by Dan | Sep 8, 2026 | Etc.
I knew this day was coming. I still don’t really want to admit it though. My mom has been struggling for the last few months. A little over 2 weeks ago she developed bilateral pneumonia, and really struggled with this. We made the hard decision of putting her on hospice a little over a week ago. She was no longer talking the last few days. I have made lots of trips to Sioux Falls, and was glad I am retired so I could go down more. Yesterday was tough watching her…labored breathing…she went to heaven at 1:23 this AM. No more struggling. My dad has been waiting for her for 12 years.
How do you really say goodbye to your mom? She was there for everything. Memories have been coming through the flood gates this past 2 weeks…all good! I am going to miss her so much, but she is going to a better place. She is now at peace. We had some long talks this past few weeks. She finally admitted to me early last week that she was afraid of dying. We really had one long talk then. God was waiting for this angel…and my dad was right behind him waiting for her. They are together again. She admitted to me on Thursday last week, her last good day, when I was able to bring her out into the dining room of the nursing home. She loved sitting in the open space of the dining room instead of being in a cramped double room. I was holding her hand, and she tried saying something to me. I got closer to hear…she said “I am ready…I am not afraid anymore”…Those were the last words I heard her say. I am glad I got to hear them. For now I am just getting pictures ready to have for her service. The memories are rolling in…and the tears are rolling out…
Details will be coming later in the week…
Just remember…keep moving everybody! Somebody cares if you are not here!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day of Newest Streak: # 923
by Dan | Sep 6, 2026 | Etc.
I was out taking Dakota for a walk Saturday morning, and we were going through Jackson Park, when I saw several Monarchs fly by. I watched where they landed because I wanted to take some pictures. Then I saw them–clusters of Monarchs sitting there, some occasionally opening their wings. They were there when we walked back home again, so I got Sarah and the grandkids in the car to go check them out. We have Connor and Tessa–Caleb is recovering from having his palate surgery, and doing very well, but giving him more time to spend with his mom, our daughter, Molly. The Monarchs were still there when we went back!
The grandkids were giggling, and watching, and Connor wanted to take some pictures. Then when one would take off, we tried following it, some still in the trees, some towards the lake.
A lot of stress going on this week–Caleb’s surgery; my mom’s health is declining quickly. But while all this was happening, there were also butterflies.
And sunsets…
And grandkids.
Beauty does not wait until life becomes uncomplicated. Maybe that’s one of the things grandchildren are teaching me. They don’t need everything to be perfect before they enjoy the day. They see a playground and want to play. They see a butterfly and want to watch it. They see a sunset and–well, Grandpa probably makes them stop while he takes another picture!
The week reminded me that life can contain worry and joy at exactly the same time. Life didn’t wait for everything to settle down before giving me something beautiful to notice. And of course, the grandkids continue to crack me up laughing!
Tessa just turned 3. Saturday morning she came in our bedroom, and I was still laying in bed. Sarah went for a run already so one of us would be home. She tried climbing into bed, and was holding toys in both hands. She finally through the toys up on the bed, and then started climbing up bed board at the foot portion of the bed. Grunting away, finally flopping on top of the bed, and letting out a big exhale like she just climbed Mount Everest. She comes up by my head, and I am keeping my eyes closed.
“Papa!” Nothing.
“Papa!” Nothing.
3rd time–“Papa!” I finally said “what”. What does she do? She comes right in front of my nose and says “boo!”. I almost died laughing! This is why you do things to stay healthy. This is why you keep moving…to spend more time with them and enjoy life! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day of Newest Streak: # 921
by Dan | Aug 30, 2026 | Etc.
I’ve spent quite a bit of time with Mom this week, which has meant a lot of trips to Sioux Falls. She is in the nursing home there. She will be 93 in November. The driving has given me a lot of time to think. I was thinking back when I was a kid. There were 7 of us kids at home. All meals were together. With me having 5 brothers and 1 sister, there was always someone to play with, or spend time with. We still are frequently in contact with each other. I hope my kids learn to keep staying in touch with each other over time as well. My Mom might not be able to carry on a conversation with us that she once could. But my grandson Caleb didn’t need to have a conversation. He just turned one. He just needed to be Caleb. And she smiled!
My Mom’s eyes were so focused on him. Caleb was focused on her. She was always reaching for his hand or his foot, and then she would just lightly hold on. He just giggled. Later in the day when we were talking about Caleb being there, my Mom just had a big smile on her face! For my Mom, and I am sure all moms out there, once a mom, always a mom! They never stop worrying about you. They never stop caring for you. And… they never stop loving you! Last week I talked about my grandkids being 5, 3, and 1, and looking forward to the future. This week I was looking back in time, and it brought a lot of smiles to me as well.
