Time Lost Continues

By John Sechrist

The story of people moving to a new planet to survive a planet that is collapsing. Using Time travel. Love and living on a new planet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 24, 2015
• ISBN: 9781329256217

Book preview

Time Lost Continues

Time Lost Continues

By John Sechrist

Copyright © 2015, John Sechrist

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

ISBN: 978-1-329-25621-7

Dedication

Dedicated to my wife who I lovingly call ‘Sam’! For being there with me all the time and helping me in writing this book and just being a wonderful wife, lover and friend. With all my love and devotion.

Introduction

This is the continuing story of two worlds becoming one! The story of people and companionship and hopes and dreams and discovering a new planet to live. About the obstacles and hardships that they had to go through.  Their search to have a full and happy life! The story of using time travel through space. A story of trying an experimental new way of space travel to try and warn future generations. This is the story of mankind and global warming. How humans settled into a new way of life in a new world. The story of survival, love, caring and dedication!

Time Lost Continues

Professor Ken Long was sitting, watching the villagers getting the gardens ready for planting, when Thomas, Ken and Sue’s son came over and asked Dad! A couple of my friends and I were talking. We have all heard things about how and why we came to this planet, and I was wondering how they decided to get the people here to this planet and how was it done! Ken said When everybody was living on the home planet hundreds of years ago, even before I was born, the planet started to deteriorate.  There were villages all over the planet then. Due to what was happening to the atmosphere, things started to deteriorate slowly at first. Soon in certain areas, it was so bad that some people were killed because of landslides, sink holes and loss of water. As years went by it only became worse. We lost many people during that time, too many! The government finally started to work on the water problem by building canals and later on, ran the water in pipes underground.  That helped for a while, but there were so many collapse and loss of life, they decided to go completely underground. They had as many people that would come, live underground in a city that they built. Many decided to stay on the surface. They wouldn’t leave their homes, no matter what happened. As time went by and things were worse, we knew most of them died. Some did make it to the underground city to live.

Thomas said Yes! We know all about that! The way the government ignored everything and all about the disappearing atmosphere and water. We were taught that in our school here. But how did all of the people get here? Ken said "Our government knew that something would have to be done a long time ago, but they decided to hold off on anything drastic. Moving underground was a big decision and a huge task! So they did start to look into the solar system for a planet we might be able to live on. They knew it would be a matter of time until the home planet could not support life as we know it.

Many hundreds of years later, I was put in charge of a project for the government science lab. I read all that the science lab had on their exploration of the planets. Out of all their explorations, the one that showed promise was this planet. I know you were taught in school how they sent down a capsule to this planet and all of a sudden it disappeared. Thomas said Yes, it was crushed by a large animal. Ken said True!  But they didn’t know what happened then. They did try later to find out what happened, but couldn’t get close enough to the planet or the capsule to see anything because of the rocks in the atmosphere.

After I took over, I finally convinced the science lab to try one more time, since by then it was our only hope. They could not find any other planet that fit what they were looking for. By that time we were losing so many people on the planet and areas were collapsing here and there. So they sent down a robotic capsule to see if they could find out what happened to the capsule. That’s when we found out what happened to the capsule and the large animal. But we also found out that this planet had everything we needed to be able to live here. I was given the task to assemble a team to check it out. I had to select and train the team to be the first ones to explore this planet and see if we could survive here. Your mother was in charge of that team! She came down with the team and helped set up the first village.

Since by that time, our planet was completely living under ground. I got with the large manufacturing plants and I and the scientists had them start to construct capsules that would be able to carry people into space. They built the first ones small, like the one your Mom and the team came down in. We started with small capsules that would carry up to thirty four people. By the time we were finished, we had twenty capsules that could carry at least one hundred people at a time. I remember that we were still using the smaller capsules and the larger ones, anything to get the people down here. Rand, who was the senior launch specialist told me that in one day, we had at least fifteen to twenty capsules going and coming. We designated six places on the planet to send the capsules to so they could set up villages like ours at different spots on this planet. There were almost seven hundred people that wanted to stay on the planet. Looking at those we lost on the mother planet from collapses and those that chose to stay, we were lucky that somehow we were able to get well over ninety thousand people to this planet. Since I came down earlier in the program, I’m not sure of the exact total! I feel it was probably more than that! Thomas said I don’t know how they did it! It was a huge undertaking to get that many here! Thanks to you, mom and all those that were involved, we owe you everything! Thanks for telling me!" Then he jumped up and took off to tell his friends.

