Sagehen Mesa - Season 3 - Episode 1 - Josie's Update

 Time passes and things change, but life is always full of surprises and good friends. 

Kellee and I have been hanging out quite a bit lately. She wanted to console me over my divorce to Luis. She said she planned to take me out on her late husband Chuck's sailboat, but alas, she had to sell it to buy food for those 100 or so dogs she has. Instead we went to the beach, grilled some hot dogs, and took a swim. We both got very nice tans. 

"I forgot the refreshments. These hotdogs are a little dry without something to drink with them. Why don't you go change into your swimsuit, Josie. Let's take a swim." 

"This has been great. We should get together again real soon. Maybe we can meet up at the Art Barn?" 

"I've been getting to know the new pastor better. He apparently has an interest in art, so I asked him if he had recently visited the Art Barn.

He said he's been there quite a lot lately. I shared my love of gardening, and offered him some vegetables if he wanted to stop by. 

He also challenged me to a basketball shooting contest, which I won. He won't be underestimating me any time soon. 

Ben Culpepper and I have been seeing each other lately. Maybe we were meant to be. 

I'm now a great grandmother! Hannah and Hector had a little baby boy. 

They had a party soon afterward, and when I arrived, I learned that little Leroy wasn't the only baby on the property. Lucile's horse had three foals! She named them Allegra, Dune, and Knight. She sold them as soon as they were weaned because she really didn't have room on the property for all those large animals. 

The foals were cute, but I'm quite happy with just my cat. 

I've got a good life, but in every life bad things will happen. For one thing, I was a victim of a burglary recently. 

They stole my stove, my bathtub, and even the pictures off the wall in my bedroom while my cat and I slept soundly. It's quite unnerving. 

Cliff Mahon may have made himself scarce, but crime is still persistent in town. 

Of course, I knew something was wrong once I woke up and went straight to the phone to report the theft to Sheriff Rae. 

"Yes Rae, they took my stove and bathtub. I don't know how they did it. I'm just grateful my money tree wasn't ready for harvest yet." 

If theft wasn't bad enough, the town also lost Ben. Ben's son Paul had just moved in with him after being kicked out by his wife. It seems Paul had been up to no good, and his wife had enough. This gave Ben and Paul a chance to get to know each other better, but Ben decided he'd rather ask me to marry him and move in with me, leaving the Culpepper family home to Paul. I was told that on his way over to my house to plan the wedding, Ben's heart gave out and he passed away. 

I thought something must be wrong when his dog showed up at my house without Ben. 

I'll never forget you, Ben. 

I figured it was only right that I help out with the funeral arrangements as I knew Ben better than anyone. 

We planned a celebration of life for Ben a few days later. 

*****

In Remembrance of Benjamin Culpepper

The community lost one of it's long-time residents yesterday. Benjamin Culpepper, father and grandfather, passed away on his way to the home of Ms. Josie Williams. Ben stopped by the hospital on his way to her house, complaining of chest pains. The doctors did the best they could, but due to Ben's advanced age, their efforts didn't yield the desired effects. 

Ben was the second son of Oscar and Evelyn Culpepper and brother to to Charles E Culpepper. He graduated from Sagehen Mesa High School, and was known to be quite the athlete in his time. However, a football injury squelched his dreams of being a professional athlete, and he soon married and became a truck driver. His lost his wife Magnolia to food poisoning early in their marriage. Leaving behind their infant son Paul. Ben spent a lot of time on the road, so Paul was primarily cared for by his grandparents, but Ben made sure to take the boy fishing any opportunity he had. 

After retiring, Ben became a well-known character around town, frequenting the Pit Stop and flirting with ladies of all ages. He was known to be an avid fisherman and could often be found at his favorite fish hole. His son Paul said Ben kept himself very busy and was seldom found at home. 

Ben was preceded in death by his parents Oscar and Evelyn, his brother Charles, and his wife Magnolia. He is survived by his son Paul, daughter-in-law Holli, granddaughters Dara and Ronda, and his sister-in-law Kellee Culpepper. 

Services will be held at Sagehen Mesa Community Church, and Ben will be laid to rest beside his wife Magnolia in Mesa View Cemetery. 

*****

The service went well. Both Kellee and I gave the eulogy. Kellee seemed a little flustered at first, trying to remember something positive to say about the old coot. (Their relationship was a bit strained at times due to his gruffness when she tried to help him around his house.)

But she came up with a positive thing to share. . . . 

She told about the time recently where she found him out at the Pit Stop having a rousing game of gnubb with his granddaughter Ronda. He really took to being a wonderful grandfather once he got the chance to do so. 

Of course, he took some time out to flirt with her, but that was just Ben's way. 

I spoke of Ben's athletic skills and his persistence in pursuing me despite all my efforts for us to not be more than just friends. 

It seemed that Holli had some unfinished business with Ben. There must have been something she wished to tell him. 

I found Paul after the service. I told him that I had been taking care of Ben's dog Wally, but thought it would be better for Wally if he came back to live on the homestead. 

I also asked if either of his girls would like to come over and help me with my gardening since Hannah is so busy as a new mother. He said he'd ask them. 

And so life goes on.