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•••••DECEMBER 11 , 2024•••••

One More Deer Gun season for deer opened this past weekend, As well as harvesting all the deer we needed, we had a lot of fun joking around and just socializing. This year, Zane’s girlfriend, Elizabeth, joined us as well as Trevor and his wife. It was a good time eating, hunting, and eating some more.

We can only start the hunting season after a full breakfast and lots of planning. We had eaten our fill and discussed all the problems of the world as well as our plan for the day before we made it out the door to begin deer season.

We have always thought the deer would wait for us to get ready.

The first hunt of the morning, being new to the group, Elizabeth stood with me. I explained to her where the drivers were in relation to our position and where the other blockers would be. We also discussed where the deer should come out of the timber and the best place to get a shot. When driving deer, safety is the most important thing to stress as if not done properly, can be dangerous. We had been waiting for (Outdoors cont’d on pg 2)

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drivers started into the South Place while only a couple of minwe waited. We heard utes when a doe ran occasional shots ring out. We both pulled up out as the deer moved and shot and the doe between the drivers dropped. We are not rather than coming out sure which of us hit it, where they were supbut that really did not matter. She was down.

On the next couple of drives, the drivers got more shooting than the blockers. After each drive, we would split up to go field dress and tag the deer scattered about the woods. We were harvesting almost all does, which was the object. As well as getting meat for the winter, we are trying to keep the deer herd healthy by decreasing the population. This is most easily accomplished by taking out a number of does.

It did not take Elizabeth long to become posed to. I was begincomfortable with being ning to think none of on stand alone. That the deer would come made one more spot out when suddenly I that could be blocked heard Elizabeth shoot, when the deer exited then shoot again. That the woods. I was on was a good sign. I got Strawberry Hill and ready for a flood of Elizabeth was across deer to run toward me, the valley part way but nothing came by. up the next hill. The When the drivers in (Outdoors cont’d from pg 1)

front of me got to the fence, we discussed what they had down and where they were.

We then decided to go check on Elizabeth to see if her shots were successful. She and

her drivers were busy field dressing deer by the time we got over there. She was elbows deep cleaning a nice buck and grinning from ear to ear. She also had a doe that Zane was working on.

By noon Sunday, we had all

DECEMBER 11 , 2024

the deer we needed my wife was pouring a and enough to give cup of coffee and told some to the neighbors. me to come look out of When we ate another the window. I jumped large meal, the general up and saw ten deer consensus was to do standing on the lawn. something easier than Season is still open, I deer hunting. A nap still have two tags left seemed like an excel- and my rifle was on lent plan. We divided the table in the garage. up the deer and called I considered it for a it a season feeling minute and decided confident we had done I just did not want to our part in the deer take care of one more population control. deer.

This morning,

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Don’t Run Melissa and I were on our way back to Minnesota after visiting her parents in South Carolina, for Thanksgiving. Ten hours on the road was enough for the day; we were tired and stopped for the night at the rest area near Henryville, Indiana. I had recently built a bigger bed in the back of our van and purchased a new, more comfortable mattress. Man, we slept great!

Although I love walking with Nova Mae in the morning, I did not relish the thought of climbing out from under the covers of our new, warm, comfy bed. “Nova is asking you to get up,” my wife said, nudging me with her elbow. “Come on, Tom. Get up. She needs to go potty.”

bad outside, of course the wind was currently at my back. The auto parking circled the rest area building. I figured I would walk about six laps around the perimeter of the auto parking area.

The first lap went well, although it was cold walking into the wind. Nova tugged toward the van, “We’re doing six laps Nova,” I said. She gladly kept going.

Nova enjoys these walks and frequently stops to sniff the smells in the grass. I find myself often saying, “Leave it, Nova,” while giving a little pull on the leash. Usually she will let it go, but sometimes she is more insistent to sniff about. Giving a firmer tug on the leash, I said, “Come on, Nova.

This is our second lap – you’ve already sniffed all those spots and it’s too cold for messing around.

Let’s go!” I didn’t have any gloves with me and my hands were really starting to get cold

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inside the sleeves of my fleece jacket, but it was too awkward, especially holding Nova’s retractable leash. “This is it, Nova. This will be our last lap; I’m going back to the van. Just then Nova started walking faster, almost running.

“You wanna run, baby?

I’ll run with you,” I said.

The faster I ran, the sooner I would get back into the warm van. I was doing pretty well keeping up with Nova, although she wasn’t running nearly as fast as she’s capable.

