A Little Detour This Week

My update this week won't be nearly as exciting as our previous adventures and those of you who are family know why. Last Saturday afternoon, Dean's dad, Leon "Stretch" Lowary passed away in Quincy, IL at the Illinois Veterans Home. He was 91 years old and had suffered a major stroke Christmas Day, 2006. During the last year he fought hard but continued to suffer small strokes and heart attacks until he just couldn't take it any more. Dean and his brother Tom are doing okay as they work on wrapping up his affairs while we are in Quincy.

This little trip north has reminded us why we are wintering in Texas. BRRRR. Yesterday we awoke to a real temp of 4 below and a wind chill of 13 below. I drove Dean's daughter, Deana back to St. Louis to catch her plane. As we were preparing to leave, the rental car clearly shuttered in the cold as well. It is supposed to warm up this weekend when Dean and I will take a quick trip to Chicago to visit old friends while we are "in the neighborhood."

We'll head back to San Antonio on Tuesday to pick up Molly, then will continue back to the Rio Grande Valley. We will rework our itineray when we get there and let you folks know where we will be during the rest of February. Meanwhile, we appreciate all the thoughts and condolences so many of you have passed on to us.