Inquisitive Quest

.  The expectant assemblage arriving for the Saturday,  May 19th commemorative graduation ceremony of the Chaparral High School Class of 1996 in the high school auditorium.  Sandra Lynne Willson achieving recognition for the conclusion of a 12 year educational journey on the road of life,  a High School Diploma documenting her accomplishment.    Members of the family having arrived for the event,  her sister Marlo,  husband Chris,  nephew and niece Garrett and Allison having journeying from Oklahoma City.  Her grandparents,  Kiowa’s Bud and Helen Murrow,  Aunt Lynne Johnson,  husband Shawn, cousins  Sarah, Jamie  and visiting Aunt Gayle Robb.   For some reason Gary found graduation ceremonies very moving, he questioned that it might be the recognition and  acknowledgement of the individuals as they cross the stage and then again the  Chaparral graduation tradition,  the words of “An Irish Blessing” resounded a largo of emotion for  the conclusion of the ceremonious presentation. 

.  Sandra was impressive in her use of the 1982 Toyota, a natural with the manual five speed transmission and never complaining about the family transportation heirloom.   Gary coming to the conclusion that his Princess’s  transportation needed to be upgraded making decision to relinquish his cherished 89 Oldsmobile Cutlass to her,  retiring the Tercel Wagon.  A visit to Bogner Chevrolet in Kiowa finding Gary bargaining with Bill,  the reliable Toyota Tercel having chauffeured his wife to Pratt during her college years,  as a trade in.   Gary deciding that a 1992 Buick Skylark would serve his needs for the time being,   presenting his daughter with the Oldsmobile.

.  Gary awoke early on a Saturday morning, the first weekend after entrusting Sandra with the Oldsmobile Cutlass,  expecting to find its presence outside the home,  but discovering that it was nowhere to be found.   Going upstairs to Sandra’s room finding        her responsive to his inquisition about the absence of her car, Sandra looking puzzled asserting she had  parked it out front.  Hearing voices admitting from the third floor above, discovering  that two of her friends whom apparently had been playing pool during the past night, concurrently were still present upstairs.  As they descended they gave an explanation that they had fallen asleep and spent the night on the third floor.   Gary once again checking for the presence of the car, to no avail,  turning on his scanner to the Anthony Police Channel, hearing there was activity about an overturned car on rural NE 10th Avenue,  an unimproved road paralleling Highway 2 north to Harper.  The police on the scene transmitting an automotive description,  Gary immediately proceeded north to the location, finding no sign of law enforcement but the 89 Cutlass overturned in a ditch,  the keys still in the ignition.   His emotion was without description,  a wonderment to see an exponent of his material life destroyed without explanation.

.  Returning home Gary questioning  the two boys, the two remaining adamant that they had no idea of what could have transpired about the missing car, still maintaining they had fallen asleep upstairs as John Blevins,  the Anthony Chief of Police arrived.  John an acquaintance of Gary and more so of wife Jan,  a classmate of her Kiowa High School Graduation Class.   John Blevins was a professional,  having spent twenty years as a police officer  in Wichita, retiring from the larger city force to take a leadership position in Anthony.   Interviewing the two boys with a skeptical look on his face,  asking Gary to take him to the third floor where the boys had spent the night.   Gary was shocked at what he saw as they entered the large third floor ballroom, home to the pool table. The room disheveled, almost a remnant of a bar, empty bottles and cans including  alcoholic beverages spewed about, a perplexed look on Johns face, Blevins questioning about its appearance.

.  Gary was truthful in his answer,  stating it had been more than a week since he had ventured to the  third floor,  adding that he never bought or would provide any alcoholic beverage to his children or anyone underage,  hesitating,  then adding,  his Kiowa High School classmate may know more about that subject than he does.   Returning to the main floor,  Chief Blevins took both youths to his patrol car,   returning a short time later,  stating  the car theft mystery was solved.   The youth admitting that they found Sandra’s car keys, drove to Harper to buy more liquor,   and on the way home,  wrecked the car , and walked back to Anthony, resuming their presence on the third floor.  Gary had no affection over the event,  more of a disappointment in his daughter for her lack of discretion in acquiring friends.  The  loss of the Cutlass,  plus a balance  of $1300 still owed after insurance remuneration.  The underage boys taken into custody would be tried in juvenile court, Gary not expecting any monetary restitution.

. The loss of the Cutlass finding Sandra in need of an automotive replacement, Gary noticing a television commercial for a weekend auto auction at Century II,  the ad finding him Saturday,  on his way to Wichita.  The auction was unique, the elder Willson discovering a 1956 Oldsmobile Starfire Convertible at reasonable price,  a dream of a car, but it was his dream not Sandra’s,  so practicality prevailed. 

