I butchered my bangs recently--how much worse could it get? Ha ha!

Once it's cut, I may color it pink and purple. Go all the way with it, that's what I say. What else have I got to do? 

I admit it--I am bored. I don't care for this lockdown crap any more than anyone else. And it amuses me to discover this. I am such a homebody, really. I don't go out often. I'm generally content to stay home and do my own thing. 

I think it's just the IDEA, you know? This sudden embrace of and encouragement for staying home makes me want to do the opposite. I don't like the fact that everyone else is doing MY THING. 

It's not funny. But it is funny. 

Seriously, I want to go to dinner and a movie with a friend. I want to go to a casino and drink tea while losing my pennies to the one-armed bandits. I want to sit in Barnes and Nobel with a cup of coffee and a book. 

I really wanted to go to Comic Book Conventions last year with my grandchildren, and I wanted Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

I mean it, man. I don't go out and do much. But the few things I do, I miss. 

I am the kid known as whimper and whine. Ha ha. Do you remember that song from the PBS show The Electric Company? 1970s. Look it up, it's probably on YouTube somewhere. I'm not going to look for you today. I am in pain. Sorry. 

___________________________________________________________________________________

4:23 p.m.

My thoughts are all Gloomy-Gus today.

Luckily, I published a couple of stories on my other blog, so I don't feel useless. 

Now, I am going to go make something for Mom to eat. No food for me. 

Better day tomorrow. I just know it!

Good day. 

I said good day. 

 

 January 6, 2021

7:20 p.m.

I had a plan for today. It did not include watching insurrectionists infiltrate the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

It as simple--let the dog out, take a shower, fix breakfast for Mom and myself, clean the kitchen, take down the Christmas decorations, and then write for a while. 

I figured while I was at it, I could keep an eye on election results from Georgia and see what might happen when Vice President Pence read the Electoral College votes. 

Yeah, I expected some crap to go down, but not the shit-show that happened.

I guess it was a good thing I was so busy packing up decorations at the time--I had something to distract me from...I don't know, kicking my feet and screaming, maybe.

What the hell happened to my country?

What does it say about the state of the world when I wasn't all that surprised when it happened? After all, Trump has been pushing this agenda for months now. But it's still hard to believe that things have gone so far around the bend. 

My flabber is gasted.

The thing that's worse is seeing people I know pushing back, defending this action or blaming it on ANTIFA. (To those of you who don't know, that name means ANTI-Fascism. ANTI.) Supposedly they disguised themselves as Trump supporters so he would be blamed. Makes sense, then, doesn't it, that he made a video thanking them for their support and saying he loved them and they were special people. He's all about Antifa, suddenly? Right...

I suppose they would just take down the American flag and put a Trump flag up in its place. Seems like a far-left thing to do. 

In your wildest dreams.

Ugh, what a mess! 

Turned off the news. I'm going to watch Downton Abby and call it a day.

________________________________________________________________________________

Brighter side--the tree is down and put away, along with all the decorations. 

We ate taco pizza for dinner. And a brownie. Not a special brownie, just your regular run of the mill super chocolatey brownie that makes you feel good just because it is a brownie. 

_________________________________________________________________________________

I'm sure the shit show continues tomorrow, but...

Fiddle-dee-dee, tomorrow is another day. 1920 Britain, here I come. 

Ta! 

 

 January 3, 2021

12:27 p.m.

This is an updated version. I learned of another loss after publication, and I'm adding him now that his family has announced it. 

Well. That's over with. Thank God. 

I'd like to put forth a little Happy New Year thought--I HOPE. 

Yeah, "I are not smart", as a friend tells me from time to time, when he's made a blunder of some sort. Why on earth would I have  room left for hope in my heart after the shit-show we've just come through? It's not like it's over--we are still right in the midst of it, and the end is probably out there, but it is not yet in my sights.

Still...I HOPE. I hope the world gets better, and this virus is brought under control. 

I hope stupid people grow brains. If you follow the news, you know what I mean.

I hope families make new starts. Remember that there are only so many chances you'll ever get to reach out to offer or ask for forgiveness, to lend a helping hand, to love one another. 

I HOPE for a Happy New Year.

__________________________________________________________________________________

In times past, I have posted a sort of "Who We Lost" list, mostly including folks from my hometown. I have gone back and forth with myself over doing it for 2020, because I have never seen the list this long. It is daunting. It took me two days to research and compile the names, and I doubt I have a complete list. 

