Seventy-nine years ago a little boy was born to a family of farmers in Northern Illinois. Aside from farming many of the relatives were teachers. Education was considered to be a tool for all the choices life would bring.

Rocky grew up with an older sister and brother. Their life on the farm and with lots of family around the area, he prospered in rich relationships that would follow into adulthood.

The family moved to South Missouri about the time my family moved here from Nebraska. We met one another in high-school and dated until we graduated. Rocky went on to college and after that we lost track of each other.

We never know where life will take us and after a lot of years we met again at a class reunion. The rest is legendary.

On this, his birthday, there are many reasons to remember our good life together. Do I miss him? Oh yes! But the end of the story is that we will see one another again someday……in a far wonderful place where there will be no more sad farewells.

Happy birthday to my forever love.

Essentially Esther