. A 1993 Mercury Topaz under warranty was offered,  although a stick shift, the price was right and the decision was made to buy, Gary deciding to leave his Buick at Century II,  driving the Topaz back to Anthony.   Upon arrival at home, presented Sandra with the Topaz and after spending the day in Wichita,  didn’t feel up to making another 110  mile round trip to get the Buick,  asking Sandra,  if she and her friend September Porter would return to Wichita in the Mercury and have  September drive the Buick back to Anthony

. Gary,  waiting patiently for Sandra and September’s return from Wichita when the phone rang.   It was Sandra explaining they were still in Wichita,  and there had been an accident,  she had rear ended the Buick with the Topaz,  adding the front of the Topaz had been damaged and water was coming from underneath the front,  but the Buick seemed alright.  Gary weary of the events,  telling the girls to find a convenience store and park the Topaz and drive the Buick home.  The girls having arrived, the Buick  no worse for ware,  Gary deciding t0 return to Wichita to survey the damage.  Once in Wichita, finding the damaged Topaz not parked at a location  on the way back to Anthony,  but on the other side of town.

.  Gary deciding not to make an issue of it,  as his daughter was already to the point of tears considering the loss of two cars in two weeks.  The good news was that the damage looked to be minimal,  mostly to the front grill and radiator.  The next morning,  a Sunday, Gary approached Harold Madsen at home located behind his Automotive Repair establishment to see about transporting the car from Wichita.   Harold telling Gary the family had plans,  and he couldn’t retrieve it till tomorrow,  but he would be more than happy to loan Gary his pickup and auto trailer if he thought it necessary.   Taking advantage of the opportunity,  Gary was soon in Harold pickup and trailer, making his third trip to Wichita in two days.  The Topaz loaded and arriving back in  Anthony, parking the pickup and trailer with the car still on it to await Harold’s attention, and a return to normality.

. The summer months prevailing,  Robert working in Salina,  Sandra’s preparation completed for her enrollment at Southwestern College ,  Winfield Kansas.   A Saturday morning found Gary hitching his “two Lawn Boy’s and a Snapper” trailer to the Buick,  proceeding to consign furnishing from Sandra’s Bedroom and other possessions to avail the semi-furnished rental house that her and two other prospective student had procured in Winfield.   The journey  was not without incident,  having to stop and tighten the rope tie-downs, the wind out of south and always leery of the scatter light showers from the sparse individual clouds that inhibited what otherwise was a blue Kansas sky.   Arriving at his destination,  Gary finding the rental property,  a remnant of days past,  a ship-lap frame house in an indiscreet neighborhood without sidewalks,  a typical descry found in most rural Kansas farming communities,  but suitable for the demeanor of the occupants.  An unloading of the trailer was completed, Sandra’s new Winfield residence established.  The drive back to Anthony found Gary experiencing an emptiness, part of his life having departed.    

.  Wednesday night services at the Apostolic Christian Church found Gary driving from Anthony,  Jan when working late at the hospital in Alva would meet him at the church on her way home. The church service having concluded, Gary proceeding home,  Jan saying she would be following right behind him.  Gary arriving in Anthony, deciding to stop at Larry’s Home Town Market to pick up a few things when he heard the wailing of the ambulance siren heading west out-of-town,  and for some reason he had a premonition, a feeling something was wrong.  Once home , he turned on the scanner,  discovering the ambulance had been dispatched to an accident a mile west of town, the feeling continuing, deciding to drive to the area.  

.  Arriving at the scene, immediately recognizing Jan’s Shadow convertible with a crumpled front end,  noticing that the airbags had been deployed,  Jan was nowhere to be seen, the ambulance having left the scene for the hospital.  Gary hastily driving to the Hospital,  finding Jan up and about in E R,   very much shaken,  but apparently not incurring any major physical damage except the trauma of the airbags deploying.  She related that coming downhill off a raise a mile west of town, the cars headlights failed to pick up a herd of cattle that had wandered thru a broken fence onto the highway, the Dodge Shadow plowing into the herd with the brakes locked.  From the looks of the car and impact, Gary very much thankful someone above was watching over his wife as the results could have been far worse..

 .  Gary questioned the responsibility outcome of the accident, the sheriff’s department account stating that there were several reports of cattle being out at this location in the past, but the rancher claiming the fence was intact, and that a reported mountain lion in the area spooked the cattle causing them to break the fence.   Gary coming to the conclusion that events that unfold in one’s life have a meaningful purpose,  giving one a residual of patience, and understanding not always acquired by self, but sometimes its implication were fleeting.

