Have you ever had a lyric come to life? This morning on the way to work I was listening to Bob Dylan’s new album Tempest. Bob always takes a few listens to appreciate his lyrics. This morning was particularly ironic to be listening to Bob Dylan for two reasons: first, it is Halloween – which is Desi and my wedding anniversary. Our song is “Emotionally Yours” by Bob Dylan so the song and phrase is a particularly meanful reference for us. Two, if you haven’t ever noticed, Bob Dylan is always in Chicago during Halloween. I’ve never been able to figure out why but he will be here with Mark Knopfler November 9th – much later then he’s been in past years, but still here during the witching season.

As I was driving through Mundelein on my way to work when “Long And Wasted Years” began playing and I chuckled at the irony of the song title and our anniversary. As I listened to the words I saw the darkness Dylan had woven into this lyrical landscape, it started to drag away my bridal thoughts…

“There are secrets in em that I can’t disguise
Come back baby
If I hurt your feelings, I apologize”

It reminded that our past twenty five years of marriage hasn’t been as blissful as the cards and ecards I had been sending to Desi these last few days. As I leave Mundelein south under the viaduct, a train was moving past a parked train on the other track. Bob sang,

“Two trains running side by side, forty miles wide
Down the eastern line You don’t have to go,
I just came to you because you’re a friend of mine”

The train I pass under is moving East. Desi and I were friends in college before we started dating we had graduated. My thoughts explode as he continued,

“I think that when my back was turned,
The whole world behind me burned
It’s been a while,
Since we walked down that long, long aisle
We cried on a cold and frosty morn,
We cried because our souls were torn
So much for tears
So much for these long and wasted years”

It was a somber reminder that we celebrate what’s good in life but it doesn’t take away or cover up what hasn’t gone right. The past is the past but it is rarely forgotten. We don’t live in Hallmark Anniversary cards. And on a gray Halloween morning, with the sky dipped in soot, Bob took away mirthful playfulness and left me a cold rock, shaped like a tombstone.

I played “Long and Wasted Years” two more times before I got to work. I didn’t want to spoil my Halloween euphoria, but rather dull the edge of life Bob had re-exposed to me. And it was in that examination I saw both the darkness and the light of life again – as I always have. And as I’ve done in the past, I bent to the light. “Emotionally Yours,” Dez? You betcha. Because its easy to celebrate happiness but its love, respect and perseverance that gets you through life, especially when you have Bob in your ear.

Happy Anniversary Dez, thank you for being there for me in those darkest hours while we lie scared and exposed to life. When it appears God has abandoned me I know I will find you besides me. That make life’s champagne moments, or beer in my case, that much sweeter – when you love the one you’re with. EY Still.

We’d like to introduce you to Dakota, our new dog! As many of you may know, we lost, literally, Daisy about a year ago. Nate has really wanted a new dog. While Nate didn’t get his American Eskimo, we did adopt Dakota from Save-A-Pet. After the problems we had with Daisy, I was very leery of getting another dog. But after much discussion, Desi and I agreed that we would give Dakota a try. He has been a great dog. The kids really love him. He is a husky mix and about a year and a half old. I’ve renewed his lease for 6 months and we’ll see how he does from there. (Just kidding, I don’t think I could part with him now!)

Hello Friends & Family –

Wow, another year gone by! I decided to type a letter this year since I always write pretty much the same thing to everyone. We hope your year was a good one. Ours was just fine. The kids are doing great.

Nate is 14 & in 8^th grade, Noah is 11 and in 5^th grade, and Naomi is 8 and in 2^nd grade. They are all doing well and keeping busy with school and their hobbies.  Nate and Noah play a game called Warhammer 40,000.  This entails making and painting tiny models and then doing “battle” with their armies.  There is a store at the mall where they do battling events with other people too.  Naomi is our little character. She just finished Iceless Hockey (floor hockey) her team finished in 2^nd place. She can’t wait to get another big trophy. Hopefully the boys fair as well when their season starts in January. Waba coached Naomi and will be coaching Nate in his last year of Iceless Hockey with Dave (Waba’s brother) and Devin.

I would say the highlight of our year was our summer vacation. We went to South Dakota and Devil’s Tower in Wyoming. We saw the usual sites – The Mitchell Corn Palace, The Badlands, Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. We also hit a couple of caves and Bear Country USA, which is a zoo where the animals roam free and you drive through it. It was so beautiful down there – the starkness of the Badlands, the lush Black Hills and the overpowering structure of Devil’s Tower. I had never been there so I was awestruck. Waba went when he was young so he was reliving his childhood memories of picking up cactuses and how things were back then. Mount Rushmore facilities and Crazy Horse had changed quite a bit in the last twenty one years I guess.  We also visited Waba’s Aunt  and Uncle in Minnesota.  They have a lovely place on a lake.

I think the kids really enjoyed it but were getting tired of all the site-seeing for the week. I think they like the ‘stay put’ vacations like we took with my family on Little Saint Germaine Lake in the cabins – no schedule to keep and more swimming.

We meet Lee at Devil’s Tower which was a nice surprise for the kids. It was very hot but the sites were too good to slow us down! It was a wonderful vacation.

Waba and I are at the same jobs. We’ve both had our ups and downs but we’re okay, nothing new there. I celebrated my 20 years at the hospital, I guess you don’t do that all the time.

Our last bit of news is we just got a new dog – Dakota. He’s a husky mix. It’s been a year since Daisy has been gone so I guess it’s about time – at least that’s what the kids thought. Hopefully the cats will accept him.

Here’s hoping you all have a great year.

Love,

The Zilligen’s

Try your own movie!

(if you can’t see the video, try this link!)

Really, try your own movie!

(if you can’t see the video, try this link!)

Last chance to try your own movie!

(if you can’t see the video, try this link!)

Ok, nothing exciting though I am working on an actual article about my stanse on technologly and how the culture will stablize on ‘old’ technologies. This is always good to start a few arguments with my techie friends. Otherwise we have a good Easter at Nana’s & Papa’s. Despite the drizzly rain the kids had fun but Desi had to work (this is her 3rd Easter in a row and if her rotation stays the same, she will be working the next two as well). Well, back to work on my article….

OK – this isn’t my first blog but my blog hosted at zilligen.com. this is a new blogging software called WordPress. I’m just beginning to play with it so come back later