Lanny’s Grandma and Grampa Collins. I’ll never forget the feather bed upstairs where us kids slept when we went to visit. Or the smell of fresh baked cookies and grampa’s pipe. The fishing trips, uncle Jimmy’s room, the beaded door, the steep stairway leading to the dining room.

I won’t forget the sound of the radio coming on early in the morning or the horse collection or the pen collection. I’ll remember always the love that filled the house, the Christmases with the Collins family. The trip my brother Mike and I made to pick up the fuel tank for Dad. I will never forget the trip we made with Grampa Collins and Dad to Minnesota to go bull head fishing – Grampa always said cast against the wind – and we always caught fish. I’ll never forget the catfish stories that Grampa used to tell and now I know how true they were.

I’ll never forgot Grandma’s fresh baked cookies, her gentle smile and hug and how she too loved to fish with Grampa. I’ll never forget that I was his "Little Mazooka".

Our parents, your grandparents or great grandparents!

We too were once young and just starting school. We met on a blind date arranged by one of my Air Force roommates who was dating Carol Galinsky at the time. They made out in the car – we played tic-tac-toe on the steamy car windows. Two years later, we got married.

Much as Carolyn, their mom and my soul mate and passion gives of herself to them, to their children, and to everyone and everything she does – unselfishly and with great love. And their too, the passion causes great joy and the deepest pain imaginable.

This is what makes life – life, living it with passion and caring, with exploration and dreaming, with giving and receiving – and a deep, deep, deep sense of being. And that too, I think is why we each seek and do eventually find one to share all of who we are with and because we want to give the most awesome gift we can give to another and that is the whole of who we are as individuals. I see that in each of the children -- and those that they have chosen to be with…

I think he swept her off her feet – I had my doubts about Eric… I think every father has doubts about the man his daughters choose… I think mothers have the same doubts about the daughters their sons choose, though I’m not sure mothers would ever admit that. Eric.. I think the consummate "manly man". We did get to go fishing and had a great family camp out with them, the grandkids and Rosana, Jeremiah, and Kairi. Father of three daughters and a son. I don’t think that I have asked for help from Eric and been refused. He to cares and loves deeply and is a wonderful father to their four children, Meagan, Brooke, Hailey (I’ll never learn how to spell her name correctly) and Trenton – the youngest and perhaps the most colorful character of them all. They are all such talented kids. Megan has grown into such a beautiful young lady – always treats Carolyn and I with such wonderful love and respect. Brooke brings a very special elegance and sophistication to everything she does – all their children have such energy and joy about them – and not one thing they do ever seems to bother or upset their mom. Hailey – talk about bright, happy, and kinda of a sense of life beyond her years – I think all four of the kids often say things that would make an adult reflect in a awe of their wisdom. I know I do. Then there is Trenton – a boy among girls – a gentle delight that could entertain for hours – though one thing I will not forget for some time is our trip from Des Moines to Montezuma once. I’ll also never forget one of the children saying – as we drove down a country road near my hometown – This is paradise! (One doesn’t often hear that when speaking of Iowa.) But truly at that moment it was indeed Paradise. I think one of the most beautiful things about the Dearman’s is the sacrifices they make as parents to give the kids any opportunity they desire – swimming, cheerleading, singing – whatever. They bring a lot of joy to the world. (Aubrey Jo born Nov 23, 2007) (Megan starts college!) January 3, 2010 - Megan is now a Junior at the University of Northern Colorado.)

