23 Aug 2025 - Last Day at Raccoon Valley at Volunteer Park and Wilma's Birthday

 

This is our last day here at Raccoon Valley at Volunteer Park RV Park.  We did not go anywhere.  Doreen knocked out our last bit of laundry before we move on tomorrow.  I cleaned, including using the vacuum.  That may not sound like a big deal, but Liberty HATED the vacuum.  So much so that when I needed to use the vacuum I would send Doreen out with Liberty on a walk while I used the vacuum.  Unfortunately we do not have to worry about that any more. 

She loved her mom!

There are so many things that have changed.  We are still trying to get used to all of this.  We both miss her so much.  So very much.  I cleaned the truck out today.  Liberty's kennel has been removed freeing up space in the back seat area.  I vacuumed the truck and cleaned the mats.  I think we are ready to move on tomorrow.

I flushed tanks, stowed hoses, stowed the flagpole since rain is forecast for this afternoon.  We put the outside mat away.  Iowa State football was playing Kansas State in Dublin Ireland so we tuned that in and watch the game.  Iowa State beat Kansas State 24-21.  

Today would have been my mom's 100th birthday.  She passed away 12 Aug 2013 of Alzheimer's disease.  What a friggin terrible disease.  She started going down hill after my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away a few short months later at 67 years old in Jan 1988.  I am now three years older than my dad when he died.  Ugh.  We moved Wilma from her home in Vinton IA to Traer IA and then to the Des Moines area near Doreen and I so that I could manager her finances and help her in her final years.  She continued to decline and after several years in 2013 the disease took her.  She so loved her kids and her grandkids.  Wilma was meticulous in everything she did.  I know where I got my OCD!  Had there been Excel spreadsheets back when she was here she would have been the master.  Wilma was an accomplished artist.  I can see her talents in our grand daughter Hailee.   

A few of Wilma's paintings

I wished she could be here to see our grandson graduate from Army basic training next week.  She would be here. So R.I.P Wilma.  You would be proud of your grandkids.

Tomorrow we pull chocks and head to Columbia SC and Weston Lake which is where Fort Jackson's FamCamp is located.  Later tomorrow daughter Jennifer (Lucas's mom) and her family will arrive from Battle Creek MI.  They are driving and have rented a VRBO.  Monday Jennifer and her crew plus Doreen and I will drive onto Fort Jackson and "get the lay of the land".  We need to sort out parking and where Family Day and Graduation occur.  Then later Monday evening our daughter Michelle and our son Dan both arrive.  Michelle is flying into Charlotte, renting a car and driving down.  Dan is flying into Columbia, nearest airport to Ft Jackson.  They are all staying in Jennifer's VRBO and Doreen and I will drive over from the campground and see them there.   

Next report from Ft Jackson at Columbia SC!