Sue was sitting out by the gardens thinking. She said to herself Here it is, what we now call spring that is just beginning! Jan loved how they decided on four seasons here on this planet. Reading the history of their mother planet, Jan and Sue discussed the seasons back before we all came down here to this new planet. Back on the mother planet they had four seasons about a thousand years ago. Ken remembered reading about the seasons and found out in the history papers what the names of the seasons were and why. He told me that it described the way our weather was on our home planet and the weather seemed to be the same here on this planet where we are now living. So we started to use the names that were in the history books of our mother planet to fit in to the way the weather is here. Many thousand years ago, on the other planet they had the same system there before the planet started to deteriorate. So spring was the start when things started to grow.

Since Jan was in charge of the gardens with Carol, they would be busy for the next few weeks getting everything ready for planting. Many years ago, they ran out of the special fast growing seeds that they brought from the other planet, but the new seeds that they have taken from the plants grown here are working almost as well as the genetically processed seeds that they brought down in the capsule when they arrived here on this planet. So they, like the other villages had everybody busy planting seeds in all the villages for the harvest.

Jan recalls that she felt the best thing that happened on the whole mission to this planet, was meeting and marrying Lyon, having three beautiful children and living here by what everybody calls Jan’s water! Actually it is the village of Peace! This was the water that Jan first saw when they were in the Government Science Building on the home planet. When they were at the government building they showed everybody the video from the automatic research explorer that circled this planet. They sent the explorer down to this planet to see if humans would be able to live here. When she saw the video of the water, she could not believe that a body of water that big could exist! Jan still remembers getting the call from the government to come to the science building. At that time she had no idea what it was all about, all she knew was she would be there for a few days. The few days turned into a life time for her and everybody on the planet.  After they came down in the capsule to set up the village of Hope, Jan kept dreaming of someday seeing that large body of water. It wasn’t too long until Jan had her chance to see it and later started to set up their own village of Peace with Lyon and her children Doug, Mary and Hope. Hope was conceived in the village of Hope, but born here in the Village Peace. She and Lyon often joke that it seemed that every time they moved to a new village, they ended up with a new child. So they decided to stop moving after they moved to the village of Peace. Jan looked around the village and was thinking how wonderful it was living here. The children loved growing up here. Jan remembered how Lyon was at each birth. It wasn’t only the moving she worried about, she remembered how Lyon reacted during each birth, running around bugging everybody about the new baby coming. She didn’t think Lyon could stand having another child. With every birth, he was a nervous wreck! She laughed thinking of his reaction each time and how it made her love him even more. As she said often to some of the villagers, ‘that is Lyon’!  Now the kids are all grown and Doug has married a wonderful woman, Gale from the village of First. They, just like Lyon and Jan did, went with a few others from the different villages and set up a new village about four days from here. The village was named New. The only problem is, it is about five days from where Jan and Lyon live.

Mary is still living with us in the village of Peace and is about to marry a person from the village of Calm. Mary and her future husband Rick, want to get married next month and want to have the ceremony in Calm, where they will live. They thought that would be a good way to start a new life together since the village also is just starting!  Mary was feeling bad about how Rick would travel back and forth all the way here to Peace to see her, so she decided to go with fourteen others to go to Calm and get ready for the wedding. So Jan and Lyon started getting ready to travel to Calm and see Mary and Rick there and also to see the new village of Calm.