4 Generations were present in her room on Saturday. Last week I was looking forward–watching my grandchildren grow and thinking about wanting to remain healthy enough to be a part of their lives. This week I was looking backward. At the generation that raised me. And for one afternoon, the beginning and the later years of life were together in the same room. There are times when words matter. And there are times when they really don’t. Today, Mom smiled at her great-grandson. That was enough…
And Caleb…thank you for just being you!
Caleb by far and away is the greatest snuggler that ever existed!
I love you both so much!
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day of Newest Streak: # 914
by Dan | Aug 23, 2026 | Etc.
How did we get here so quickly? First off, I want to wish the happiest of Birthdays to my granddaughter Tessa! She turns 3 today! She has clearly developed her own personality, a lot like her mom Molly (Help!!!!). She loves desserts, and here she is eating her own chocolate cookie ice cream dessert! Can’t tell she likes it, right? My other 2 grandchildren had their birthdays a little earlier.
Connor turned 5 on July 17. Always on the go! He always wants to help us work and do things! (Keep that one going Connor!) I definitely have to keep working out just to keep up with him!
Caleb turned one earlier this month…August 7. He has gone through a lot already. He was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. He has already had surgery for his lip when he was 6 months old. What a cutey!!! Does he sure know how to snuggle! When he gets ready to take a nap or go to bed at night, he wants to just nestle into your neck and fall asleep. I would keep him there, but his mom has the final say! Ok, I know I can’t keep doing this forever…but as a grandpa, I sure will keep trying! He will be having surgery on his palate coming up soon, and I will be there to help. We will all help him get through this.
We had a ball at their 3 way birthday party a couple of weeks ago.
Now, this is what I am training for. I am working out to keep staying strong and active, not merely to just run another race, or win another medal. I am doing this because I want to be able to say “yes” when these 3 want Grandpa to go to the Zoo, playground, hiking trail…or whatever their lives eventually take them.
Five, Three, and One.
I can’t slow these numbers down. But I can do everything that I possibly can to be healthy, present and part of their lives as long as those numbers keep getting bigger.
That’s what I am training for!
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day of Newest Streak: # 907
by Dan | Aug 16, 2026 | Etc.
Watertown held their Senior Games this Friday and Saturday. We just got done doing the state games in Huron last week…4 days. We weren’t sure how much energy we still had left. I had Saturday morning free, so decided to sign up for the walking events. I need to learn more on this power walking. It truly is different from running. I signed up for the 400 meters, 800 meters, and the 1600 meters. They combined the 800 and 1600 due to the amount of people overall in them. So for the walking events, I won my age group. I was waiting for the 400 meters, scheduled to be the last event, when they were getting ready to do the 800 and 1600 meter runs. Only one person signed up for these 2. Several people were doing the 50 and 100 meters, but not the longer ones. Carol, who is part of our Watertown Area Running Club, was signed up for these 2 events, and no one else. Our motto for run club is, and always has been, “we leave no one behind”. No one should have to run alone. I did not know how fast I was going to do this with my knee, but told Carol I would run with her, and if she wanted to go faster she could. I just did not want her to have to run it alone! We ended up running them together…start to finish! Neither of us ran alone! We were actually having a discussion during the run…just like during run club. Every lap we were getting cheered on! Keep going!! Both of us earned some more medals. But, it was not about the medals. We ran together. We both are staying active. We both ran together so “no one would/should have to run alone!”
Welcome to life! Because haven’t we spent a lot of our lives doing exactly that for one another? Sometimes we’re the faster person. Sometimes we’re the slower person, or hurt and can’t run. Sometimes we’re the one saying, “Come on, I’ll go with you.” And sometimes we’re the one who needs somebody beside us. I have members of our run club now hanging back and running with me as I recover with my knee injury. I love this! “No one should have to run alone!” This is life. And the rest of the week were other examples of life.
Sarah and I went to Minneapolis to go see Nick and Hannah. We went on a run with Nick…attempted run…he is too fast for us! Then we got to go to a Twins game together, and our daughter Megan was at this game as she was in the cities for a work related conference, and a bunch of people from the conference went that evening to the game. It was great!
The best parts of this week were not about the things we did…it was about who we did them with. I’ve spent a lot of years trying to see how fast I could get to a finish line. Maybe I’m beginning to understand that who crosses it beside you matters a whole lot more! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day of Newest Streak: # 900
