A Long Time Going Podcast

12/31/2021

Just want to say a big thank you to everyone for their support. Our little podcast experiment, https://www.facebook.com/alongtimegoingpodcast reached 1,000 downloads today. That is not a huge number when one considers the amount of people who listen to podcasts or the number of podcasts out there. However, for John and I, it is absolutely something we never even imagined. To those who have listened, we thank you. For those who wonder if we are going to continue, yes, we are. 2022 will be the revival year with hopefully a more steady production output. 2022 will look different and sound different as things are very different for John.
I wanted this for him, but perhaps I can be honest, now, finally, that we face the inevitable. I wanted it for myself. I wanted to be able to listen to his voice when it had fullness and depth, when he could laugh without coughing and talk without becoming exhausted. And far off, in the future, I will listen with joy and fondness. It is a strange thing to be able to talk about a thing that you cannot listen to... I sabotaged myself I suppose. I thought it would always be easy if I had something to remind me. I was wrong. I ache with anger and a desire to lash out at something. The deathgrip I had on hope is slowly slipping and I realize how much I took for granted, how stupid my attempt at being noble was/is, how flat I have fallen. I can't listen to the past and live with the present when I know what I am being prepared to face in the future. There is no ultimatum or bargaining; no matter how eloquent or vulgar my demands have become, they fall on deaf ears. From drought to drowning... God has never left us. But He has become fluid for me in the last year. I have experienced all of God, I believe, while knowing that is never true. God is greater than I can write Him or imagine Him. We are temporary, He is permanent. Never changing, ever-changing, all-encompassing Father. I am so blessed and I pray that you will be know that blessing in the coming year. Thank you for the love and support. Peace in 2022 to you and yours.

My 53-year-old autistic and developmentally delayed brother has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. This is our legacy, our memories and our collectve story.

09/16/2021

Sometimes things don't work out, and it is almost always something I did or did not do. I am learning to accept my faults. Long story short, the art show has been moved from Presser Performing Arts Center to Brick City Buffet on Sunday, Sept. 19, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. John is over the moon because, well, food and I am grateful for the space to do the show. PPAC is still the brass ring in my heart and we support and LOVE all things PPAC!
Please come, fill a plate, check out our art and buy some books!

09/12/2021

A WEEK FROM TODAY!

09/03/2021

IF YOU WANT TO ORDER AN AUTOGRAPHED BOOK: $20 takes care of bookshipping. Venmo -Williams-17 or paypal @gmail.com. Sorry it took me so long to get everything figured out!

08/26/2021

08/24/2021

Worth the wait!!! 100 copies and you can buy them autographed for $15! I can't believe it is real. Thanks to everyone for your support! They will be available at our booth at the Soybean Fest this weekend and at our PREMIER showing at PPAC Atkins Gallery as we open our art show Sunday, Aug. 29 at 2 pm! Or you can just come by the house and pick one up... we are breezy!

08/10/2021

I want to preface this announcement with two facts: 1. I am NOT an artist in the visual sense. 2. If you have ever loved an autistic person, you know that there is a veil that exists that you long to burn through, to see the essence of that person. So in an effort to meet my brother on ground that we are both equally unfamiliar with, so that we can share a moment of common ground. HERE IS THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT.... Look below!
A bit of background: I provided Sheri Grubb, John's art coach, with 15 words that we are "creating" our art work to. For example, the abstract concept of kindness. Both John and I create an 8x10 canvas that "looks" like our concept of the word of the day. So all of the canvasses, the "pieces" - a total of 20 - will be on display. John and I will also be selling and signing the book at this event. We would love for people to come out, take a look at our "art" and maybe buy a book! We will be podcasting about the process and the challenges that this project is presenting to BOTH of us!

08/07/2021

AND... it is finished! It will be live on Kindle/Amazon by Tuesday and I should have the first run of hard copies in about a week! Also, there is a kind of exciting, kind of terrifying announcement to come on Monday evening. It is a strange thing to finally know and understand your purpose in life. Joy/tears/fulfillment/fears..

08/01/2021

John is getting his art on with the help from art coach (and a dear friend) Sheri Grubb. John and I will each be doing a 10-painting challenge to "paint a word" that we are presented with each day. The paintings will be part of a gallery show featuring our paintings, side by side, on Aug. 29, 2021, at Presser Performing Arts Center in Mexico. The opening will coincide with the book debut and first official book signing. Check out the new podcast going live tonight for more information!!!

