Unique

      Many years ago the Engelsgaard's lived next to the Negstads.  Erik Englesgaard and my Dad, Albert, were good friends as were Grandma Negstad and Grandma Englesgaard. In fact when Grandma Negstad had diphtheria Grandma Englesgaard cared for her. In 1939 Erik died leaving his wife, Julia, to care for six children and her mother-in-law. Three of those children were in Sinai High School with me. Those children were loved and well cared for even as they lacked for financial resources.

     Recently Duane, the second to the youngest, died at his home in California. Our paths parted after high school and I only saw him a few times since he graduated in 1955. His obituary revealed a long and fruitful life professionally, personally and as an active volunteer. Likely, Duane is the only graduate of Sinai High to get his bachelor's degree at The University of Guam, with honors no less! For five years he worked on Guam for AT&T.  My cousin's husband, Jasper Dahl, was a Navy barber on Guam during WW II and he, too, was a graduate of Sinai High.

     Duane's death reminds me of John Donne's For Whom The Bell Tolls and Robert Frost, see below. Rest in peace Duane!  Duane Englesgaard February 6, 1937 to November 14, 2020.

The Road Not Taken 

BY ROBERT FROST

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Takk for alt,

Al