Sharon Frint, 67                

Eileen Rae Hubbard, 61                   

Richard Leon Clement, 69

Brad Slaughter, 70            

Paula Carter, 73             

Audilia Martinez Ortega, 93             

Rocky Joe Potter, Sr., 68  

Gary Wayne Persinger, 68                 

David "Ted" Jensen, 75

Jeffery M. Travis, 47          

Harry Karician, 89                             

Linda Faye Holler, 73

Jeanette Barnie Wilson, 63  

Harris Foster, 68                               

Richard Ray Fischer, 73

Tana Elaine Bernal, 56                  

Frances Elizabeth Watts, 93             

Jennifer Jane Sawyer, 35 

Mary Margaret Case, 88                     

Quenten Reed Wilde, 42              

Robyn Dee Wilde, 70       

Chris Barrera. 89                                 

Steven John Schultz, 37                

Claudia Young, 71  

Patrick McGlynn Stewart, 54            

Marilyn, 86 & Robert Richards, 87     

Leona H. Wengert, 96         

Harold Walker, 91                               

Robert M. Hubler, Jr., 66                   

William "Tad" Bobbitt, 59 

Cynthia A. Wickham, 63                     

Bruce D. Williams, 73                       

Dallas "Jerry" Sinclair, 81 

Cindy Hamblin, 59                             

Michael Held, 63                               

Lynn M. Ball Burrola, 66 

Dr. Carl Allen Morck, 81                     

Nadine Nanette McGuire, 59             

Patrice Ortega, 50             

Nathan C. Richards, 65                       

James Noel Gardner, 85                      

Elsie Lee, 99                      

Robert Charles LeFaivre, 88                

Fred Alan Bowden, 65                       

Roger David Smith, 65    

Robert Thomas Trujillo, 83                 

Donald Francis Cywinski, 80            

Alice Ann Follett, 78         

James Daniel Davis, III, 65                 

Jennie V. Davis, 94                             

Irene A. Kalivas, 96     

Frank Ortega, 63                                 

Genovie Bustos, 86                           

Charles L. Bocquin, 81   

PAUL EUGENE SHABLO, 84  My beloved father, whom I miss desperately.   

Judy Wilcox, 80                                   

Trevor Clay Benboe, 40                   

Ona D. Cochrun, 79             

Manuel Pope, 75                                 

David Winn Johnson, 66                   

Michelle R Flores, 47     

Barbara Jean Rawl-Daniels, 83           

Donnette Butters Peterson, 100           

Betty Jean Taylor, 95         

Kevin John Hanson, 44                     

Eric Conrad Branson, k                     

William S. Ward, 78       

Laura LeAnn Maestas Schumacher, 37                                                         

Geraldine Ellen Birch, 90 

Avery Charles Beaver, 26                     

Dorothy A. Finch, 73                           

Jacob C. Sanchez, 88     

Lois M. McCall, 99                             

Linda Raw Waggener, 55                    

Margaret Bradner, 83  

Orin Lance Blasi, 42                            

Mary Katheryn Salas, 75

Donald Munoz, 74

Robin S. Vesco, 58

Laura Ann Scheneman, 52

Marcia Lee Norris, 72

Mary K. Smith, 65

Cayleigh Ann Welch, 18

Robert Velazquez, 63

Hui-Suk “Sue” Bozner, 60

Charlotte Ann Copeland, 75

Kathryn Kay Schwartz, 83

Zachary Ryan Eikanger, 29

George A. Whittacar, 69

Glen Franklin McLean, 73

Jan Alan Rushing, 72

John Roberts, 72

Nancy A. Probst, 74

Diana Fritzler, 66

Carol Ann Nunez Uriarte, 71

Sherril Hart, 56

E. Darrell Smith, 80

Rudolph James Gunter, 80

Cleoma “Jean” Kirby, 84

Joseph Glass, 87

Chris Leventis, 88

Kathleen Susan Hiatt, 68

Gretchen Andrusko, 82

Kay Marie Danielson, 82

Keith Swanson, 63

Gregory Scott Cable, 54

Norda Millett Lewis, 84

Elizabeth Rose Andrews, 41 

Wilfred Moccasin Gladue, 64

James Perry Nelson, Jr., 71   

Jim Guindon, 82

Iris Marie Hart, 92

Edward Lavern Harsha, 81

Leonard J. Ormandy, 91

Eutonia Veloy Jarvie, 89

Dale Wayne Pulley, 61

Joseph Raymond Bateman, Jr., 57

Patricia Lynn Preddy, 80

Alan, 80 and Ann Hendry, 78

Randy Hargrove, UK age. I will update. 

ROBERT AULBACH, my beloved uncle  

This is a list that includes mostly people who live in, or once lived in Green River, with a couple of people I know personally added in. Also, there were a couple who left us in December 2019, but you'll forgive me for that, I am sure. 

If I missed anyone, I apologize in advance. I am certain I did. It was that kind of year. 

We miss you and love you all, and hope you FLY HIGH.

________________________________________________________________________________

Adios, 2020. Never come back. We don't like you much.

Have a nice day, folks.