I have a feeling this is going to be along post, I've been quiet the last few days, and seem to have some catching up to do.

First - Happy Birthday Nancy!

What is it with Dad's not showing emotions? My dad was the same way. I remember as my Dad "passed me off" to my husband at the alter on our wedding day, he leaned over and said, "I love you and I'm proud of you." Too bad the photographer didn't capture the look of shock that must have been on my face at that moment. It has stayed with me, though. He's gone nearly 10 years, and that's the kind of memory I prefer to keep.

Michaela and others who are going through the Holidays without all their loved ones physically with them, try to have good memories and spend some time reminiscing about some happy times with that person. I remember someone telling me, every time you talk about the one who is gone, it brings them back for that moment in time. Tell some funny stories. It really does work!

We have a "fishhead" that makes the re-gifting circulation in our family. It's a mounted muskie head that must be older than the hills. Muskies have to be one of the ugliest fish in existence. My brother in law bought it at a yard sale coz he thought it was "cool". My sister was horrified. Because some of us made fun of my sister (asking her where she was going to hang it up in her home, ect.), she started the circulating by giving it away as a gift. That was more than 20 years ago. I've received it as a wedding gift, a baby gift and a housewarming gift myself.

On a downer note. We've had a really frightening and unbelievable week. (I'm on a roll with bad stuff happening around me, lately) The company my husband works for in Milwaukee had a massive explosion caused by a propane gas leak on Wednesday. Steve was within 50 yards of the explosion and had just minutes before been very close to where people were hurt and killed.

3 Falk employees were killed more than 40 injured (including Steve's boss who is still critical and another engineer both of whom Steve had been working closely with earlier).

The company grounds look like a bomb has gone off. It was nothing short of a miracle that the company's evacuation plan (which they had just drilled a few days before) was put into place, and many people were already moving to safety. There wasn't time to evacuate the building my husband was in. It's still standing (the building just yards away is gone) but has massive concussive damage. Thankfully, as I said, Steve had moved back to his office which is on the other side of the building from the one that was destroyed. He and his co-workers had to feel there way down a stairwell in the dark with glass flying around them.

We don't know when or if Steve still even has a job. Falk Corp. says they will rebuild, but when you see the level of destruction, who knows? We're feeling sad, shock, some fear and apprehension, but mostly gratitude.

Sometimes, I could just wring Ditka's neck myself, but I can't tell you how many times in the last 3 days I've thanked God that I was one of the lucky ones that heard his voice on the other end of the phone Wednesday morning telling me that he was alright.

This is a picture of some of the destruction.