Pat -

I just finished reading your book and wiped the tears from my eyes.  You, Andrew, and your entire families are some really amazing and inspiring people.  You certainly took me through a walk down memory lane!

Being who and how I am, I do need to make a couple of comments.  (It’s a Kimball family inherited trait!)

As a former Kansan, (Salina High School South – 1971), I want to defend the beauty of the Kansas wheat fields and the hardworking Kansas wheat farmer.  I realize your intent was to set the stage for a kid used to looking out the window and seeing the majestic Rocky Mountains, then arriving at Goodman, KS and realizing he has hit “no man’s land” with nothing to see but wheat fields for miles, you really painted a negative picture of the Kansas countryside.

You are excellent at using song lyrics that express your thoughts and feelings.  Here are a couple that express mine. “Oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain.” – America, the Beautiful.  Also John Denver’s tribute to his Uncle who was a wheat farmer out of Colby, KS, in his song “Matthew”.  In the refrain, he sings, “To Matthew  … gold is just a windy Kansas wheat field.  Blue just a Kansas summer sky”.

You are aware that the piece of bread you had your peanut butter and jelly on, came from those same wheat field?  (Okay, I have defended my Kansas!)

Another comment:  I was laughing so hard when I read the Winfield Chronicle’s description of the basketball game against Haskell I almost fell off the couch.  The laughter bought my husband into the room to see what was so funny and when I could finally read it to him, his laughter was just as hardy!

Thank you so much for the hours of great reading!

May God continue to bless you and those you hold dear.

Karen Kimball Ducas

But best of all, he liked the Model A that the writer below drove to the meeting.

You spoke at the Waukesha Rotary Club on July 26th. I met your Father “Lefty” who was thrilled to see my 31 Ford Model A. Reading about Andrew in your book brought back memories of when I was first dianosed with Type 1 Diabetes 50 years ago. Same symptoms and rationalization. I was taking a physical for flight training in Goose Bay, Labrador. Needless to say I didn’t get to become a pilot which probably saved my life. (Vietnam!) I have a Grandson who is a gym rat at Carroll University and he also conducts basketball camps for girls and boys, . Your talk at Rotary was very inspirational and well received by members I talked to. Keep up the great effort for JDRF. Over $3,000 went to JDRF as gifts for our 50th wedding anniversay. Thank you many times over for what you do! God Bless, Marty Jannsen

Part 2…


Part 3…

Finally, Part 4…