When they got to Calm, they first walked around the village looking at everything. After seeing the village they knew why they called the village Calm. Calm was beautiful! Jan thought it was a good idea for Mary and Rick to be married there, although she had already started to plan the marriage in her head! Calm sits on a large flat valley and Rick had told them the weather there is calm almost every day. The village was started when Mary and Rick were going with fourteen others from the village of Peace to help set up a new village that some hunters saw when on a hunting trip.  They took some items that they thought they would need to get the village up and running. On the way, they had to go through the village of Hope and the village of First to get there. By the time they did get to where they wanted to set up the new village, they then had about fifty five people and enough items to have a village up and running in no time flat!

Mary and Rick saw her mom and dad at the campfire area in the center of the village. They hugged each other and Mary told them she wanted to show them the village. Jan and Lyon looked at each other and smiled knowing Mary didn’t know they just looked around the village by themselves. Jan said Yes. That would be great! From what we have seen so far, its’ beautiful. So Mary and Rich took them on a tour of Calm. Jan and Lyon could tell how proud they both were of their village. Jan remembered how proud she was of Hope and how proud they were when they moved and started Peace. They helped set up both of the villages and get them going. Mary and Rick had Jan and Lyon sit by the campfire area. Mary was so excited and started to tell Jan and Lyon about all the plans they had for the wedding. Lyon sat there with a grin on his face seeing the disappointment in Jan’s face. Surely Mary must have known her mom well enough to know that Jan had already had plans of her own about how the wedding should be. It was as if Mary sensed something in Jan and before Jan could say anything, Mary said to Jan I want you to meet Lynda. She will be the one that will marry us. She was a pastor on the home planet. Since she has been down to this planet she has already had nine weddings that she officiated.  I know you will like her. I also want to show you our log cabin. We tried to make it just like your cabin.  So Mary led Jan towards the center of Calm and Lynda’s cabin.

Rick turned to Lyon and said Mary wanted me to have a talk with you alone. That is why she took Jan to see Lynda. Mary told me that knowing her mom, she would have everything planned in her head. Lyon laughed and said When Mary started in telling Jan what she had already planned, I was sitting there watching the expression on Jan’s face. You were right about Jan planning ahead. Mary is just like her mom, always thinking ahead and wanting to be in charge. That has always been Jan. I also know Jan well enough that if she has some input in the wedding, she will be happy! Rick said That is what Mary thought and why Mary is taking her to see Lynda. Mary has already told Lynda about Jan, so Lynda will have Jan help set up the room that the wedding will be in. We don’t have a large community building like the one in Hope, but I’m sure it will do. Lyon said Well I take it the wedding is in two days. Is there anything I can do to help? Rick said Now that you mention it, there is. Since my dad died when I was just two, you have been like a dad to me most of my life. I remember so many times I would come to you and you would teach me things. How to hunt for one thing. How to build a log cabin, which came in handy. I built the one Mary and I will live in. I also remember that Jan taught me how to spear fish. I never did get as good as she is. Mary is going to ask Jan if she will come down the aisle with her. I told Lynda that there is only one person that could be my best man. Lynda said she felt since Mary will be coming down the aisle with her mom and I should be standing up front with my new dad. Lyon started to ask who, then realized the new dad was him. He said all choked up I think that would be great! During the ceremony Jan and I will stand behind you and after the ceremony we will follow both of you back up the aisle. He reached over and gave Rick a big hug. Rick then said It will be hard for me to start to call you Dad and your wife Mom from now on. For so many years, it was always Jan and Lyon, but I will be proud to have a mom and dad like you two! Again they both hugged and just sat there for a while thinking about the past. Lyon said Jan and I figured that you two would be man and wife someday and we couldn’t feel prouder to have you as our son-in-law.

Mary took Jan to the cabin where Lynda lived and introduced Lynda to Jan. Lynda shook Jan’s hand and said I have heard a lot about you. Mary thinks the world of you, she loves you so much! Jan said I don’t know what she said to you, but she is our second child. We named her after Lyon’s Mother, Mary Ferg. We thought that she was and is special! The first girl we had. Mary stood up and said Well I want to go straighten up my cabin before you come to inspect it Mom, so Lynda and you can get things going for the ceremony. So Mary took off for the cabin.

