Our Time In Missouri

Wednesday (21st): We drove 14 hours, arrived at our Holiday Inn Express. Ford left almost immediately with Bill to sit with Ben. Ben is slowly dying, being made comfortable.
We ate the remaining lunch we brought from home (ribs, pasta salad). Tired, we stretched, (AA did her PT exercises) and very late by the time I showered and all settled.

Thursday (22nd): We woke early (5 am) and enjoyed the hotel breakfast which opened at 6 am. We talked with Bill and Joan, decided Ford would get Bill (his car was in the shop) pick up boxes (for packing up Ben's assisted living townhouse) and visit with Ben. We dressed for dinner, Bill and Joan picked us up, enjoyed a glass of wine with Kaci/Luke, and had delicious food at the Cape Golf Country Club; Jack joined us (Jack left by the time we took the group photo). Great catching up with family, thanks to Bill and Joan.

We went to see Ben, so sad to see him alive but not alive. AA was reminded of seeing Ian struggle for breaths and we stepped out in the hallway and had a good cry. Then back to the hotel, had a complimentary cookie and then bedtime! AA was very tired and her leg was sore, mostly from more walking on that leg (just going to one crutch) plus pool walking and using stationary bike. 

Friday (23rd): Bill and Joan picked us up go see the farm at 9:30 a.m. (about 50 minutes away - 5 miles northwest of Advance/Dongola). We saw the pond, cabin and enjoyed lunch Joan brought (Honey Baked Turkey/Turkey salad, with chips). Bill caught several catfish and released them back into a side creek, says there are two many catfish in his pond, along with trout, bass and 2500 stocked crappie/brim.

While Ford and Bill checked on Ben again, Joan, AA and I boxed up some of Ben's belongings. We all had a glass of wine while chatting before heading back to our room. We walked next door to the Olive garden for dinner, had lasagna, chicken scampi and spaghetti and meatballs plus the limitless salad (brought home half our dinners for lunch in the room on Saturday).

Saturday (24th): Today was the day we had planned to visit with Mia on our way to Cape. We have been here three nights already. Bill picked up Ford at 10:30 am to see Ben (I chatted with my Mom); AA and I went to the exercise facility, perfect for AA on the recumbent stationary bike. AA and I then went to Walmart to buy laundry supplies and birthday cards, then to JC Penney's. We will explore the shops more tomorrow, there is an Old Navy and large Barnes and Noble store in the "old/closed" mall. We ate our leftovers for lunch. 

We made a few phone calls, to Joy, she already had a trip planned to Shelby's (Scott City), then to Debbie's (Lake of the Ozark's), then a meet up in Colorado; so she will be here Monday evening through Wednesday. We talked with Marty and he said it is not a good time to visit. And we have planned a visit with Lester tomorrow at 1 pm. Ford went with Bill at 3 pm to Ben's.

Bill and Joan picked us up for dinner at Pagliai's Pizza & Pasta, 1129 Broadway St, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701. A lively, friendly place who all know Bill and Joan by name. Delicious food, very busy, glad we got to go. We stopped by the Chateau to see the two rental apartment's available, and at first I thought we should rent one, only $75 per night but after talking to Ford, he had his reasons why not.

Relaxed back at our room, had a hot cookie (offered every night at 8 pm) and watched TV.

Sunday (25th): While getting ready in the morning to visit Lester, Bill called and said they needed to get to Ben's side. About 10:15 a.m. Ben passed. RIP.