Chad and Wendfal

I don’t think I will ever forget the night that Chad and Wendfal announced they were getting married. The strength they showed when little Autumn was born and the conviction they had to make things work – and then went and just made it happen. Now it is them and their two kids Autumn and Wolfgang. Wendfal – zowie (I suppose that is an unusual thing for a father-in-law to say). Whether you need your transmission repaired, a tattoo, or an elegant dining experience – she can deliver, what can I say. And, like all of our children a great hugger. And, oh by the way, if you want an honest opinion, but are a bit afraid of the answer – don’t ask the question because Wendfal is very insightful, direct, and honest and will tell you the truth! I respect that. The whole family makes Carolyn and I feel so welcome and comfortable when we go there to visit – it is one of those places where I know I feel like I can just relax and not worry about a thing – except that darn water softener alarm! We have had our struggles and difficulties – but we are all stronger and closer – I don’t think because of those things, but because there was a willingness to love and be loved, to accept and be accepted, to forgive and be forgiven. Autumn – our second grandchild – a special miracle also growing up into a beautiful young lady – she has a "strength" all her own, and though she has never sung for me, I understand has a beautiful voice – runs in the family. Then there is Wolfgang – consummate game player, more energy than the Denver Broncos football team – sharp as they come – and yes, I love all of my grandchildren dearly… But Wolf and I have a special relationship – well for one thing, depending on the future and his plans… the Fahlenkamp name carries on, but – he challenges me to ride bikes, play video games and still enjoys playing word games with me. I think he reminds me of my Grampa Collins and myself – Grampa Collins called me his "Little Mazooka". Wolf got me interested in YoYo’s and fun again I think. And then there is Roat (SP) – German for Red… a fish… a fish that "plays dead". On my last visit I saw the fish, laying side up in his bowl, not a stir, no bubbles, no nothing, just floating there lifeless as can be. I did not know how to tell Wendfal – they love that fish. So I walked down the hall and said Wendfal, I have some bad news – your fish is dead. She laughed – no he’s not, he’s just playing dead. I told Wendfal, the fish is dead – believe me. So we walked back into the living room and sure enough that darn fish was swimming around… go figure. I never heard of a fish that played dead! This is an adventuresome family – willing to move, to challenge, to grow together and to explore. Chad from stocking ambulances with David to being a regional director – Wendfal attending her first tattoo conference and Chad there to support her – and we got to spoil the kids. Ooops, I didn’t say that did I? (April 2008 – Chad is promoted – kids return to Colorado!

They love Paris and New York. I pretty much remember the beginnings of my knowledge of this relationship too. I think my words to Drew were probably stronger than the words I had for Eric. Kindle has so much depth and talent – our families one and only vegetarian that I know of. She started a t a very young age. I think Kindle has been a writer since she was three years old – and a lover of animals, cats and dogs especially – but I think all animals and all life. A published author – one book – several magazine articles and now becoming a web developer. All my children – nothing to do with the TV show – gave us the gifts of special challenges, joys, sorrows, and pride. I think one of the most memorable memories I have of Kindle – was how much time she spent along, in the privacy of her room, writing, enjoying music and whatever. She is also an explorer and when she found her soul mate drew.. they have done just that. Yes it was a shocker that Drew was an "older man". But he is a very special older man – and the love they have for each other can not be denied. Drew is a very talented musician and teacher – I imagine that he has the patience of Job… If you’ve never heard him do Louis Armstrong, you’ve missed something. I’ll not forget the day at Sisters of St. Francis when he played dueling banjos – by himself. Okay Drew – we ran out of days again this year to play golf. And, thanks both of you for turning me on to Cleus De Bois, still one of my favorite wines. I think too, Kindle turned me on to Jazz – I have more Jazz CD’s than any other genre of music. Visit drewjazz.com if you get a chance. Kindle and Drew know how to take the time to continue to date each other. Carolyn and I are learning how to do that again – we forget those things – it is good that we have children and their families to remind us what life is really all about. I can even tolerate the "grand-pets" and Carolyn never ever forgets them at Christmas.

And then there is Paschi and Monet – the granddogs, and Milo and Ellis – the grandcats – they all have long hair and they are all very special – and I can even tolerate them when we visit Kindle and Drew

Jeremiah such an artist – got him in a wee bit of trouble – and such a transition, almost overnight when Kairi came into his life. Somehow, I think all of our children let, at one point or another their workplace management take unfair advantage of them. To a child they give their all – that also makes me reflect the times I was not home because I was working two jobs and Carolyn was raising four kids, perhaps not. Jeremiah too, is loyal to a fault – but I think he dreams, yet of finishing art school – and I believe one day that he will. Rosana brought a special "balance" to his life. (Divorced 2007) A couple of things that I remember about the two of them and Kairi when they lived at our home – the love they put into building new office furniture for me – awesome. The list that Rosana made for Carolyn on chores and how easy it really is to keep things dusted and in order. Both of them are such hard workers – that it has really been difficult for them to make time for each other. Kairi – gosh she is big for a two year old. She has some much joy – but boy, can she raise the roof too. When Carolyn and I picked her up last night, she had the book "The Incredibles" – likes to read I think. During this time of difficulty for his family, Jeremiah’s family, his sisters and the Missouri gang have been very supportive. It takes a special kind of courage to work through the things they are working through right now and I think both Rosana and Jeremiah are working hard to do what is best for Kairi – and that this is not an easy time for either of them. Take heart, we’ve all been there in a similar situation-remember the bathroom Carolyn – hey, I wonder if that is why I’ve not redone our bathrooms yet. I’d better call "done right".

(Jeremiah and Rosana have been divorced now for a couple of years.) Miah met a wonderful gal - Mandy Colquitt - they are together.  At the moment Jeremiah is a manager fro Zumeii's.  He got laid off from Anchor Blue after he had to close all of the Colorado stores except one - his, which they gave to one of their other managers.

Kairi is doing great.