Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Angels among us... while we dust ourselves off and get back up in the saddle


HOME matters to me.  All four of my grandparents were children of homesteaders in McKenzie County.  I LOVE my home and all it represents... where my roots are, pursuit of dreams, truth to self, family and neighbors, commitment to future generations, love of God's creation, and devotion to stewardship of the vast resources found here.

We buried my father on April 5th after his unexpected death on Easter morning.  Devastating to say the least.  It rocked our family (which is huge in numbers and strength) to the core.  I found myself heartbroken, but at the same time wondering what it would be like going through this personal loss in any other community other than Watford City, McKenzie County, North Dakota, USA.  The outpouring of support, love and spiritual comfort was absolutely overwhelming and there are no words to explain how much that means.

Kurt T. Hovet was a quiet, strong, steady, gentle, kind, amazing person.  His presence made you a better person for knowing him and being around him with out you realizing it until his physical presence left us on Easter morning 2013.

On Monday, April 8th just when we were attempting to dust ourselves off and get back up in the saddle as he would do, I learned that the state legislature, the Senate specifically was busy removing needed funding for HIS home and the home of so many others.  I felt I had to drive down to Bismarck and explain why this wasn't OK.  I did and then I drew from the quiet, strong, steady, humble way of 'being' that made my father such an amazing man.

Below are the two news segments that were aired afterwards.  The KUMV segment used random footage shot out in oil country from 2012.  As a quick note, dad had been into the hospital twice in the last year.  Once last fall for an X-ray and then on February 25, 2013, his 69th birthday for his annual blood screening.

The KUMV random shots were of traffic on the roads and little children in schools and a man walking into the McKenzie County Hospital.  THAT MAN WAS KURT T HOVET walking into the hospital on one of those two occasions.  He is wearing the same shirt that we buried him in and the cap and boots that he had on when he reached the emergency room on Easter morning.  My mom and sister both asked if I had provided the footage or suggested it for the piece since dad was included in it.  I didn't even know it existed.  All I could think as I watched it today - that even in dad's afterlife, God kept all of those amazing characteristics... QUIET, STRONG, STEADY and HUMBLE... of the man and then made him perfect adding one more characteristic that his earthly self didn't exhibit.  TIMING.  For a man that was notoriously late all the time, even for his own wedding, his accidental timing in front of that camera back last fall or this past February and the resurrection of that footage for this piece...  AMAZING TIMING!

KUMV Bismack

KXMC Bismarck

Angels among us... Truly.

Whether you live in western North Dakota or not, contact the Senate Appropriates committee if any of the communities or resources in oil country have significant meaning to you.  It really does matter and being able to make things 'RIGHT' and 'TRUTHFUL' for home would make dad really proud.

http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/62-2011/committees/senate/appropriations


4 comments:

  1. You did a great job with the interviews!
    And what a nice 'bonus' to have footage of your Dad on the news as well.

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  2. Thanks Nancy! Did you contact those Senators yet ;) V

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  3. LOVE this post and the News Coverage! I am originally from PA and moved to Sidney in 2009. I have to completely agree with you. In a way oil is like the housing developments on the East Coast if not "planned and managed" properly there is very little benefit. I moved here because of the quiet small towns and slowness of life. Looking back things sure have changed in a few years! Sorry for your loss but Angels truly are among us!

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  4. Thanks Andrew for reading and posting. I learned tonight that the needed oil impacted communities funding has been restored by the Senate Appropriations committee. This is the first step needed in taking care of these impacted communities that have always endeared themselves to their residents for their quiet way of being and their slowness of life. A shout out to all of those who contacted the elected officials of the state of North Dakota and shared your concerns with them... Many grateful thanks.

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