Page 1… A little Paul Harvey…Just to make my Mom extremely proud one more time, I am going to approach her eulogy as a mini-lesson. Because she loved teaching me a good lesson.

As a good teacher prepares his students for success, you need a little background information.

First, irony is one of my favorite literary devices.

Page 2…As well, if you are worried about a quiz later, not to worry, just ask my Lutheran Central students, I am just flat out going to tell you the answers.

When I decided to go to college, people asked: “Are going to be a teacher? Like your Mom, Dad , and your brothers.” I said “No, I am going to be a business man. I am going to make some money 💰.”

Page 3…Turns out, I can’t pass Accounting 201. I tried it twice, couldn’t do it. So I did some soul searching and changed my major to, Education…like my Mom, Dad, and brothers. During my career I would often tell my students that I had so much fun in the 2nd grade that I did it twice.

Page 4…These are just two of my academic failures, trust me, there are more, but you have enough background for Billie’s lesson.

Despite my academic struggles, after my five year plan at Ball State with a major in Physical Education and a double minor in Beer 🍻 and Basketball 🏀, I did find a way to graduate and become a teacher for 40 years.

Page 5…Just like my Mom, Dad, and my brothers. Just like several people sitting over there. (Pointing to family) Raise your hand if you are a teacher. (7people) At some point, Mom gifted me a children’s picture book 📕 titled “Leo the Late Bloomer” by Robert Kraus. Leo is a baby tiger and he can’t read, he can’t write ✍️, he can’t color inside the lines; he just can’t do much of anything.

Page 6…Some tigers in his family were quite worried about Leo. However, Leo’s Mom is loving, patient, caring and supportive and believes that Leo will develop at his own pace.

Now, some of you see where this is going, but would you believe me if I told you that it took me a moment to catch on?

Page 7…Billie Mae was all of the things that Leo’s Mom was. Patient, caring, loving, supportive…but really, all she ever did was believe in me.

In my life, she was like the North Star, constant and unwavering.

Page 8…The irony is, despite my multiple academic failures, I had a career in Education.

And in addition to believing in me, I like to think I demonstrated 3 qualities that she modeled for all of us. Show up, Don’t Quit, and Be Kind. She showed up for all of us, she never gave up on us, and she was the kindest person I ever knew.

Page 9…On behalf of the Walt and Billie Wintin family, thank you for showing up, not quitting, and being kind. We appreciate you.

As we continue to explore our state parks, we traveled to the Pocket area where the Wabash and Ohio Rivers converge in southwest Indiana. That is where Harmonie State Park is located. Nearby is the quaint little town of New Harmony. ( The “ie” spelling of Harmonie recognizes the German heritage of the early settlers in this area.)

We hiked Trail # 2 which was about two miles and then visited a craft fair the park was hosting.

We had a nice lunch at hbd Yellow Tavern. It is a neat place in downtown New Harmony.

From there we traveled toward Newburgh and Angel Mounds State Historic Site. But first, we stopped at the wonderful Indiana Welcome Center at Mile Marker 7 on I 64

Cool 😎 carved eagle 🦅. The rest were also had a playground.

We then walked the grounds of Angel Mounds which is a preserved Native American site of the Mississippian Tribe from around the year 1200.

The pork chops come from a pig that has never left Jackson County, the bacon 🥓 wrapped jalapeño poppers came from our garden as well as the zucchini.

Heidi’s recipe for the zucchini is a winner: spray pan with olive 🫒 oil; lay out discs of zucchini, garlic 🧄 salt and pepper, top with shredded cheese 🧀. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes. Heidi likes to get some cheese straight on the pan because they become “cheese chips.”

This year’s garden has been one our most productive.

This masterpiece featuring our pool view has Wischmeier Brothers sweet corn 🌽. (We harvested about 12 dozen ears from our garden and are saving it for winter.) Btw, I nailed the grilled chicken.) 🐓

This oak “wood cookie” is also from Jackson County from a felled tree near Lake and Forest Club. I sanded, stained and finished it and I like the way it turned out. The official seal of approval is that Heidi wants another one for the other side of the porch.

Sequim, Washington (skwim) is on the Olympic Peninsula and where we stayed while visiting the national park.

