July 1, 1989 was a Saturday. My first day of work at Frisbie, Overly & Foote Insurance was on Monday July 3rd. On Wednesday July 5th, Kent mentioned that he was leaving the next day on an insurance company fishing trip to Canada. He said “See you in a week! Hahaha” You all can see and hear him saying that and laughing at the same time. I miss that.
There were many trips to Canada as the family cabin was just east of Kenora Canada. We drove the same route for the insurance company fishing trips as well. Kent and I had many 12 hour road trip conversations over the years. Those trips were memorable in that they were so similar. Similar route, similar time of year, similar group of guys/family/etc. On one return trip from Canada, we stopped in Osseo WI at the DQ, walked into the DQ and ordered. Just got our order and the tornado spotters all pulled into area. Did you know DQ’s do not have basement? The authorities moved us across the parking into a large gas station and put us in the men’s restroom as it was the ‘safest’ place. Males and Females. In the same bathroom! You can only imagine how much fun we had with that! Always enjoyed traveling Kent. I miss that.
As Hugh’s, Kent’s, and my kids all got older; we institued GNO (Girls Night out-Guys Night Out) around Christmas time. Decided to skip the gifts and go ‘Downtown’ as in Chicago. Steak houses for the guys. When we began this tradition, three of the ‘kids’ were not old enough to have a beer. Everyone still had fun, fun, fun. Son/daughter in laws showed up and they were included. COVID showed up and we changed it to GNI (get it…?) I miss that.
We brewed our own beer together for 15 years. At the end of each brew night, we’d sit in garages, unfinished basements, driveways, and then our basement bars and have beer or two. As it got closer to leaving time, we’d say just a half a beer more . And Kent would say “top half or bottom half”? I miss that.
When we would play golf or go fishing and Kent would catch the first/biggest/longest fish or a golf shot would hit a tree or sprinkler head and bounce back in the fariway closer to the hole, Kent would say “Good Clean Living”! I miss that.
When we first began working together, Kent would return from lunch, walk through the door with his big, happy smile, look at us and say: “I’m back! Did you miss me?”
Yes Kent. We wish you would walk back in through that door one more time. We miss you and love you.