05/30/2021

You may be asking yourself "where the heck have they been?" Well, my son, John's nephew graduated from high school, I completed my MFA in Writing and graduated, mowing season (John's favorite past-time, second only to camping and fishing) has started up and we kicked the summer off with a camping/fishing trip to our old stomping grounds in northeast Missouri. And, on top of all of that, I had to round out the school year and do grades as I am a teacher in real-life.
But here are some updates:
-The book is coming along quickly. I look to have it completed and ready for orders by the middle of June.
-Huge shout out to John N Casie Frala for the fishing tournament and free will donation dinner - it was delicious, of course!
-John's CT scan came back and there is very little growth in all three of the areas, including the two lungs, so we are praising the Lord for that!
-We are hoping to put together a couple of book signings for John as soon as we have books in hand - so keep an eye out if you would like to be a part of those.
-The podcasts that we have posted continue to get new downloads from "unique" visitors, so the word is getting out and that is good! We are planning to utilize the first funds from the book for John's "dream trip." He wants to go camping near the Grand Canyon and go to the Painted Desert and help me spread Mom's ashes.
Apart from ALL of that, the Lord is continuing to bless our family in adversity, and in many ways WITH adversity. But we are claiming the truth that our strength is perfected when we allow God to bolster us and thank Him for this ministry and mission.
On this Memorial Day we are remembering our grandfather, a WWII veteran, our grandmother, and of course, our mother.
Again, thank you for your support and friendship! And happy official beginning of SUMMER!

04/27/2021

Oh we tried, so hard to be random. epic fail, but even in failure there is such good stuff!

We attempt to go all random, and it fails big time - at least John likes talking on the microphone!

04/03/2021

Ep. 8: A First Time for Everything - John talks about his first diagnosis with cancer over 10 years ago.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1571416/8266727-ep-8-first-time-for-everything.mp3?blob_id=37463947&download=true

03/31/2021

John and I are SORT of famous now!!!

03/28/2021

So the nap gave way to a big old fish...

03/28/2021

John was picked up this morning at 5 a.m. by Terry Miles to go on a snaggin' fishing trip at Lake of the Ozarks. As you can see, the excitement is palpable!!!

03/27/2021

John was honored by the Optimists for his service to the Mexico community!!!

03/14/2021

Ep. 7 I take a shotgun (interview) to my brother. The answers will baffle you.. in a good way!

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03/02/2021

Terry Miles and John shoot the... breeze in this episode. John and Terry have been friends for more than 40 years and have logged about 10,000 of road tripping... very silent road tripping. Give it a listen - P.S. - he does the license plate thing in this one!

Special Guest and All-Around-Best-Guy-Ever, Terry Miles, shares memories that he and John have had since their friendship began over 40 years ago in the seventh grade.

03/02/2021

TONIGHT WAS A BIG NIGHT! John and I were interviewed by James Loren for HIS podcast featuring "newbie" Podcaster telling their stories. John was a Rockstar as always, and I think he may host us again when we release the book in May! ALSO... Episode 6 will drop tonight in about five minutes featuring Terry Miles and John just shooting the breeze!

02/18/2021

Ep. 5 - all the dirty laundry is exposed!!!

John spills the beans on what it's like to live with a bunch of loud and semi-crazy people.

02/11/2021

Posted the link... without posting the link, duh! Here is the download link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1571416/7800814-ep-4-home-away-from-home.mp3?blob_id=34694392&download=true

02/11/2021

Episode 4: Home Away from Home - it's a bit longer than I'd like, but John had a lot to say this week!

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02/02/2021

Ep. 3 - The Numbers Game - please share with friends who might like!
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1571416/7622113-ep-3-the-numbers-game.mp3?blob_id=33641383&download=true

01/24/2021

You can directly listen to it her as well!

In episode two, John talks with me about my personal favorite topic, our amazing mother.

01/24/2021

Episode 2 is a wrap! This one is about our wonderful mother! alongtimegoing.buzzsprout.com

01/24/2021

In case you dismiss him as just a good talker, well, he is a grill master as well... New episode drops tomorrow evening please like and share!!!

01/20/2021

Just in case you want a taste of small town tradition and John's favorite day ever - here he is as the Grand Marshall of the 2020 Old Settlers Parade,

01/18/2021

Radiation complete on second lung mass!!! He took it like a pro. Back for CT scan and review on Feb.16. A whole month off to rest... I see lots of napping and football in this fella's future!

01/18/2021

The first episode is up. If you'd like to hear it, please go to alongtimegoing.buzzsprout.com!

01/17/2021

01/17/2021

01/17/2021