When I was a student teacher back in l967 I was assigned to do my student teaching at the Wheaton High School in Wheaton, Minnesota.

Little did I know at the time that Wheaton was going to become my life- long – home. The biggest shock would be that my future wife, Kathie, was in the building, finishing up her high school career!

Okay, okay, none of this ‘robbing the cradle’ crap! I never even talked to her. I will admit I saw her in the hallway a few times and might have thought, “Now, there goes a cute little blonde!”

Well, as fate would have it, Mr. Richter my teaching advisor resigned at the end of that year to take a teaching job in Moorhead.

I’ve never had to apply for a teaching job because as I was finishing my last quarter of college, I got a phone call from the Wheaton superintendent’s secretary telling me about the biology opening.

I didn’t take the job immediately of course because my dream was to live in lake country and teach in a modern school. (At the time the Wheaton School was old and badly in need of replacement) Well, after traveling to communities with science openings I discovered I would have to teach other sciences along with biology.

I was not qualified to do that. So, I gave the Wheaton School a call again and accepted the job.

The school secretary said it was good I called when I did because the superintendent was going to interview an applicant for my job that afternoon.

Fate strikes again! 🙂

Now my future wife graduated that spring, and I never received an invitation. My feelings were not hurt of course because I had not been officially introduced to her.

The next fall I arrived to begin my rookie year as a biology/life science teacher.

I went to Mass the first Sunday and Father Wey pleaded in his sermon about the need for catechism teachers.

As I knelt in prayer I thought, “I’m a teacher so I am certainly qualified to teach catechism, right?”

So, I signed the sheet that was being passed around and volunteered to become a catechism teacher.

After sharing that decision with several other rookie teachers, they responded negatively stating being a first- year teacher would require much preparation time. Becoming a catechism teacher would just add to that work- load.

I immediately suffered a case of ‘buyer’s remorse’! 🙁

So, when the first night of catechism rolled around, I approached the priest to say that I had changed my mind.

But before I could get the words out Fr. Wey said with great enthusiasm to me, “Mike, you have been an answer to a prayer!”

I smiled and my buyer’s remorse vanished. 🙂

That was fate too.

As I went in search for my teaching room in the church basement, there stood that cute little blonde that I had seen wandering the high school halls, the year before.

She spoke to me immediately, asking a question that I have long forgotten.

We did not even introduce ourselves nor did we exchange phone numbers.

Of course we had never heard of iPhones back in 1967. 🙂

Once my first catechism class was completed, I rushed up to the choir loft where I had volunteered to sing in the choir.

And there she sat. That cute little blonde whom I had yet to learn her name.

Fate strikes again!

It turns out Kathie had a beautiful singing voice, and we began singing together. A college friend was getting married, and she asked me if I would sing at her wedding.

Not comfortable yet to be a soloist Kathie volunteered to sing with me and we did a beautiful rendition of The Lord’s Prayer. (At least that’s what the wedding attendees said.)

Then our first date was traveling to the Wahpeton movie theater and viewing “To Sir With Love” starring Sidney Poitier.

We dated for two and a half years largely because I suffered commitment anxieties much to Kathie’s chagrin.

But finally, the ring made it official and on December 19th, 1970, we became man and wife. This December we will celebrate our 54th wedding anniversary.

Kathie was a stay- at- home mom in the early years. However, she became quite famous doing the Wheaton Show over the KMRS Radio.

So famous that I was identified as Mike Larson the husband of Kathie Larson of radio fame. 🙂

Kathie’s first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. So now we have a little baby waiting to greet us in Heaven when we make that anticipated journey.

Steve arrived in June 1973, followed by Jill in April 1975 and Bonnie in December 1979.

Kathie had her hands full being the stay- at- home mom but she rose to the occasion and produced loving, successful children and I am thankful for that. 🙂

Before we knew it, we were empty nesters with grandbabies arriving left and right. Kathie has always loved babies, so she was in grandma heaven!

Our three children first brought it to my attention although I sensed a change myself. The last years of her Wheaton Show I noticed she made mistakes that she had never done before.

We went to Fargo and visited a memory doctor where she was diagnosed to be suffering MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment).

That was ten years ago, and Kathie has been on a decline ever since.

There is nothing more painful than watching someone you love suffer memory loss. I have been caring for her for the last ten years and I discovered my love for her has grown to greater heights as I have watched her courageously battle this awful disease.

It’s been a month now since I have realized I am succumbing to the constant pressure of caring for my bride. So, with the support of our three children and their families we made the decision to place her in the Wheaton Nursing Home.

Oh, how painful that decision has been.

Now the twenty-four- hour care routine for Kathie has been lifted from my shoulders. However, that pressure has been replaced by a wife who is angry that we can’t live together.

Also, how often do I visit her and am I courageous enough to ensure that I take enough time for myself.  Time will tell.

If you are a praying person, please send a few prayers our way. 🙂

It’s amazing how fate determines our journey through life.

Until next time. 🙂