We rounded the last corner. I was pouring it on; giving it everything I had in the final sprint to the finish line – the warm van. We were on the final stretch and that’s when it happened. I saw it coming, but couldn’t do anything to stop in inevitable.

estly thought how good Dad? That was a nasty it would be to be wearing fall. What happened?”

A darn squirrel ran into the road ahead of Nova. a football helmet at this point.

Still lying face down on It was as if he wanted the ground, I looked up to join the race to the My feet were still trying to into Nova’s eyes, and van. “Nova, LEAVE IT,” slowly said, “Get. Away.

The wind blew hard in I yelled as I tried to slow run as I clung to a glimmer of hope for recovery.

From. Me.” Nova stayed my face causing my eyes down. But it was too late, But just then I felt my foot by my side anyway. As to water. As we rounded my words fell on deaf catch an uneven seam angry as I was with her the corner toward the ears. Naturally, since I in the pavement. There in that moment, I was still van, Nova paused to see was running too, Nova was nothing more for me glad she stayed with me. which way I would go.

Mae assumed I wanted “We’ve only done two to chase the squirrel with to do, except prepare for I stood up to begin the I got out of bed, put impact. physical inspection. laps,” I said. “We have her. She gave a strong on my jeans, a flannel four more to go.” Tears lunge forward, pulling shirt, my North Face, With my brain still funcFirst, I felt around my were streaming down hard on the leash. I felt and stocking cap. The tioning in slow motion, face and head. I looked temperature on the dash my cold cheeks, causing my torso getting ahead at my fingers, again findof my feet. I should have I began using my pilot board indicated it was 27 them to sting a bit even skills.

“Lower the landing ing no blood. I examined with the wind at my back. let go of the leash, but degrees outside. “You gear,” I said as I reached my palms, expecting Still, we pressed on start- I didn’t. Instead, everyneed a heavier coat,” them to look like ground ing lap number three. thing was getting faster; I my hands forward. At Melissa suggested. Unhamburger, but they knew I was going down. this point, I was pretty fortunately, I was fooled sure I looked like a basereally weren’t too bad.

To make matters worse, I by northern Minnesota’s Less than half way into ball player preparing to They weren’t scraped; lap three, my hands was running downhill. very mild fall weather slide into home plate. I the wounds were more were really cold. I was with daytime highs in could feel my flesh belike punctures, and they Despite my high forthe mid-forties when we trying to pull them up ing ground away as my weren’t bleeding either. ward speed, the world headed south. I failed to palms made contact with I turned my hands over, seemed to start movconsider it may not be so the pavement. “Man, “How did I land on my ing in slow motion. My nice upon our return in I wish I was wearing palms, but managed to brain was well-aware of late November. gloves,” I said. scrape the top knuckthe situation, and I had les on hand, and top of very detailed thoughts.

I fastened the leash to the knuckle on my right “Run faster,” I said aloud, Next my knees landed Nova’s collar. “This is on the concrete.

“There thumb?” Perhaps after thinking if my feet could the only coat I brought,” goes a perfectly good the initial contact I lifted just catch up to my chest, I confessed “Come on pair of jeans,” I thought. my hands, shifting my I would be able to bring baby girl, let’s go,” I said Then, I felt my feet hit the weight to my chest and myself upright, but I was to Nova while quickly knees. no match for the speedy ground behind me but closing the van door it was weird.

I felt like I canine. Instead, I saw the before a lecture on prewas sliding on the tops of Next, I checked the concrete getting closer. paredness could begin. front of my North Face As my body was closing my feet. It seemed like I in on a forty-five degrees slid for a long way, finally jacket; it had a couple of At first, it wasn’t too coming to a rest. scuffs, but no tears. My angle to the Earth, I jeans were not ripped or remember noticing the shredded as I thought pavement’s coarse finish I laid motionless on the cement.

“Am I alive,” I they would be, and my and thinking, “If I don’t asked myself. “I don’t knees did not hurt at all. save myself fast, that’s think I hit my head,” I “I guess my denim jeans going to shred the flesh said. “But did my face hit saved my knees,” I said. on my palms.” the street.” I felt around Then I looked at my If I could get my left hand my face and then looked shoes. I scraped the canvas on top of my shoes on top of the hard green at my finger. “Hmm, no blood. That’s a good and ground down the plastic casing of the sign.”

