I have to say that I am one lucky woman. I have the most amazing friends and family.

First and foremost, Courtney has been such a rock for me. I know he is suffering too but he has been there for me (and Darrel) all through this ordeal.

Today, I had an amazing group of people come and help me make the soup and get the ballroom at the club set up. I am not going to name people here because I don’t have my list and know I will forget someone. But, let me just say that there was a lot of meat cutting and browning, onion, garlic, and celery chopping, dish washing, and 80 quarts of soup done in an hour and a half!

Then there were those, and some of the same ones, who kept the food supplied, punch bowls filled, kitchen cleaned up, and garbage taken out. They are the same ones who help me time after time and probably get tired of me volunteering to cook for a crowd because they know they will end up helping. But they do every time and don’t complain (to me, at least!)

The ballroom looked great with Darrel’s bounty of apples, kiwis, and pear apples in bowls on every table. Party favors of honey for everyone to take home along with the fruit. A few Miller Lite coasters thrown in for a little added ambience. And many collages of pictures on the walls. Wow, were we ever really that young?!

Over in the corner was an ice cream cart full of a variety of ice cream bars. Who wants ice cream sundaes when you can relive your childhood of running out to the street when you heard the ice cream jingle coming down the road? What a treat for the adults and children alike!

But it was all the amazing friends and family that we have made over the years that made the evening so special. Some of them we have seen recently. Then there are others that we haven’t seen for a while but when we see them again it seems like just yesterday.

There were a few tears over the evening but more laughs, and that is just how Darrel would have wanted it.

Thank you all for coming and making it a very special evening.