Well friends, it's finally time for me to go to Arizona to go through our brother Jeff's home & belongings.

(pic is from the 90s. Wendy, Jeff, Lauri. The kitties are for your viewing pleasure!)

I am very shy, not embarrassed, to ask for monetary help. I need help to make this trip. Thank you, in advance, for any contribution you make. Small amounts add up to large ones. If there is anything left over from my trip, I will partially pay myself back for his cremation. I've taken a loan in order to book my flights, car, and hotel.

The house has gone through probate and will be emptied starting October 4th by Joe's niece. (Joe was Jeff's best friend, mining partner, housemate, etc. and died the end of December.) I need to be there that day in order to gather and sort Jeff's family documents, mining records, the many videos he's taken over the years of his mining and traveling adventures, and perhaps a memento or three for Lauri (my sister) and our sons and nephews.

Jeff was a good man. He was a true mountain man, a gold miner, a trapper, an adventurer, a carpenter, a mechanic, a gardener, a heavy machine operator, and the list could go on. He is who I would want to be with in any sort of emergency. Our dad gave him a good start, and he learned how to do or fix almost anything. He was my big brother, my hero. Truly, he rescued me in a big way on at least 3 different and horrible occasions. One, when he just happened to be in Portland the night I found that Elysha (my daughter) had died. He was my rock.

We (Lauri and I) greatly appreciate all your prayers of comfort over these past several months, and at this time, for your financial help.

Thank you, and bless you and yours. xoxo

Wendy