I could have laid retractable leash, I could there even longer, but slide on it and save one suddenly thought, “What (Just the Other Day cont’d on hand. But Nova lunged pg 4) forward again, jerking the if there’s a car coming? I need to get up now.” leash out of my hand. I Ray’s started thinking, “Don’t Just as I was trying to get Longbranch hit your head, Tom. Do Homemade 1/2 lb. Tenderloins up Nova returned to lick not let your head hit & Hamburgers my face. “Are you alright, Drakesville, IA • 722-3355 the pavement.” I hon-

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(Just the Other Day cont’d from pg 3)

DECEMBER 11 , 2024

FINISHYOUR YOUR FINISH CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS SHOPPING! SHOPPING! Anna David Robert Mary Sophia

rubber edge on the tips.

Strange. I considered all the injuries I could have sustained, and yet, nothing really hurt, or was stinging. I felt I was saved by guardian angels.

I leaned down and picked up Nova Mae’s leash and we continued walking back to the van. “Did you see that squirrel that jumped in front of me, Dad? He did even look where he was going,” Nova said. “I almost had him, Dad, but he ran up that tree next to the van.”

Nova kept talking, but my mind was elsewhere. It was strange that I wasn’t hurting. I started wondering if I actually fell or just imagined it. I was really cold now and laying on the ground didn’t help!

Nova and I continued toward the van.

Once inside the van I told Melissa what happened.

She had a barrage of questions “What? Why were you running? Are you okay? Are you bleeding? Did you hit your head? Is Nova okay?”

“Is Nova okay?” That question threw me for a loop, after all, it was Nova who put me on the ground, not the other way around. “Yeah, Nova is fine,” I answered sarcastically. “And the squirrel got away, so he is doing okay, too. I have no doubt, Nova would have had him except she was dragging a 190-pound man on a leash behind her.”

Although I didn’t feel any pain right after I fell, my hand started to throb as I warmed up. Maybe being so cold had slowed my metabolism, and sense of feeling. Melissa got the first aid kit. My palms started to bleed a little.

My wife handed me a wipe, “You need to clean those cuts.” My palms really stung as I wiped the wounds clean. The packets of antiseptic wipes reminded me of those little towelette we used to get when we ordered Kentucky Fried Chicken.

We had not had breakfast yet and I was hungry on top of being cold.

“Boy, KFC sounds really good right now,” I said.

“What? Are you sure you didn’t hit your head,” my wife looked deep into my eyes. She said she was just checking my pupils, but I think she was flirting with me. Next, she dressed my wounds with triple-antibiotic ointment and band aids. All the band aids made my hands look much worse than they really were.

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After treating my hands, and warming up more, my knee started to burn.

bad.” I put Nova back in the van, and then went into the store to get Melissa’s order.

I rolled up my pant leg.

I was in the store for a There was quite a red while so I sent Melissa a patch just above, but text explaining: “They’re adjacent to my knee cap. busy, and the lady had “How did I scrape my leg trouble finding your order. without my knee touching I have it now, I’ll be out in the ground first?” This a minute.” whole fall did not make sense. Melissa wanted Melissa replied with just to look at my knee for two words and a smiley ‘medical reasons,’ but face: “Don’t run.” Smart I think she just wanted aleck. to check out my legs.

“There’s no time for flirt- Just outside Walgreen’s ing. It’s not bleeding and front doors, I waved at doesn’t need a band aid,” Melissa in the van. She I said while unrolling my waved back, so I knew pant leg. “Besides, we she was looking. I took still have ten hours of off running toward the driving to get home. We van; hopping and skipneed to get moving.” ping my way down the sidewalk while waving As we drove north toher pack of photos in the ward home, my fingers air, as if to say, “Look at started to ache and my me! Look at me running arms were feeling the in the snow!” In front of effects of the fall. My the van, I jumped in the neck started getting stiff, air and did a few spins. too, probably from hold- Then I walked to her side ing my head up so that it of the van and handed wouldn’t hit the ground. her the photos through I wanted to stop and rub her window. “Did you see some Aspercreme on me running, Honey?” my sore muscles, but my ego was getting the best Melissa rolled her eyes. of me and I didn’t want to “You’re a dork,” she said admit I was sore. laughing as she rolled up her window. She took the Then I started wonderenvelope of photos and ing, “Why do I have started looking through Aspercreme with me them. anyway?” Hmm. “Maybe I can’t take a fall like I As I was walking back did when I was a teento my side of the van, I ager.” That bothered me slipped and almost fell in a bit; am I getting older the wet, slippery, snowy and didn’t realize it? grass! But I caught my“Naw,” I said to myself. self on the hood of the “If I fell like that when I van before going down was fifteen, I still would and stayed on my feet. I have skinned my hands quickly looked at my wife and knees. I’m doing just in the van. Fortunately, fine.” she was buried in her photos and didn’t see We made a few stops what almost happened. on the way home, and I “Ain’t nobody gonna tell had time to get out and me not to run. I ain’t old walk around. I was feelyet...,” I muttered as I ing pretty good again, climbed into the van. although my hands still hurt.