. The monolithic expanse empty of activity,  its progeny having departed,  a silence prevailing within the ramparts of 602 North Springfield in Anthony Kansas,  Gary absorbing the solitude, Jan calling once again from Share Medical Center,  60 miles distance,   stating,  she would be working late and in all probability would not be returning home that night.   In his solitude,  concluding  a probability she was experiencing what is commonly referred to as  “the empty nest syndrome”,  finding it difficult to endure the saturnine of the once bestirring residence,  enveloping herself in work to alleviate the acumen of her discernment.   But Gary detecting a new assertive  vicissitude in his wife’s predilection, no longer depositing her payroll check in the couple’s  joint account at the First National Bank of Anthony,  but opening an account in her name only, at the Community Bank in Alva, and a joint account with her sister Gayle.   Her given rationalization being,  to establish a Oklahoma financial validity,  giving an explanation,  the 60 mile two-hour round-trip drive  was getting burdensome, proposing a move. 

. Gary was somewhat adverse to the overture,  as he clearly adulated living in Anthony,  his acquaintances,  the lake,  its proximity to Wichita and it’s host of offerings.  Reluctantly agreeing that the move would be in his wife’s best interest,  especially with her added demanding work as Assistant Administrator in charge of all Ancillary Patient Care Services, including  O B,   being a licensed First Assistant Surgery Nurse, and the ever-present responsibility to attend evening hospital meetings.  Gary solemnly  knowing the move was inevitable,  his driving distance to work would remain the same as Anthony to Kiowa,  Alva to Kiowa, both a 30 minute  journey, but the return destination would never be the same.

Not a home, but a benefactor

.  The decision to move to Alva having come to fruition,  Jan finding a two bedroom rental house at 804 Noble St. , with a small additional structured dwelling on it,  the rental agreement included an option to buy.   The Noble house a behemoth contrary to their 6000 square foot Anthony home,  if one included the 1500 square foot basement.   Gary sensing a feeling of entrapment, the  small house and residing in an inundating college community, not the laid back rural lake, farming  endowed surroundings of Anthony.  The moving experience beginning,  the depositions of the family’s three cats now in question,  Mario and Mitten, brother and sister,  complements of Jan’s sister Lynne, and Mittens,  a later addition to the family, a struggling for life desolate little kitten Gary found wandering in the alley one morning.

.  Sandra desiring her feline companion Mittens,  to get a college education and  accompany her to Winfield.  Robs Cat Mario having fended for itself the past years with Rob no longer residing at home, and  was a new enlistee in the Navy.  Gary having thought approaching Glenda Holdaway,  an associate at the Kiowa Hospital about a home for Mario,  leaving the third acquired member,  Muffins to venture to Oklahoma with the couple.

.  Exudation of the accumulation that filled the house was challenging,  Gary’s brother inlaw,  Shawn Johnson providing an immediate storage redemption.  Shawn having inherited his mother’s vacant home in Kiowa,  its rental status having been nil for over a year,  offering its presence to deposit the many rooms of furniture,  sundry items  and the dozens of boxes of accumulated paraphernalia still remaining after furnishing the recently rental in Alva.   Shawn’s storage offer being garnished,  his mother’s old two bedroom home soon being filled to capacity.

.  Gary was thankful for the abundant amount of family help, Bud and Helen Murrow,  Lynn and Shawn giving raise to the extracting occasion,  asking nothing in return,  although Gary did present Shawn with his treasured Satellite Dish and Receiver.  The only remaining article in the now vacant Anthony house was the pool table stationed in the ballroom on the third floor.  Gary first thought a  deposition to leave it as is,  just as they had discovered it when buying the house,  allowing the new owners an inheriting.    An alternative arising, Michael Palmer, the son of Sandy,  whom he had worked with at John Deere having heard about it and  was interested,  offering to give $100 for it, the teenage boy and his friends accomplishing the move.  The Alva migration leaving two remaining faction,  a once over cleaning endeavor and a final disposition of the Springfield Ave. property.   Gary making two trips back to Anthony  to abstergent the premises and a consideration to list the residence in the rental market.

.  Settled in , Gary yet to instill an interest in Alva,  a town seemingly without substance except for the University,  finding himself allocated to the confines of what seemed like a closet of a home,  Jan still maintaining late hours at Share Medical Center and when returning home, only to  journey across town to spend time with her RN friend most nights.  It was recognizable, the town having undergone a change from his remembrance of twenty years ago with the band performing at the Elks Club,  Moose Lodge  and Veldon Woolley’s  renown  Vel’s NiteLite Club.  The era for live entertaining dance bands performing on a regular basis in small communities having passed.