Lynda said I want to show you where we will have the ceremony and I want some of your ideas on how to decorate the area. I know you have helped in weddings before, so I would really appreciate your input and help, getting things ready. Jan was already getting to feel better about the wedding because she would have what Lyon calls ‘Jan’s touch’. Linda took her over to a large cabin, not as big as the community building in Hope, but large enough to hold the wedding in. Lynda introduced Jan to some of the people that will help decorate the cabin. Jan introduced herself to each one of the decoration party individually and asked them if they could all meet in about an hour back here. They all said that would be fine.  Lynda said Also Mary said that you were one of the main cooks at Hope and then Peace. I will take you to the cooking cabin now and introduce you to some of the food preparers and you can give them some tips. So Lynda took Jan over to where the cooks were already busy preparing the noon time meal. Lynda introduce Jan to June, the head cook. Jan said It’s wonderful to meet you and I see how busy you are right now getting things ready. I’ve been through that many times.  When would be a good time to sit down and discuss Mary, my daughter’s wedding? June told her If you could come back in about two or three hours. That way the noon time meal will be over and they would be starting to clear everything in the kitchen. Also, that way I’ll be able to get out of the cleanup. Jan and Lynda laughed! Jan agreed to come back in about two to three hours. As Jan started out of the cabin, Lynda guided Jan back to the small community cabin and said I will see you soon and I will see you tonight for sure at the evening meal. If you need anything in the meantime, I’m sure Mary will know who to contact, good luck!

So Jan went back to the decorating committee to make sure they will have everything needed for the morning of the wedding. She gave two people the job of getting the flowers tomorrow. Another person to get the large leaves to lay on the aisle and one person to get some vines, since she saw that they had a podium. Jan talked about what she envisioned what she would like the cabin to be and they all agreed. It seemed to Jan that everything was well in hand. So even though it had only been less than two hours, she headed for the cooking cabin. She saw that they were in the middle of feeding everybody, so she jumped in to help. It didn’t take long until the people were starting to leave. June came over to Jan and said I really appreciate all your help! It sure made it a lot easier for all of us. Let’s go to the fire pit and sit and discuss your daughter’s wedding there.

Jan and June went over and sat for a while and talked about where they lived on the mother planet. June said I know that you came down on the first capsule. I would have loved to be on that capsule with you. I heard some of the stories about what all of you went through, setting up Hope. I was involved in the second mass move on the mother planet. There were six hundred and fifty three of us that they moved into what we started to call the safety zone. Our area where we were living at the time had many collapses and it was getting almost impossible getting to and from that area, let alone getting water there. The government decided that it was unsafe where we were. So everybody in the section called Avery, had to move. When we got to the government building, they took our name, age, male or female and job title. Then we were all given a number and a new place to live. I was there just a little over a week and they called out my number and sent someone to get me. I was then interviewed by a Dr. Shirl Thomas. Jan said I know her, I worked on some projects with her when I was in school. I also know the Avery section. I worked on a well just outside of that area. We were having trouble keeping up with the water supply there. June said I really liked her. She told me that they really needed some good cooks on the new planet and I was selected to go on the next capsule to village five. I was so excited. She said it would be in three days. They had me fitted with new suits and I was ready. Then one afternoon they came to me and told me I was taken off that capsule and being replaced by a Dr. Lynn. When Jan heard that she stood up and said You don’t know how lucky you were. That flight went missing and no one knows what happened to it. June said Just before I was put on a flight to Hope, we heard something big was to happen, but no details. No one would tell us anything. At that time, the government was going around in circles, capsules were coming back to be refurbished and then heading here to this planet. There was turmoil everywhere. They were trying to get as many people to this planet as possible.  The planet was falling apart rapidly in some areas and now that they knew a person could live down here on this planet, they were trying their best to get everybody down here as soon as possible.  So I was assigned to the next flight to village Hope and from what I had heard about Hope that was where I wanted to go. In fact everybody waiting there hoped that was where they would end up.