In final hour driving home, my back started Finally, around 9 p.m., to ache. I wondered if we pulled into Superior, I had pulled a muscle Wisconsin. Melissa had while jumping and spina photo order to pick up ning in the air, or when at Walgreens on Tower I slipped in the grass? I Avenue. It was cold out- could sure use some of side, and spitting snow. that Aspercreme, but she I parked on the far side would definitely notice it’s of the parking lot by the distinct aromas. grass so that Nova Mae could have a little break, too. The snow was starting to accumulate in the grass, but not on the pavement yet. “Can we go for another run, Dad,” Nova asked.

“No,” I snapped with a scowl. Meanwhile, I kept an eye out for squirrels.

“Come on, Nova. Go potty and get back in the van. I want to get home before the roads get

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Empty Nest: Cancer Free— Celebrate!

Curt Swarm, Empty Nest

The great news on December 4th, I’m cancer free! It was the day of my 4th infusion with the immunotherapy drug, Keytruda. The first thing on the agenda was a

full-body PET/CAT scan.

I was pretty sure it was going to show that I was cancer free—I could feel the health in my body— and I was right. The doc confirmed what I was feeling, and I had the pleasure of ringing the bell.

Praise God! However, I have to continue the infusions for one year as an insurance against the cancer returning. I can handle that. The doc spread the infusions out from every three weeks, to six weeks (by doubling the dose), so that means I have seven to eight infusions to go.

Doable.

I credit the early cure to (1) early detection; (2) drinking aronia juice daily; (3) outstanding doctors, starting with Great River Medical Center in Burlington and extending to the University of Iowa; and (4) prayers, well-wishes, cards and gifts from so many people, even strangers.

Cell Carcinoma, which is sort of rare.

The first infusion of Keytruda made me sick, so sick that I stopped drinking the aronia juice, thinking the aronia juice and Keytruda might be fighting each other. By the second and third infusion, the ill side effects stopped.

The doctors at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics are beyond excellent, they are some of the best in the world.

Ginnie and I had no problem putting our complete trust and faith in them.

The proof is in the pudding—four months from Stage III Cancer to cancer free.

The well-wishing, support and cards we received from so many people were overwhelming and much appreciated. Of the many gifts and notes we received, I’ll mention one. The ladies of our church made Ginnie and me each a hand made prayer quilt, tied with prayer knots. I’m a prayer warrior. I can lean back in my recliner with the prayer quilt over my lap, finger a prayer knot, and pray for someone. The sensation of God’s power and peace are comforting. Everything will work out.

Ok, so how do we celebrate being cancer free?

I’m an Iowa State grad— don’t hold that against me. Iowa State played in the Big 12 Championship against Arizona State at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX on December 7th. We went. We had never been to anything like this, and it was It started with a red time we went. Iowa State splotch (called a lesion) on my forehead. I thought got thrashed, but we still enjoyed going anyway, it was an old-man liver and being in the awemark, but Ginnie made some Dallas Cowboys’ me go to the dermatoloAT&T Stadium. Ginnie gist in Burlington. They has relatives living in the did a biopsy, which revealed a neuroendocrine Dallas/Ft. Worth area, and we were able to visit with carcinoma. Burlington them also, cancer free. sent me to Iowa City. In the mean time, while wait- Yippee! ing for the appointment in Iowa City, about a month, Aronia berries have the Ginnie and I started drink- highest concentration of ing aronia juice daily. By anti-oxidants and antiinflamatories of any berry the time we got to Iowa in the world. If you would City the lesion had dislike more info on aronia appeared, which sort of berries and where you baffled the doctors. But can purchase the juice they did a PET scan and some cancer was located and powder, go to www. linngrovearonia.com. in a lymph node in my Tell’m Curt sent you. neck. The cancer had spread from my forehead to my neck. The docs were now calling it Merkel