Home Is Where You Are

Having started out his life in South Dakota, and having family there, my husband’s uncle, Bobby Cole was very much at home in the rural areas of that state. That is likely why he and Aunt Linda Cole moved to Kennebec, South Dakota after they got married. They liked the small-town feel and the peace and quiet. I can understand that. The times we went for visits, were very laid-back and relaxing, although I don’t think I could live there. There isn’t much to do, and if you aren’t visiting someone with whom you can play cards or something, it could get pretty boring. We liked it, because we were just visiting, but to live there…probably not.

Bobby, Linda, and their kids, Sheila and Pat lived there until the hotel they owned caught fire after being struck by lightning. They could have rebuilt it, I guess, but the population of the area and the hotel’s distance from the interstate made rebuilding impractical. So, they moved from their beloved Kennebec to Winnemucca, Nevada. Of course, that is a much bigger place, but the reality is that home is where you are. You may not like where you are, but it is still where home is. Nevertheless, they grew to like Winnemucca. They got jobs in the casinos, and they found that they liked that. They gambled a little, and won a little, which is nice.

Bobby and Linda were always fun people to be around, and we enjoyed the visits we made to their home both in Kennebec and Winnemucca. I’m so glad that we took the time to really get to know Bobby, Linda, and their kids. We always felt like we had been a blessing to them, as they were to us. Bobby left us eleven years ago on May 30, 2014, following a courageous battle with cancer. He passed away in Colorado Springs, Colorado while seeking treatment. Today would have been Bobby’s 82nd birthday. Happy birthday in Heaven, Bobby. We love and miss you very much.