Good morning friends,

I guess I am just getting to the age when we realize that we are not immortal. My friend Duane died yesterday of heart failure. Duane and his wife Pam have been friends of ours since our oldest children entered Kindergarden. We coached Little League with and against each other for years. Pam was a teacher's aid at the elementary school. One afternoon she held and comforted our oldest daughter, who had been injured on the playground until we were able to get there. Our familys have been joined by good times and bad.

Duane was a young auto shop teacher at the high school. On a field trip, he was discovered in a compromising position with one of the senior class girls (Pam) and fired. They were married a month or so later, and went on to thirty five more years together and five children.

He had heart bypass surgery a couple of years ago, but has been in failing health for a long time. I am glad he is at peace.