Thanks & Goodbye, Aaron

Here, in a photo from three summers ago----in my pre-digital-camera days----is Aaron in the process of digging the basement for our new room. In the previous post, I mentioned that Aaron was killed yesterday afternoon; he was buried in a trench collapse near Waverly, Iowa.

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In this next photo, Aaron is standing in the trench giving directions as the drainage tile is being dug into our backyard. Actually, Aaron was the one who talked us into building a walk-out basement, which I at first was very much opposed to because it would drastically change the look and lay of our backyard. Aaron, in his deep, gravelly voice, patiently explained to me the merits of the walk-out design; it would allow water to drain more easily away from the house. As my husband is all about cows and farming, Aaron was all about proper drainage, that's for sure!! And, we do like our yard, now.......THANKS, AARON!!

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And that was the death of him.........Aaron was probably so concerned about proper drainage at his job site yesterday, that he most likely jumped into the trench to check on something, taking a momentary risk, and it ended his life at 35 years of age.

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Husband isn't saying much this morning, but its written all over his countenance.......he's very cut up about Aaron's death. Not only will he miss chatting with Aaron, but also Aaron's skill and expertise with farm drainage, conservation excavation, welding repairs, etc.

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Any regular readers of this blog will see the changes in the blog's layout today. I was working on that last evening and had just uploaded the new header photo when the phone call came informing us of Aaron's accident. The photo is now dedicated to Aaron, in my own mind, for it contains relevant facts connecting him to this farm, where he spent many hours doing work over the years.

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In a couple weeks, Aaron was scheduled to dig in some farm tile in the field shown in the header photo. Also, up until a year ago, we had rented a 15-acre field of alfalfa hay from Aaron each summer. Whenever it came time to bale, Aaron would kindly help out, hauling big round bales home for us on his long, flatbed trailer.

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I think we all encounter people in life who cause us to look at things from another angle, and Aaron was one of those people for me. As far as I know, Aaron was not a church-goer, although his father's family had been among the founders of our rural Lutheran church. I don't know what had transpired over the years, if hard feelings were caused by something or other, but by the time I joined our church, Aaron's family no longer attended, although they still lived in the neighborhood.

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I don't know if Aaron and his twin brother were ever baptized. I should be sorry to say this, but as I get older, it gets harder and harder for me to swallow the idea that the only saved people in the world are the ones who are fortunate enough to be born to parents who practice the Christian faith. For, that is basically what it boils down to, folks. 'Nuff said on that.

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I also can't say anymore that I'm convinced I know what happens to certain aspects of people after their physical self departs from this life. This life has brought too many experiences my way that make me think that possibly some part of people stays on with us. It isn't surprising to me anymore that native peoples the world over believed that their ancestors were still with them. For me, its becoming a natural thing to believe........not to worship them........but to be grateful for their continued presence. In my opinion, the saint system used in Catholicism and other religions is very much connected to this concept. And, personally, I find the idea to be very comforting. 'Nuff said on that, too.

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If I've just turned you off to this blog.......so be it. Have a blessed day, anyhow, and breathe a prayer for Aaron's loved ones. As I mentioned in the previous post.......Aaron's twin brother also died tragically several years ago, their parents now having lost both their sons. Pray, also, for Aaron's co-workers, who had the horrendous experience of frantically trying to dig him out of the collapsed trench.

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In this post concerning the devastating tornado that ripped through our area on May 27, Aaron plays a part. He was the guy I handed my binoculars to; he went up to the second floor of his house to try and ascertain the damage at my brother's farmstead. Thanks, again, Aaron.......and goodbye for now.

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