.  The town’s primary source for ongoing entertainment was Northwestern Oklahoma State University,  Gary having taken notice and was curious to what the University offered.    Home life with Jan having become almost nonexistent,  over shadowed by others at Share Medical Center,   A bleak sense of solitude remaining,  but recalling a quote,  be patient,  good things come to those who wait…

. 

.  Gary’s work at the Kiowa District hospital  was sometimes interrupted with a little humorous activity.  Carol Steinbock, being a single mother,  raising a son,  and the X-ray and Lab Supervisor was by nature serious about her work,  and about most everything.  Doctor Ransom requesting Carol to have the mobile X-ray unit ready for use in surgery.  In the past,  Carol having difficulty transporting  the mobile powered unit from its hall storage position to surgery.  Gary aware of Carol’s eradicate steering, light heartedly taking a piece of chalk,  drawing a line on the center of the floor from the hall storage area,  to the surgery entrance as a marker for Carol to follow. Carol excepting the pun.  

 .  Don and Barbara Ransom were personal friends of Gary and Jan, Don being Gary’s immediate up line in his Amway network. It was no surprised when Doctor Ransom ask Gary to bring the X-ray unit into surgery and position it during the procedure.  Dr. Ransom noting, Carol seemed uncomfortable,  and wasn’t too steady positioning the unit.   Gary visiting with Carol about Alva,  mentioning Northwestern Oklahoma State University and its presentations,  discovering she too was interested in their programed  series, mentioning,   the School Music Department was sponsoring a Schubert Fest as a pre-view before the coming concert attractions.  Gary’s interest peeked, not sure of all it embodied, but it definitely sounded worthwhile.  At home, mentioning what Carol had said,  entreating Jan to attend with him,  but,  her propensity for entertainment didn’t include classical music, and as expected she declined.  

.  Gary attending the event in the fine arts building , finding Carol seated, the acquainting ushers all dressed in early 1800 Georgian period clothes, the two enjoying  a presentation of Schubert’s string quartets, vocals and piano sonata, the event concluding with several tables of snack treats, the food prepared as it was in the 1820 period.   Gary familiar with the era, always marveled at the life style of all the Vienna born composers.  Franz Schubert was paramount,  having written over 1500 works in a variety  of formats  and  like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  passing on at the young age of 31 years.  Other renown composers, Liszt,  Schumann,  Brahms and Mendelssohn all later contemporaries of Franz Schubert.

.  An unexpected phone call from Gary’s mother,  serving notice,  her and companion Tom Fleming were on the road and would be traveling thru Oklahoma on Interstate 40,  and would detour north to Alva for a brief visit,  the couple journeying to Atlanta to attend the 1996 Paralympics.  The voyaging couple arriving in the evening at the Noble Street address, visiting with an invitation to meet for breakfast, Gary accepting, Jan declining, relating her presence at work was a priority.  Gary discovering Tom’s son Andy was the President and CEO of the Paralympics Committee, in charge of the international exposition, Andy also a paraplegic, having lost his legs in a train accident in 1977.

.  Tom and Gary’s mother were an ideal couple, Tom like Gary’s father was a teamster,  but unlike his father who was strictly a chauffeur of  trucks and earth moving equipment, Tom progressed from driver to  owner of a large California trucking transport company.  The couple’s visit was brief,  Gary joining his Mother and Tom for an early morning breakfast, their visit providing a brief but needed uplifting, life in Alva settling back into a doldrums.  Gary reflecting with an open mind but there remained a lingering doubt,  questioning the syllogism of the move to Alva,  still playing  the cards from the deck of life, and knowing one should make every attempt to avail the hand dealt.

Robert Willson United States Navy

.  Gary finding the work day drive from Alva to Kiowa,  not as scenic or indigenous to the natural habitat as the excursion from Anthony to  Kiowa.   The journey from Anthony enabling a view of the wild turkeys in the trees bordering the Medicine River,  Deer grazing in the nearby pastures, and coyotes scrambling thru the field.   The family having previously resided in Kiowa for ten years, his acceptance as a brother in the Apostolic Christian Church, and employment at John Deere,   the Grade School and ambulance service,  imparted a kinship with the small Kiowa farming community.  His four years of work related drive from Anthony to the Kiowa Hospital,  was one bountiful acceptance,  but the return daily drive from Kiowa to Alva was difficult to palate

