Stokes in Peru

Prelude:  Shortly after we began dating over nine years ago, Marianella informed me that her dream destination was the Taj Mahal-my response was a scrunched face and a trio of reasons not to visit-too hot, too far, too dirty.  Over time it became part of our repertoire-when Marianella wanted to get me going, she would bring up visiting the Taj and I would respond with my mantra of reasons not to. Our little act extended to Anna & Dave, in which I found a compadre who was more resistant than I to a trip on the other side of the world, and Marianella found an ally in Anna.  It was decided, Marianella and Anna could visit the Taj Mahal together while Dave and I remained behind in Minnesota, feasting on whatever sports were on TV and whatever food could be delivered. And then we moved to Bangladesh.  A new twist was added to our little back-and-forth.  Now we were in the backyard of the Taj, a mere two and a half hour flight from New Delhi.  It no longer was some fantastical journe

Usually this blog details the various trips and vacations that Marianella and I experience, but today I want to tell you about our dear friend David Siemers who passed away on December 26th at the age of 42. If you spent any time in the southeastern suburbs of Minneapolis/St. Paul  over the last fifteen years, you very well may have crossed paths with Dave.  He was a pretty unassuming guy in his day to day life, working as a nurse practitioner at a Minute Clinic within a CVS Pharmacy ten minutes from his home.  He loved his Minnesota sports teams, Long Island Iced Teas, The Gear Daddies, small bets at the sports book in Las Vegas, stand-up comedians, dogs, the 4th of July, food of all varieties (excepting fruits and vegetables), and trips to the North Shore.  He played the part of a Gen-X, Minnesota guy pretty well and often anonymously. But for those of us who got to know Dave well, he was a superhero of sorts to us.  He was the guy who returned home to quickly run in the hous