First, this was a special and important stop for Sue to visit the grave of a dear college friend. I had always planned to visit Penny when I retired only to learn that I lost the opportunity to reconnect with her. Penny died in 2019.

We met at the University of Colorado (CU) in the fall of 1973. Penny was a sophomore advisor and I was a freshman. We drank 3.2% beer together (Thursday night drinking club), listened to a bootleg recording of Jackson Brown concert made by another dorm resident, made many trips at 2am to the 24 hr IHOP, endured shower visits by the boys on the other half of the floor (COED dorm), got tear gassed, and had many other escapades befitting of young college students away from home for the first time, Penny from Iowa and me from Ohio. I helped Penny with her speech pathology labs by breathing into various tubes so she could take measurements. We were good friends. I left CU after the Fall 1974 semester and moved with my family to East Whiteland Township, PA. The horse I had bought in Boulder with my summer camp counselor earnings (a whole other story in itself) also moved to PA.

In later years, we lost touch and connected only occasionally. I especially regret missing an opportunity to see Penny when she and her brother were passing through Gettysburg on the way to New England a few years ago. At that time, my job at Penn took precedence in my mind, a decision I sorely regret. Let this serve as a reminder to us all to not delay in connecting with old friends and relatives who have been important in our lives.

Penelope Irene Cammack’s obit is here and she is buried with her family in a peaceful spot in Salem South Cemetery. The Cammack family helped settle the town of Salem, arriving in 1837. She has a bench “gravestone” with multiple etchings of the cats she so loved. May you rest in peace, dear Penny, and I hope to see you on the other side someday.

Now, did we mention it’s HOT in Iowa? 97 degrees in Mount Pleasant today! Sunny and windy and we’ve been chasing shade all day…..

Downtown Mount Pleasant, Iowa