.  Gary realizing  Jan was in need of some recreational time from the moving experience and their resettlement in the rental home,  her sister Gayle extending an invitation  for Jan to visit.  Having just purchased a camcorder,  Jan journeying the 3  hundred 10   miles to Overland Park,  to spend a weekend with her sister,  returning with a camcorder recording of the Renaissance Festival at Bonner Springs,  a community just outside of Kansas City, sharing the recorded wonderment of those participants in costume with her parents and friends.   Gary was surprised when Jan announced two weeks later she was returning to Overland Park to visit her sister again,  the Renaissance exhibit fulfilling the month of September and most of October,  his foremost concern was the six-hour drive she would have to endure

.  Roberts enlistment in the Navy was of no surprise to the family,  the young man having difficulty in deciding which direction to administer his educational efforts.   Gary recognizing his disillusionment,  having been in a similar circumstance upon his high school graduation.   One had to start from square one,  choose a college,  obtain a student loans,  secure part time employment and locate a residence,  a difficult burden to shoulder.   The United States Navy was inclusive with its provisions,  incorporating all,  plus enabling a person to serve his country,  mature in stature,  and instill an intellect.   Robert eagerly applying himself to the seven week navy boot camp at the Recruit Training Command Great Lakes Illinois.

.  Graduation time at Great Lakes,  an invitation to parents, wives and relatives being extended.  Gary, Jan and Sandra departing on a late morning  United Airlines flight from Wichita’s Mid-Continent Airport,  an afternoon arrival  at the O’Hare International in Chicago.   O’Hare was an inaugural event,  the families first visit to the iconic airport facility, 15 mile from downtown Chicago.  Gary impressed with its size,   and constant flow of aircraft, arriving and  departing in a never ending stream.  Disembarking  at Terminal C,  experiencing the glowing neon and electrified chimes of the  below ground passage to Terminal  B,  a very unique and memorable welcoming to travelers.

, The Alamo rental car providing transportation for the 20 mile excursion to their waiting motel room in Mundelein,  a community  north of Chicago and eight miles from the Training Command Base.   Friday morning finding the Willson’s traversing to the Recruit Training Center,  a line of traffic being halted just outside the main gate,  a supervised off-road parking area enacted for the two thousand plus ceremonial visitors ,arriving to applaud the 7 hundred 50   navy graduates.

Upon entering the football field length Freedom Hall,  one side lined with bleachers, enabling seating  for capacious number in attendance, Gary noticing across from the seating area,  along the length of the wall were placard posted with training unit designations,  apparently each a training units station for the ceremony,  thus enabling the parents or visitors to be seated across from their recruit members unit.  The 1 ½ hour ceremony in the monumental Freedom Hall beginning,  each training division entering with promenade precision,  Gary finding the pomp and circumstance most impressive,  as only the military can achieve.   Watching his Son Robert parade in,  Gary stifling the tears of admiration,  a proud moment,  noticing he wasn’t alone,  hundreds of onlookers were reaching for a Kleenex or handkerchiefs.

.  The conclusion bringing a pandemonium of activity,  families all embarking from the bleachers to acquaint their Navy Pride, the Willson’s included.   Concluding the ceremony,  a surprise enjoyment,  a lunch provided courtesy of the United States Navy,  given in honor of the new E-2 sailors and their family.   The activity fulfilled, Robert returning to his billets to change clothes,  the Willson’s proceeding to a provisional hospitality room.   Their sailor son joining them and providing a tour of the visitors center,  and a walking excursion of the grounds,  including the PX.  Robert accompanying the family,  directing them on a motorized tour of the base, its lakeside provisions and on base housing, Gary impressed with the Navy’s only recruit training facility. The family bidding a farewell to Rob, but looking forward to a brief tour of Chicago.

  .  Rob Willson’s Family,  Gary, Jan and Sandra having attended  Robs navy boot camp graduation ceremony at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center.  Their journey from Kansas,  mission accomplished, the city of Chicago beckoning a family appearance,  The navy,  E-2, joining the three before their flight back to Wichita.   The family  mounting a hop on, hop off , double deck tour bus,  the guide pointing out all the highlights of the magnificent Mile, Michigan Avenue,  the Navy Pier and North Lake Shore Drive,  Gary making  mental notes from the bus’s  traveling advantage point,  setting preferences for a walking tour.

.  Their  walking tour beginning on Michigan Avenue,  the Ghirardelli chocolate store a first stop, continuing,  a surprise encounter,  a television production crew filming  George Clooney,  as Doctor Doug Ross in the TV series E R,  running out of the Hilton Hotel on Michigan Avenue.   The essence of the Chicago ambulating tour continuing,  mounting the steps of the Field Museum across from the Soldier Field pavilion,  entering their expectation fulfilled,  center foremost was the Skeletal remains of T-Rex,  a tyrannosaurus rex from the cretaceous period,   sixty 6 million years ago,  standing exactly as portrayed on the Hollywood screen.   Continuing upstairs thru the various room and  exhibits,  the atmosphere and smell of the museum bringing back childhood memories of Gary’s monthly visits to San Francisco’s  Golden Gate Park,  and The Academy of Science, with its Planetarium and Natural History Museum.