Jan said You don’t know how good that makes me feel. We always were so proud of our village of Hope. It took a lot of work to get it up and running. I probably saw you when you landed in Hope and watched you walk down the ladder to this planet June said I remember a Sue Long that gave us a talk after we arrived. Jan said Yes, Sue was the one in charge of our group coming down to try and settle Hope. Ken Long came down soon after Sue and me. Professor Long was in charge of the whole project to get everything started. When Professor Long had the mission going smoothly on the mother planet, they sent him down here to help get things settled here on this planet. Sue and Ken now live in the village of Ken, named after him. In fact I’m hoping she and Ken might be here for the wedding. Oh yes! She is now Sue Long.  She married Professor Ken Long. June said I always wondered why that village was named Ken. All the other villages had a name depicting the area they were in. June reached over and gave Jan a hug and told her After talking to you I feel like we are old friends. Our paths crossed and now here in the village of Calm, we meet again. So June and Jan discussed what meat and vegetables June thought to have for Mary’s wedding. Jan said I think you have everything well in hand. I will be here tomorrow night to make the wedding cake. I think this will be wonderful. I’ll see you later and if I see Sue, I am sure she will love to meet you again.

Just then, Lyon appeared. He could tell by looking at Jan’s face that things are ok now. He asked Jan Well how are things going on your end? You look much better than when you went with Mary. Jan told Lyon about the decorating group and the story about meeting Lynda and June and how everything seems to be going great! Lyon said Well Mary and Rick are waiting for us to see their cabin. I think Mary is getting tired of cleaning, she has been driving Rick crazy having him do this and that. She is just like you, everything has to be perfect! So why don’t we head over to look at their new cabin before Mary starts to clean everything again. They also told me that they insist that we stay with them. They already have two extra sleeping beds there. I told Rick that we would probably stay there, at least until just after the wedding, but I had to talk it over with you first. Jan smiled and off they went to see Mary and Rick’s cabin. When they got there, Mary and Rick were waiting at the door as a welcome committee. After Mary gave Jan and Lyon the tour of the one room cabin and Rick got the approval from Lyon on the way it was built, then Jan gave her the approval of the cabin, they sat down and went through the whole wedding procedures with Mary and Rick. Jan said I’ll be so busy tomorrow trying to get the decoration group started and also the food preparations just right.  Lyon looked over at Mary and smiled and Mary just winked back at him! Jan told them about meeting Lynda and how nice she was. Also about meeting June and how they connected and how much Jan loved her. Jan told them how June was almost put on the missing capsule, but at the last minute, they took her off for someone else. They all could tell that Jan was anxious to go and get things done. That night everybody had a wonderful time at the campfire area.

The next day Jan went to check on the decorating committee to make sure all was going as per her plan. Jan decided to go with Rita and Fran to help pick some flowers for the decorations. Jan felt that it would be a good way to get to see the rest of the area around the village. So that kept her busy for a few hours. Later, she told Lyon how nice everyone in Calm seem to be. How happy that this was a great place to live for her child. Then in the afternoon she was heading to see if June needed any help, and on the way she heard her name called. She turned around and there were Ken and Sue. She ran over to them and gave them a big hug and thanked them for coming. Sue said I wouldn’t miss this for anything. I want to see every one of your children get married. All that you went through having the babies and trying to get settled in at the same time. Seemed each time you moved, you were going to have another baby. I wouldn’t have missed this. After this, you will only have one more to get married.  Then Jan said I would like the two of you to go with me. I have someone I think you would like to meet.

Jan walked over to the cooking cabin with Sue and Ken and asked June to please come outside, she had someone she wanted her to meet. When June came out, Jan started to introduce June to Sue and Ken but Sue said I remember you! You are the cook that left Hope to come here to Calm. The reason I remember you, was we had been told that you were supposed to be on another capsule but at the last minute they put you on the one coming to us. June said That is some memory! Yes, as I told Jan how I remembered you and Ken talking to all of us when we arrived. As scared as we were, you made us feel at home right away. At that time everything was so new to all of us then. I never thought I would have been able to meet you both again. Ken said I still can’t figure out what was going on in the switching of people. When I left the home planet, we had set a list of how many and who were going on the different capsules.  Even with enlarging the capsules, we had it figured down to the last person. All I heard was at that time on the home planet, things were a mess. Something must have happened. June told them about what happened to her and many others. All about the collapse in the Avery section of the planet and about a Dr. Lynn taking her place on that capsule and how she was put on the capsule to Hope and meeting everybody there in Hope. June said Coming here was the best move I could have made. I didn’t hear much about a missing capsule, but landing here on this planet in Hope and then coming to Calm, my life started all over again.

