More Info to be Posted Soon

I will be posting all of my activities on getting the guard rail installed on Haddad Road.

Christmas Past - Christmas Present

When George and I were growing up at Elmcroft we used to have small Christmas trees in our rooms to entertain our cats. These little trees were decorated with small round ornaments which the cats would make quick work of. Two of the little trees were planted by the swimming pool. They are now about 50 feet tall. Click on picture to enlarge.

Burial Service

The family and some of George's close friends gathered at the Eastside Cemetery in Woodbridge for the interment of their cremated remains. Karen had kept the urns awaiting a nice day in the spring. It was very appropriate that the event was held on Flag Day since George was such a patriot. I said a few words and then read this little poem that mom had given me:
A Native American Prayer
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush.
I am the swift, uplifting rush,
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there; I do not sleep.

After the short service we gathered back at Elmcroft for lunch.

Laurie Blandino, Karen Odell, Jacob Odell

Rachel, Emily, Jacob Odell

Click to enlarge

Christmas 2007

Many thanks to Andy, Dorinda and Maya for hosting the Christmas get together for the Rumbold clan in Perkasie. It was a great week of gatherings. On Wednesday and Thursday Andy, Jonathan and I drove up to Woodbridge. I installed the low temperature alarm in Elmcroft and on Thursday Karen came down to take us to the cemetery to see the plot for her parents and to George's house to see the work that has been done to get it ready to market.
See Andy's blog for lots more photos of the Christmas gathering.

My Investigation Starts

After Christmas I begin to feel compelled to follow the investigation into the cause of the accident. Some may say that I am doing this as a way to grieve. There is probably some truth to that. Nevertheless, as events unfold over the coming year I become more convinced that the Lord has set me to this task.
I want to know why this happened. I feel that I have a personal stake in this, not the least of which because I had traveled that road with George in his truck many times in 2006 after mom passed on. George would ask me to help him with house clean-outs. We would have the pickup loaded above the height of the roof with trash. I vividly recall that fateful curve and feeling uneasy despite the fact that George always drove slow and carefully.
On this date I write to the Seymour Police as follows:
"Pursuant to the state open records act, I request access to and copies of all accident reports concerning vehicle incursions into Peat Swamp Reservoir from Haddad Road during the period January 1, 1987 to the present."
I want to determine if there have been any other accidents in which vehicles have entered the reservoir.

My Letter to Sergeant Parratt, Seymour Police Department

Dear Sergeant Parratt:

Please forgive my comments below. I am not trying to second guess your investigation into the death of my brother George. I guess I just need to communicate my thoughts as a way of getting past my profound grief.

My brother was in excellent health but he was recently diagnosed with high blood pressure. I do not think it was a severe condition, however. If you need more information about it, I may be able to find the doctor’s name.

When I visited the scene last Sunday, I was curious to see the skid mark in the pine needles on the right edge of the roadway was very straight and continued straight onto the soft embankment. There didn’t seem to be any indication that the wheel was turned so as to avoid the embankment and reservoir. It was also interesting to note that the placement of the right-hand wheel indicated that he was to the right of the traveled lane. However, I have traveled this route with him in that truck many times last year and he was always careful to give a wide berth on those curves in case an oncoming vehicle was incusing into his lane.

We found a small metal part that his daughters gave to you on Tuesday. It was located about 150 feet to the northwest of the incursion point of the embankment, as if it might have fallen off well before he lost control. The fact that it did not have any rust may indicate that it came from his truck.

My theory is that he was unable to maneuver the vehicle around the curve due to mechanical failure of the vehicle or due to an incapacitating medical event.
Thank you for your compassionate attention to this investigation. Call me anytime if you have a need.

Thanksgiving Remembered

A very sad Thanksgiving today, knowing that George was not with us. He was supposed to be in White Bear Lake, MN having dinner with Laurie, Dennis, Alexis, & Timothy. Debi and I had dinner at my house with a prepared meal from Albertsons. Here is the Thanksgiving dinner from last year at Elmcroft. L-R: Emily Odell, George Rumbold, Dorinda Rumbold, Andy Rumbold, John Rumbold, Rachel Odell, Doug Odell, Karen Odell, Jacob Odell.

We miss you George.