.  The Navy Pier construction starting in 1916,  and was named in honor of those navy personnel who served in the first world war,  designed for the lake shipping industry,   and later used as a training center for sailors during world war 2,  the navy,   purchasing two cruise ships and refit them into aircraft carriers,  naming them U S S Wolverine and U S S Sable.  Together,  the ships would help to qualify 18,000 pilots for carrier take offs and landings,  including the future president of the United States,  George H W Bush, and legendary U S marine corps flying ace and Medal of Honor recipient, Colonel James Elms Swett.  Thru the years, the pier transposed into a public works, and then the  latter half of the twentieth century,  an ongoing lake touring industry began,  shops,  culinary and an understandable tourist attraction,  with a carnival atmosphere.

.  The hungry visitor’s finding an impeccable accommodation for lunch,  an outstanding international food court,  each member of the family fulfilling their own cuisine desire.   Returning to their rental transportation,  a final stop at the tallest building in the United State,  the Sears Tower.   Gary was looking forward to the express elevator ride to the hundred and third observation floor.   Embarking from their park vehicle,  Jan making a decision to forgo the excursion,  choosing to remain outside the building,  while Robert, Sandra and Dad entered the tower for the ascending ride.   Embarking from the elevator, the observation room giving a  panoramic view of the hazy Chicago metropolitan area from a height of 14 hundred feet.

.  The morning,  the family in a departure mode,  arriving at O’Hare International for the return home,  Gary giving a last salutation to Chicago before boarding their flight to Wichita, by eating a Chicago Dog at the airport.   The journey to witness Robert’s Basic Training consummation being chronicled as indelible, and an everlasting memory. Leaving Chicago,  Gary wasn’t looking forward to newly discovered doldrums of Alva Oklahoma and to further his melancholy, upon arrival,  discovering  their feline companion Muffins having passed on.   Gary reasoned, the ups and downs of these events, were just  another exclamation point in the time line of life’s journey.

Missing from the hospital med-room

.  The revelation was earth shattering,  Jan having discovered that her best friend, the one she regularly visited several nights a week,  a Registered  Nurse at Share Medical Center admitted to appropriating Demerol from the med-room for her personal recreational use.   Jan as Assistant Administrator in charge of Patient Care Services and Director of Nursing was under obligation to adhere to policy and report the incident,  but ignoring hospital precept taking it upon herself to personally minister to her friends predicament,  immediately driving and enrolling her  in a drug rehabilitation hospital in Enid, thus circumventing any action by law enforcement or the hospital.  Upon returning,  Jan promptly reporting the incident to Administration,  setting in motion the disclosure of  the missing drugs and the notification of law enforcement.

.  It was disclosed a law enforcement investigation making a discovery of empty Demerol vials’ in the nurse’s home trash container.  Jan then subjected to interrogation,  an administrative and a hospital board investigation was commenced to bring about a final deposition of the circumstance.   Jan’s initial action and  her flagrant disregard of hospital protocol  preventing the arrest of her nurse friend and the concurrent criminal investigation proceeding  giving suspect by some members of the governing commission.   Although disregarding all proprietary and ignoring the rules of protocol for reporting the incident,  when questioned,  she remained firm in her commitment of action taken for the nurse.   The recently contracted CEO of Share Medical Center,  Barbara Oestmann disclosing the Hospitals posture, concurrence with the board of directors,  Jan would be excised from her position as Assistant Administrator of Nursing Services and relegated to the status of Floor Nurse to await further disposition.

.  Jan immediately seeking legal representation,  approaching  an attorney in Enid, Phyllis Walta,    inquiring about a possible lawsuit against Share Medical Center for their actions.  The attorney agreeing to file the suit,  advising Jan,  it would be in her best interest to remain employed as a floor nurse at the Medical Center thru the litigation process which might endure for six months or more.   Gary finding his wife displaying an ever-increasing acrimonious attitude,  consumed with her lawsuit,  the couples only occasion for any joint activity was Church and even then her attendance was sporadic.  Gary believing her esoteric disposition was the result of the hospital decision to relegate her from an esteem administration position to a subordinate floor nurse, her self-esteem suffering and her propriety  now publicly questioned.