The Black Bear Diner is the spot! Even with some squealing kids at the next table ( kinda wanted to tell the parents that they are more of a McDonald”s Drive-Thru kind of family), this breakfast would not be denied!🙅

Heidi and I shared The Grizz. Scrambled eggs 🥚, ham 🐽 steak, sausage link, thick bacon, country potatoes 🥔 cheesy grits and pancakes 🥞.

The fluffy pancakes 🥞 were as good as I can ever remember having. Absolutely delicious!!!

The evergreen 🌲 forested mountains 🏔️ and the fields of lavender are a beautiful backdrop to the area.

The Black Bear Diner started in California. If our travels bring us west again, we will visit again!

Welcome to Washington!!! This state has a lot to offer! Boom 💥!!!

The main attraction is Olympic National Park 🏞️. After that, there is some fine dining on the peninsula. First, a peninsula is surrounded by water on three sides. Here, those would be the Pacific Ocean, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Puget Sound.

But wait, the food is also da bomb.com. 💣

Phase 1 of this trip has been wonderful and exhausting.

To celebrate Heidi’s birthday 🎂, we traveled to Louisville for a wonderful evening of food adventures and fun. The first stop was Pier 17 on Hurstbourbe Lane.

Crab 🦀 Legs, corn 🌽, potatoes 🥔, broccoli 🥦, smoked sausage, shrimp 🍤. It was a homerun!!! ⚾️ Every part was delicious!🤤 A bit messy, but absolutely delish!!!

Right around the corner from Pier 17 is Jeff’s Donuts. 🍩 If you are that close, you might as well stop 🛑 on in.

After that, it was on to Butchertown and the South Seas Tiki Bar. A cool 😎 neighborhood and some quality cocktails. 🍹 🍸 Our bartenders Christian and Ben were hip and the drinks were da 💣 bomb!

Capping off the week with Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah Valley was fantastic. We pulled off at scenic views, hiked the Appalachian Trail and experienced Dark Hollow Falls. Also, like real hikers, we picnicked for lunch.

After the 17,000 steps Heidi put me in charge of dinner. I came up big with Green Leaf 🍃 which specializes in Cajun fare.

Every place I order shrimp and grits, they are always a bit different from the previous. This dish was superb. Headed home in the morning to catch up with kids, grandkids and dogs. After that, golf ⛳️ and multiple jobs around the house. See you later.

We started with a Billsburg Radler (lemon shandy) beer and Heidi had a blackberry cider. Delicious!

How they know the crabs are all girls? Idk. But the She-Crab soup was fantastic!

The shrimp and grits? Holy Cow! 😇 🐄! They deep fried a glob of grits, added BBQ pork belly and shrimp on a skewer. Incredible!

The entree, grilled 🍤 shrimp, Oysters Rockefeller (half shell oyster baked in garlic 🧄 butter and cheese 🧀.) A crab cake with potatoes 🥔, carrots 🥕 and green beans. Wowzer!!!

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia has been a wonderful experience for us. The food and history has been remarkable!

“Almost heaven, West Virginia…” put New River Gorge National Park on your list. We had a wonderful experience from the natural beauty, the adventure, to the food!

We had a tasty lunch at the Cathedral Cafe. An old church transformed into a coffee house/restaurant.

Then, rafting on the river. We had a great guide on the Upper New River for a four hour trip that included class 3 rapids. Heidi was a boss!

We had a fine dinner at Pies and Pints, a craft beer 🍺 and pizza 🍕 place. The next morning it was breakfast at Biscuit World. The best biscuit in West Virginia.

After Biscuit World we walked all the way across the catwalk beneath the bridge. 800 some feet above the river.

💥 Boom 💥!!!

To quote Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, “ Let’s Play Two!”

My Rock Star 🎸 ⭐️ mother-in-law Nina Hackman makes not one, but two strawberry 🍓 pies 🥧!!! I started counting right away. Nine people for dinner, 16 slices of pie. “I’m taking two!”

Four ingredients: cream cheese, powdered sugar, whipped cream and strawberries 🍓!! 💥 Put that mixture in a graham cracker crust and “It might be, it could be, a homerun!!!” ⚾️ (Harry Caray reference.)

I failed to mention the main course. Ribs, green beans, rolls with applebutter, and cheesy hash browns.

With all of this, let me also quote Lila Kate Spray: “Nobody wants a skinny Grandpa.”