Talimena Drive, To Boldly Go
meganwaters2004 has been a good friend for a very long time. Her husband, Preston, was a good friend, too, though in my life, he was more the weenie who couldn't come on no-weenie camping expeditions. I say that with a laugh, because Preston and I had some good times together, too. Kate was closer to him since they spent more time together when she lived in McAlester. He was a Trekkie... If I needed Star Trek trivia answers or movie reviews, I knew where to get them.
Preston was sick off and on this year; initially, it was diagnosed as pancreatitis. Then they thought it might be something with his liver, too, perhaps hepatitis. Eventually, he was diagnosed with cancer, and in a matter of days... before he could get any chemo or cancer treatment, he died October 22nd. It was very sudden, and very heartwrenching, but inspiring in an odd way, too, because of how Preston met it all head on, and how he shined in his final days. He has boldly gone on, leaving the rest of us to muddle on behind in his wake.
Saturday Kate and I drove down to pick up meganwaters2004 and a few of Preston's ashes. We took the Talimena Scenic Drive in Southeastern Oklahoma to see the fall foliage. It's usually at or near its peak over Halloween weekend, but this year we were too early to catch it at its prettiest. Still, it was a beautiful drive with good company. And we left behind a few of Preston's ashes to enjoy a stunning overlook.
Preston was sick off and on this year; initially, it was diagnosed as pancreatitis. Then they thought it might be something with his liver, too, perhaps hepatitis. Eventually, he was diagnosed with cancer, and in a matter of days... before he could get any chemo or cancer treatment, he died October 22nd. It was very sudden, and very heartwrenching, but inspiring in an odd way, too, because of how Preston met it all head on, and how he shined in his final days. He has boldly gone on, leaving the rest of us to muddle on behind in his wake.
Saturday Kate and I drove down to pick up meganwaters2004 and a few of Preston's ashes. We took the Talimena Scenic Drive in Southeastern Oklahoma to see the fall foliage. It's usually at or near its peak over Halloween weekend, but this year we were too early to catch it at its prettiest. Still, it was a beautiful drive with good company. And we left behind a few of Preston's ashes to enjoy a stunning overlook.