Jan then talked to June about the wedding and found out that June had everything well under control. Jan asked Sue and Ken Do you two have a place to stay while you are here in Calm? Ken told Jan Don’t worry, everything has been taken care of. You just worry about the wedding.   So Jan said to Sue and Ken Well good!  I’ll see both of you later then then.  Jan turned to June and said Well I guess I will get the cake started. I will make two big cakes to be sure everyone will have enough. Sue said Since Ken and I are settled Jan, I will help you.  While we are making the cakes Ken can go find Lyon and I will help you and June here. It will be nice working with you again and I can get to know June while we are making the cakes." Ken left to find Lyon and Sue, Jan and June went into the cooking cabin to get started on the wedding cake.

Ken found Rick and Lyon after looking all over the village. They were starting to build a new cabin. When Lyon heard someone call his name, he turned around and saw Ken standing there. He jumped down and went over and shook Ken’s hand and said Well, we meet again! It is always great to see you. I know Jan and I are grateful that you could make it. Ken said It seems that lately every time I get to see you, you are building something, and I usually end up helping. So where do I start? Lyon laughed and said First I want to introduce you to my future son-in-law, Rick. He is the one that pulled me into helping him with this cabin. Rick came over and shook Ken’s hand and said Welcome to Calm. I’ve heard many things about you. Everybody seems to know Ken Long. I do know that you were the instigator for everybody coming to this planet. For that we all are ever grateful! Living here has been wonderful. Even Lyon has said nice things about you! Lyon turned back and looked at Rick and Ken and said Now Ken, don’t let that get to your head! They all laughed. Ken said I just came from seeing Jan. Sue is there helping make the cakes. I was surprised at how Jan is taking the wedding preparations. Lyon said I have to admit I was worried how Jan would be, feeling left out. But thanks to Mary and Rick, they both had everything set so Jan would feel a part of it. I guess we raised a smart woman in Mary! So the three of them went to work on the new cabin. Time flew by and soon they were called for the evening meal.

The big day was here. Pat Freeson, who married Jan and Lyon came from the village of Hope. With Pat, Jan and Lyon’s child Hope with her boyfriend Hank were there. Also Jan and Lyon’s children Doug and Gail from the village of New were there, they arrived last night. Lyon said to Jan Well it looks like the whole family is here, including Sue, Ken and Pat. I can’t remember the last time we were all together! It’s great seeing everybody again. Jan was looking at her family with pride in her face and tears in her eyes. Mary could see that mom was beside herself! Jan looked at them and said I sure have a wonderful family! I’m so proud of each of you! As for the wedding, I’m sure I have everything under control. Doug looked at his mom and said Mom, we figured that out already! I don’t think you would have had it any other way. Jan just looked at Doug and frowned. Sue looked at everybody and smiled and told everybody Don’t worry, I will not be singing in the ceremony today. Pat mentioned how bad I was the last time and I knew it was bad! Pat just smiled thinking about how bad it really was and nodded her head yes. A few even stood and applauded!

Jan went and checked for the twentieth time that the decorations were just the way she wanted them. Of course she had to re-adjust a few of the decorations while there. She laughed at herself thinking if Lyon was here, he would say I was just putting the ‘Jan Touch’ on them. She thought that was just me! I always had to make sure everything was level and just right! When she was satisfied, she headed to see if the cooks had everything set to go. It got to the point that if someone would see Jan coming, they would run up to her and tell her everything was ready, just to appease her.