.  Gary becoming very much aware that Jan and his marriage was continuing on a downward spiral,  Jan taking the initiative suggesting a separation.   Gary at first against the endeavor reasoning that it wouldn’t resolve the situation,  but when his spouse decided on  separate bedrooms,  the undertaking enumerated a delineation of their consanguinity, Gary agreeing with her desire.   Jan acceding to a separation  procuring a residency  in the Aspen Apartments on Alva’s 6th street,  a continuation of highway 281,  the south entrance byway into the city.   The apartment accommodation less than a third of a mile from the entrance to the Medical Center.   Gary noticing Jan’s car parked at the complex  stopping to visit,  finding her in good spirit, painting the apartment and  remarking that for  her painting effort she would receive a month of free rental.  Gary mentioning he too was looking for a place, but in Kiowa.

.  Gary desiring  to once again embrace a residency in Kiowa,  it seemed like Karma, finding this housing  accommodation two blocks from the church,  a vacancy in the well-manicured Price Apartments.  The units very affordable with an in-house honor system washer and dryer laundry,  central air and heat,  total electric,  with water and trash service inclusive.   His rental unit,  a single bedroom efficiency on the second floor  with a patio door balcony overlooking a park like scene.   Gary agreeing to Jan’s acquisitions of household furnishing she desired,  embracing the microwave,  cookware, dishes, kitchen utensils and without hesitation included the many years of acquired valued Roseville and other collectibles.   Besides the piano,   Gary retained a twin bed, a dresser remnant from his first marriage, an aged television and the unwanted bulky roll top desk. 

 .  The Price Apartment provided an electric stove,  small refrigerator and a inconsequential Formica kitchen table with two chairs.  In need of a living room chair  and a possible divan,  Gary encountered Jeff from the Tucker Store with an array of used furniture in the back of his pickup,   journeying to the Store to unload the used saleable possessions.   Gary noting a used recliner and a hide-a-bed divan,  making an offer to Jeff,  if he would deliver them, to the apartment and would leave them on the walkway entrance.   Gary contemplated a decision to call upon his father-in-law Bud Murrow,  asking him if he would  help carry the furnishing upstairs to his recently acquired apartment.  Gary could see a subtle look of displeasure on Bud’s face for asking,  but knowing Bud and the man he is,  the two were soon moving Gary’s new found furnishing.

.  The moving experience wasn’t without incident,  the most difficult would be elevating the Yamaha console piano up the stairway to the second floor.  Gary having petitioned Mike Pavlu,  the son-in-law of Sharon Ragan. Kiowa Hospital director of nursing  to transport the Piano from Alva to Kiowa.   It was oblivious to the two they would need more muscle to lug the piano up the flight of stairs.   Gary having a remedy for assistance, paging Bill Duval at work on the ambulance radio,  asking if he would come by the Apartments on 9th street.  Bill arriving, the three attempting to carry the piano, but to no avail.  

 . Then a bounty happened by, Roger Robinson, the fire chief  stopped  to inquire and was soon recruited to help.   The endeavor discovering the length of the piano prevented it from making the turn on the stairs.   Bill Duvall at the top end,  single-handily lifting the end of the piano over the railing while Mike and Roger maintained the bottom achieving the upstairs apartment goal.   Gary noting,  that Bill’s lifting exhibition was without a doubt the greatest demonstration of strength he had ever witnessed.  Thanking Bill and Roger for their assistance,  both remarking humorously when leaving,  that when it came time to carry the piano back down,  don’t call us.

.  A final trip to the house on Noble Street in Alva to see if Jan had left anything of value,  Gary discovering photo albums and several boxes encompassing an accumulation of  twenty years of family photographs still remaining,  missing were the albums of her college activities and surprisingly their Amway experiences.  Noticeably left behind was an envelope with some revealing photographs, possibly overlooked or purposely portraying an insight to activity during Jan’s Renaissance Festival visits with her sister Gayle in Overland Park.  Gary was taken aback with what he saw, but more adjoin on her lack of regard as a representative member and sister in faith of the Apostolic Christian Church.   The farewell to Alva was without overture,  somewhat of a welcome relief,  his Kiowa apartment a scant four blocks from his employment at the Hospital.   The move was an awakening,  a feeling of complacency evolved with the solace of returning as a resident to a welcoming community of acknowledged advocates.

. Gary’s apartment reflected a delineation of his character,  an avant garde approach to the circumstances,  blossoming into  an acceptance of the reality,  the road of life traversing in a new direction.   The confines of his surroundings,  the Yamaha piano,  his  premier Marantz 2010 receiver able to reproduce a concert sound,  the ever-present  television and VHS,   all vehicles of entertainment,  but still lingering within,  was what wasn’t.   For the first time in four years,  there was no 30 miles of road to traverse to and from work, in one respect he was thankful,  but in another,  he missed the thirty minutes of driving solitude,  which enabled uninterrupted rationale to wander in his mind.

