Love... never dies.

<3

Met Donita... and her Husband, Charlie...

many years ago.

Met Donita's Brother, years before that.

; )

Donita's Dad, and Brother... had an Ornamental Concrete Business,

in the tiny little Town of Langworthy, Iowa.

'Langworthy' is situated between Anamosa, Iowa... and Monticello, Iowa,

on Highway 151.

About 45 miles from The Rabbit Hole.

; )

While making a Northern 'Run', to pick up a Load...

one day...

25, plus... years ago, or so...

Spied... The Interesting Concrete Store, next to 151.

{Zimmerman's Ornamental Concrete}

; )

Me, and The little Purple Ford, Had... to Check It Out!!

Visited for quite a bit, with the Kind Man, working.

He showed me around.

There were Several Pieces I was interested in, but... told the Man, I... couldn't purchase anything, that day....

as, I had to pick up a BIG Load, told him... I'd be back.

; )

As we were walking to The little Ford, noticed a Beautiful...

Old, Old... Statue, of 'John The Baptist'.

Asked the Kind Man, how much he would need for 'Him'.

He...said,

"It's not for sale, like 'Christ on The Cross'. 

{I hadn't Seen 'Christ'. He was laying on the ground}

The Man... was using them to create new molds, for the Cemetery they'd come from.

He was Creating 'New' Statues to replace these, that had become... 'fragile', and 'fractured'.

Told the Man... I'd sure like to buy them.

; )

{certain... he thought I was crazy. : ) }

He, said...

"When I'm done with them, you can 'have' them."

Told... the Kind Man, I wouldn't do that... but, to Please Call Me, when 'You're Done'.

: )

True to his word, the Kind Man... called me.

I'd Just gotten back from a Big Show, asked him if I could pick them up, in a few days.

; )

He agreed, but said... they were working on getting everything cleaned up.

The IDOT had taken their Land, to widen 151.

{how is it... IDOT, often throw's a Fly in The Ointment.}

Figured I'd better get John The Baptist, Christ, and a few other Cool Things out of their way, 

as....

 'IDOT' waits for no one.

: (

Learned that... with our First...

Condemnation.

Made it to Langworthy, Quickly.

When I pulled in, saw 'John'... and a few other things, I'd wanted to Gather...

but,

couldn't see

'Christ'.

???

 Asked the Kind Man, where 'Jesus' was???

he replied...

"oh... we threw 'Jesus' in the pit."

{They were throwing broken statuary, in a Huge Hole, to be buried...

to get everything 'cleaned up'.

for IDOT.}

I really try to 'filter' myself, in such situations.

; )

but...

: )

kinda felt like I shouted, at The Kind Man.

{hopefully... not}

all I could muster, was...

"Can We Get JESUS 'OUT '....of 'The Pit'!!!!?????"

; )

The Kind Man, smiled... and said...

"Yeah, I think we still can."

; )

<3 <3 <3 

The Kind Man... was Donita's Brother.

<3

I asked him, what was to 'Become'... of Their Beautiful Concrete Business, now.

: (

He said....

"My Sister, and Brother in Law... are taking over, at their Farm, not far away."

That's... when I met, Donita... and Charlie.

<3 <3 

'Whispering Pines Ornamental Concrete'

<3

<3 <3

Donita... came to visit, while I was healing, after taking the 'Tumble' down the basement stairs.

We sat under John's Old Oak, oh my.

<3

We... talked, and talked, but... mostly, 

'Counted Blessings'.

<3

<3

<3

<3

Donita, and I... have a few things in common, for sure.

; )

Being Blessed to have, and to have had... 

The 'Men'

 we share, and have shared...

 our 

Lives with, are a couple of 'em.

; )

Charlie Hageman... passed away, November 18th, 2025.

Charlie's Celebration of Life...

was held, yesterday...

On 'The Farm'.

<3

It was... so Perfect.

<3

Stood in line, for a long time, to speak to Donita.

<3

When I finally reached Donita, gave her a 'Hug', that she'd requested from her Friends.

<3

Donita, said...

"Barb... I can't cry anymore."

: (

as I held her in my arms, 

whispered in her ear...

"wish I could tell you differently, but, you're gonna have to get used to it,

because...

We were, and are... Blessed, to be Loved, by Mighty Fine Men."

<3

; )

Told Donita... to look for 'The Winks'.

; )

'Love'... never dies.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Fairfarren...

Charlie.

<3