Finally everybody was getting ready for the ceremony. Lyon was with Rick and Lynda, waiting for Jan and Mary. The villagers had filled the cabin and everybody was waiting. Doug, standing there finally said I’ll go find Mary and Mom. I’ll bet Mom is running around in circles. He was right, when he did find both of them, both Mary and Jan were in tears. He told them OK! I think it is about time you two pull yourselves together, wipe away the tears and get to the cabin right away!  Everybody is waiting, so let’s go! Finally the wedding started. Mary and Jan collected themselves and started to walk down the aisle and both Rick and Lyon stood there beaming. Lyon because this was our beautiful daughter and my beautiful wife with her. Rick because this was going to be his beautiful wife. They both stood there looking at Mary and Jan with the biggest smiles on their faces as they came down the aisle.

Everything went as Jan had hoped for. Lynda gave them their vows and Mary and Rick were now married. Pat told Lynda later that she thought the way the sequence of the wedding went was smooth. Pat said I want to get with you before I leave and talk about the way you run your wedding and a few other parts of your services. That wedding went a lot smoother than the way I do weddings. I think I will try it the next time I have a wedding. After the wedding, everybody had a wonderful meal and Lyon saw that other than Jan crying because she was happy, everybody was having fun! Jan said to Lyon I can’t believe that our child is now married. Where did the time go? Lyon said We have three great kids. Doug married Gail and they are doing wonderfully. Now Mary and Rick are starting their life together. We would never have thought that this could have happened when we were living on our home planet! I think we’ve done a wonderful job, you and I! Jan hugged Lyon and put her head on his shoulder and started to cry. Lyon said I feel that in a short time, we will have to go through this one more time with our daughter Hope. I hope you can make it through that wedding! Jan smiled and said After all this, I think I am ready, as long as I think the person she is going to marry is right for Hope and also that I will be able to help in the wedding. Lyon just rolled his eyes and thought about how she will probably try to take over the wedding then. Hope already had talked to Lyon and let him know that she was seriously thinking of marriage to Hank. Lyon said to Jan Oh yes! They moved our things to another cabin so Mary and Rick will be alone tonight. I don’t think they would like us sitting there watching all night. Jan started to laugh just thinking of what a scene that would have been.

The next day, everybody headed back to their villages. Jan hugged Rick and gave him a warning, You better take good care of Mary or I will have to come and have a good talk with you. Rick smiled and said You don’t have to worry about that. Mary takes after you, so she will make sure I toe the line! Mary said The next wedding will be Hope’s wedding. From talking to her, I have a feeling it will be very soon. With all of us getting married in such a short amount of time, this will keep you busy Mom.  Again, Lyon rolled his eyes when Mary said to Jan about the possibility of Hope getting married soon. Jan said As long as all of you are happy, that is all we want. Jan started to think about Hope. She looked at Lyon and asked What do you think about Hope, will she be ready to settle down yet? Lyon didn’t want to let her know about Hope talking to him, so he just said I feel it will be soon. Hope is like Mary and you. When she feels she is ready, and has made up her mind, she will let everybody know. Jan looked worried and they said their goodbyes to everybody and headed to the village of Peace. On the way to Peace, Jan said to Lyon It was wonderful seeing the three kids together. We don’t get to do that often anymore. Seems that they grow up, get married and move away. Lyon said It seems as if the only time we do get together are weddings. Well we have one more wedding to go, so at least one more family get-together!

Lyon was quiet for a while and then laughed and said Just think about our parents! We grew up, met each other and got married, even before our parents knew anything about it. Then to top it off, right after they found out about the wedding we left and went to another planet.  So look how all of that turned out. Three children later and I love you more each day! Jan looked up at Lyon again with tears in her eyes and hugged him and took his arm. She said Yes! How much I wished our parents were there for the wedding. How I wished they would have come down here to live with us. How much I wished they were here to see our children grow. I always felt that they were not here physically, but they were here in our hearts! By this time she was crying, holding on to Lyon. Lyon said "They did at least get to meet us and did get to see the video of our wedding. They at least got to see Doug and your mother got to see Mary through the video patch to the mother planet. The main thing was that they had a wonderful life there and died where they wanted