. Gary’s  weekend résumés of activity in Wichita was once again activated,  not concerned with the additional mileage from that of his years of traversing from Anthony.   The attributes of Century II and it’s continuous sponsoring of events,  the Town West mall and its Regal Nine screens adjacent to the food court and his favorite fast food,  the Orange Julius concessions which  also providing a perfect Chicago Dog, their availability now within the realm of his world.  The only item not yet present was a new home desktop computer, Microsoft having introduced a new system the prior year, Windows 95, Gary giving serious consideration to acquiring the new addition, but because of finances it would have to wait awhile longer.

. The Christmas Holidays about to arrive,  Robert on  Leave from his naval commitment his presence in Kiowa a welcome sight.   The young sailor desiring to purchase automotive transportation from Bill Bogner‘s Chevrolet, Buick.  Robert determining a 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier with 59,000 miles would suit his purpose,  Gary co-signing the note with Wichita’s Southwest National Bank  on December 23rd,  the elder Willson having finance a majority of his automotive endeavors with SW National,  his son’s means of conveyance accomplished.   Gary having mixed emotions about the holiday season having celebrated Christmas with the Murrow Family for the past 20 years, volunteering to take ambulance call both Christmas Day and New Years so those with family could be together.

. A concern about Jan and Gary’s separation and her subsequent notoriety was brought to Gary’s attention by the Ministering Brothers of the Apostolic Church.   With the publicized recent drug theft at Share Medical Center,  Jan’s complicity commiserating in being relieved of her management position, and subsequently filing a lawsuit against Share Medical Center,  Gary wasn’t surprised when an additional element emerged.   Keeping abreast of  Jan’s exploits was Lynn Martin’s reporting in the Alva Review-Courier  whom Jan having meant from his hospital board meeting attendance and having posed for Martin in the past for a Glamour Photograph and to the dismay of her family, Martin publishing the enamored photo in the Kiowa widely distributed Newsgram.  

. Jan’s propriety was beginning to resonate within the Kiowa community, the Apostolic Church and its membership , the published articles only adding luminosity to the moiré.   Church Ministers Ronald Allenbach and Jeff Bahr acknowledging to Gary that Bro. John Lehman from Sabetha,  having become the Kiowa Churches Elder with the passing of Ronald Nelson, had requested a meeting with him.   With some hesitation Gary agreeing,  knowing he couldn’t refuse and that Bro. John would be in Kiowa the following weekend to administer services on Sunday.  Questioning Ron Allenbach as to a meeting schedule and the location,  Ron conveying that  to the best of his knowledge Bro. John would stop at Gary’s apartment located a block and ½ from the church prior to Sunday Morning services.

Awaiting the Sunday morning meeting , Gary being somewhat apprehensive,  but at ease with Brother John as a Church Elder, Minister, and  CEO of the Apostolic Christian Churches Nursing Home,  and Retirement Village in Sabetha.  Gary finding John  more emblematic as a person than as a Church Elder,  being  acquainted with the him,  his wife Connie and their two children, the family having spent the night with the Willson’s in Anthony,  during a joint Sunday School Class Fellowship between the two churches.  John arriving at Gary’s small apartment domain,  both seated at the table,  the conversation being brief,  John aware of the couples quandary,  questioning about resolution.  Gary disclosing,  the couples prior counseling with a psychologist from the Anthony Hospital, and their meetings with Ronald Nelson concerning the difficulty in the marriage,   but the effort was to no avail.   He acknowledge his faults, taking responsibility for them,  but was true to professing of his faith,  praying for guidance and  thankful for the Brethren in the church,  especially Brother Frank Kisling from Burlington. 

J.  ohn posed a question about Jan’s action,  with uncertainty Gary professed that she was bound by her strong convictions, the pressure,  the public depuration of her character and a newfound association with her sister Gayle  who had left the church and  may have contributed to a change  in her behavior.   Gary adding,  he found her new neoteric interest disturbing and realized it wasn’t in keeping as a Sister of the Apostolic Church Congregation.  Concerning the validity of what was being said of  Jan‘s actions,  Gary approbated John an affirmation of her culpability.  The interview completed, Brother John affirming he would speak with Jan,  once again expressing his hope of resolution.   Gary In attendance for the morning and afternoon church services, but the subject of Brother Johns actualization wasn’t, Gary noticing the absence of his wife.

.  Gary reasoned as it is assimilated in Ecclesiastes,  to everything there is a season and time to every purpose under the Heaven.