Friday

Managed to get myself up bright and early at 7:15AM & soon found myself on the road to Tipton for Debbie Leikers funeral. Salina is surrounded by a huge lake to the west and north. All I-70 exits and entrances to Salina are closed as well as State Street on I-135. Crawford just opened so I got a quick bite to eat at McDonald’s. Yes, I will eat their breakfast food, but not much else. Esp needed high acid coffee to wake me up and it did.

Arrived about 15 minutes before the 10AM starting time. We did learn that St Boniface, who the Church is named for, was the Catholic patron saint of Germany. Glad I could be there, but it was one of the saddest funerals I’ve ever been to. Debbie was 51, lost her job and was diagnosed with cancer last Feb. Her surgery went well & she called me later to say she was doing great. Later, more cancer was found in her brain & things happened quickly. She did live long enough to attend her son Justin’s wedding at the end of April. A large representation from Hillsboro was there and I’m guessing non-Catholics numbered close to 40%. Frist time I’ve seen altar girls instead of alter boys. I did not put my hand in holy water, bow before the alter or go thru the line to be blessed, nor did any other non-Cath people that I’m aware of.

A nice meal afterwards and good to meet Debbie’s family. I menitoned I was her tax man and her sister Faye Ellenz jumped right up and went to her purse and handed me the amount of Debbie’s NSF check. I had waited to long to cash the check and considered that totally my fault. Didn’t know things were happening so quickly and her account was closed before I got the check deposited. That was certainly going beyond the call of duty and thank you Faye!

Greatly enjoyed the lush green hills and solitude of the ride there and back. Smoky hills living up to their name this AM with so much moisture in the air. State Street was finally open when I got back to Salina & went to the courthouse for more real estate statements & receipts for a client & hurried on home to finish some sales tax forms & hurried back and made it by the 8PM mail cut off. Then looked at all the flood water to the N and E of Salina. New Cambria will prob be hit worse than last time. The great Smoky Hill River is out of its banks downstream from Salina and also Mulberry Creek has set new record flood stats due to all the rain from the west.

Ate at Coyote Canyon and rec a call from Jacob and he says he is really getting into his summer employment. Has another early day planned for tomorrow. Also quite a few other calls from certain young ones and that is all fine & good.

Completely worn out and depleted and ready for bed.

mikey