Lessons learned

Bill was a wonderful kind and gentle soul, he suffered with severe PTSD, but over the last few months of his life he was getting better with things. His nightmares slowed down, and his question of "WHY ME" were not asked as often. Through him I learned a lot.

1. He awoke every morning with a smile and kiss and a "good morning honeybunny." ****and so I do the same even though there are days I would just as soon lay in bed with the blanket over my head.

2. He kept his personal hygiene in order too although sometimes he would come in from work a bit ripe, smelling of rust or gas or goodness knows what. ****I shall do the same.

3. He had hobbies to keep himself busy, working on cars, hunting moose when his name was finally drawn after a 30 year wait. Hunting bunnies with his buddies, deer hunting with his wife and sharing a tree stand with her, turkey hunting in both spring and fall with his wife, bear hunting,  fishing and boating and riding his Harley with his wife covering his back. ****I am looking for a hobby for my hobby was to make Bill's life as wonderful as possible as he did for me., and to keep our home clean. He often teased me by saying "this is not Better Homes and Gardens honeybunny." to me it was and still is.

4. To help others and treat them as he wanted to be treated. He would go at a drop of the hat to helps some one out, weather it was to kill a bunch of skunks in their back yard, to kill off coyotes that were after friends chickens or to put insulation up in someone's crawl space because they were disabled. He was labeled here in Harmony by those who did know him as the "crazy Vietnam Vet." He held that name proudly to those he did not trust or care about. ****Although I know how to shoot a gun and can protect myself and have shot a turkey and deer I think those days are done for me. Besides I never really cared for venison, however fair warning..watch out for the WIFE of a crazy Vietnam Vet he taught her shoot, and she will protect what is rightfully hers.

5. His home was opened to anyone who wished to enter. He made them feel at home instantly and so loved to show off his trophies in the house, beer, deer, fish, goose, raccoons, turkey, fox, coyote, and often said if his wife did not clean them like she does they would not look as nice as they do. ****My doors are no longer opened to just anyone who might stop by, I have to protect what I have, however to friends and family it is opened. And yes I still have all the trophies here of his..I used to tease him and say "when you die all these animals go away." Today I cherish them.

6. He taught me to go in life, even though your heart is broken, for his was with the loss of "boys" in VietNam. "One foot in front of the other", he use to say to me. ****It is difficult for sure and sometimes I wonder if I can, but in Memory of my husband I will...my Journey continues.