Goodbye 2013....Hello 2014

2014...A new year and for me a new life. I know, I did not post anything last year. You could say last year did not lend time for blogging. So my first blog of 2014 is about 2013. I lost Ron on November the 11th to Bladder Cancer. 2013 was a rough year in so many ways. However, our cancer journey began in September of 2012 and I feel we were given another year to be together. I have so many friends and neighbors to thank for helping us thru 2013. You know the saying that if you can't say anything good about someone you shouldn't say anything? Well, I will not discuss the medical world and their part in our journey. It would not be a happy part of this blog. Our family was together and Ron was home when he died and that was an important ending to our journey. We were very fortunate to meet up with again Ron's cousins, Paul and Joe Catt. They were adopted by Ron's Aunt Francis and Uncle Al and grew up with Ron. Life happened and they had not seen each other for almost 40 years. Ron was so happy to get back together and it was so nice meeting Paul's wife Sharon. She was beautiful and so nice. However, she and Paul also had a cancer journey and Sharon lost her battle I believe in late August. Paul was lost and I know exactly how he felt. Even though you are prepared, you are not prepared. Paul and I talk a lot and are helping each other with the holes left in our hearts. Ron was so happy to be able to travel to Indiana the first of October of 2013 to attend his 50th class reunion. He was in so much pain but it was the best trip of his life I think. It was so good seeing everyone. Paul was there as well because they were in the same class. We also got to visit with our Indiana families, not really knowing that that would be the last time Ron would see them or visit Indiana. Who would have guessed that in a little over a month he would be gone. And you know, that is kind of how it feels, that he is just gone for a bit, just not here now...and then it sets in and you just move on with the day. I have my moments, however I am finding that Ron was right, I am much stronger than I thought I was. Before November Ron and I went over everything. I worked and Ron took care of literally everything so there was a lot to discuss. I wrote it all down and am using that template as my plan of attack. I am checking things off the list little by little and I am doing it. I did lock myself out of our bank account and had to have help getting back in and I must say the gals at the bank were wonderful so all is working okay now. I have talked to it seems like a million people. I still have a lot to check out and I must say that the Taxes is what scares the hell out of me. However, I will get through it all...just time... Oh, and in 2013, Matt, Kelley, Brandon and Brody are doing ok. Jen and family are back in AZ from the UK...and life goes on.... I know this is long but I do want to put Ron's obituary in this blog. And, the next blog I promise is going to be about my new life. Ronald Ray Fischer, outdoorsman, lover of food, accomplished traveler, and the best Grandpa EVER, lost his battle with bladder cancer Monday, November 11, 2013. He was loved and admired, and will certainly be missed by his family and numerous friends. Ron was born in Vincennes, Indiana to Loren and Chrystal Fischer (both deceased) on December 12, 1945. Ron is survived by his wife of 46 years, Donna (Urban), daughter Jennifer Hooge (Jon), and son Matthew (Kelley) and four wonderful grandchildren, Joseph, Jocelyn, Brandon and Brody. He leaves a sister Brenda Garver of Lebanon, Indiana and a brother Robert of Missouri. Ron grew up in Vincennes (with a few years spent in Phoenix, Arizona) and moved to Lebanon, Indiana after graduating from Vincennes Lincoln High School. He attended Lincoln Tech and worked in Thorntown and Indianapolis and then owned and operated Fischer's Texaco located at the first northbound Lebanon exit. Lots of stories and memories came out of that station. Ron moved his family to Mesa, Arizona in the spring of 1979. He loved the outdoors and camped and hunted for many years. He would often share stories of his hunting trips...mountain lions eating the deer and javelinas charging him from the back of a limestone cave. There are few roads that he had not traveled throughout Arizona, rarely having to use a map and certainly not a GPS. He loved seeing new places and always wanted to drive there so as not to miss anything in between. Yes, he would have driven 100 miles out of the way to see that big ball of string. Ron reveled in his family, especially his grandchildren. He was a kindred spirit in his love of nature with Joseph, enjoyed receiving squeezers from his little princess Jocelyn, he loved to cook pizza and eggs with Brandon, and would snuggle with Brody, rubbing his little feet while reading a book. Ron will be so very missed by his family and many friends he has made over the years. He based his life upon the golden rule..."Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Well, that's it..goodbye 2013 and hello 2014!!!