THE Love Story

Bud had just got home from World War II. Home was Council, Idaho. This is where and when he met the beautiful Yvonne Kilborn. Depending on who told the story, she was either 16 or 17. They met at the local donut shop and immediately fell in love. In a few months they were married and moved up to the mountain in a shack.

Bud started working wherever he could find it. First it was a sawmill then he became a truck driver. He had amazing stories about driving trucks down steep and narrow roads. It always seemed to be winter in the stories. They soon had 3 sons. Rick, Mike, and Pat. Later they would adopt the girl that Yvonne always wanted. Kathy was what god sent to the family to answer all their prayers.

In 1971, tragedy hit the family. Rick had just graduated from Gonzaga and was accepted to Georgetown Law School. He was driving home from southern California with friends when their car was in a head on crash. Rick died immediately.

In 1974, with the shock of one death still in their minds, the unthinkable happened again. Pat was walking home one night in Boise, when a car crossed the the line and hit and killed Pat. This is when I first met Bud, Yvonne, Mike and Kathy. Shock is probably the only word that comes close to describing this family at our first meeting. I had no contact with any of them for several years after the funeral.

Fast forward 13 years and I get a phone call asking if I could help Kathy and her new husband Trey unload a UHaul. They had moved from Boise to Seattle. A couple years later Bud, Yvonne and Mike had all moved to Seattle also. It was during this time that I got close to the entire family.

Yvonne always seemed so positive. She had a habit of proclaiming that this was the best brocolli, or best steak or best whatever. It didn't matter what she was doing or eating, it was always the best she had ever had in her life. We used to tease her for this. She was always a good sport and took our teasing in the manner in which it was given - love.

Looking back I think Yvonne had it right. Today, whatever it is you are doing is the "Best". Why not? I want to live my life with the small child outlook as if this is the first time I've ever experienced whatever it is. Try it out next time you eat ice cream. Taste and experience it as if you have never had ice cream before. Trust me, it makes it a lot better. Relish each moment, each experience. This is a life lesson, that I learned from Yvonne.

Bud. Well Bud was Bud. He taught me how to tie knots, build a fence, play poker and most important, how to give a good toast. He loved raising his glass and making toasts. He taught me how to be a man after I reached the age where I should have already been one.

Everyone agrees that a father is important to the raising of a child. But I discovered that you also need a father after you are grown. There are many life lessons to be learned and it helps to have someone in that father role. Bud was that "father" to me.

Bud and Yvonne, although decades older than the rest of us, never let that slow them down. They hung out and partied with us. Not sure who was really older as they could outlast most of us. In fact for Bud's birthday we started an unusual party called "Bud Fest". Everyone invited is supposed to bring a couple bottles of their favorite beer so everyone can sample. It's now so big that it's a catered event.

Yvonne's birthday is in December, so it's a smaller dinner event, we call this "Yvonne-A=Thon". We always liked hanging out at Redhook Brew Pub. In fact both Bud and Yvonne have their own mugs here in the mug club. Redhook is our living room away from home. It's our comfort place.

This past year both Bud and Yvonne have slowed down considerably. It's been tough for Mike, Kathy and Trey taking care and watching their parents slow down.

June of this year, Yvonne passed. Then just about 6 weeks later (in fact it was today), Bud passed too. The time that they were never together can be measured in days.

I remember going to weddings. The DJ would always play the anniversary song. Every married couple would get on the dance floor and the DJ would announce
"OK, everyone married less than a year, sit down". A few newlyweds would sit down to polite applause. Then he would say "OK, 5 years", a few more sit.
Then he would increment in 10's. 10 years, 20 years. Then 25 years, then 30. About 40 years there would be no one else dancing except Bud and Yvonne. They would be smiling and laughing. He would go on, 45, 50, 55! No they were married 63 years!! Another lesson we all can learn from them.

Tonight, I went to their house. Mike allowed me to go into the house. I found myself there alone. I remembered the dinners and the holidays. I sat in Bud's big leather chair. I really didn't feel worthy of being there. Tears came so easy. Then I found myself just sobbing.

I will miss Bud and Yvonne. But, I'm not sure that is why I was crying. I think it was selfish. I will never be the man that Bud was, I will never have the happiness nor the sorrow that they experienced together. I felt guilty for making some life decisions a few years ago that made me miss some wonderful experiences with them.

They lived an amazing life. They experienced the cruelest of lifes challenges, loosing not one but two children. But they also experienced the best of life. They lived their last years as mother and father and best friends to Mike, Kathy and Trey. I feel honored that I got to be part of their lives, and I will never forget the lessons I learned. They also had a Love story that no one reading this blog will ever come close to experiencing.

So now, let's all raise our mugs:
"To Bud and Yvonne, great lives, great stories, great memories, and to those of us that knew them and got to experience two amazing people". CHEERS!

Until Next Time - Wise OUT