Kindergarten photo of my grandfather, Earl Hickman.
Earl's parents (my great-grandparents) Earl Ellis and Josephine
The beginning of my journey: visiting the Hickman graves in Kimball, Nebraska, Summer 2004

My grandfather Earl with his sister Sadie on the family farm in Bushnell, Nebraska, 1944
On our visit to the family farm, Sadie noticed someone had left the cows' water running. Marched right over and took care of it.
Earl, the young inventor, in Greeley, Colorado, 1948 (Photo courtesy Jack Lewis)

My grandmother, Esta, writing letters from Greeley, Colorado to her sister in Barons, Alberta (Photo courtesy Jack Lewis)
Earl and Esta with close friend Jack Lewis at left. (Photo courtesy Jack Lewis)
July 25, 1953: Earl and Esta marry in his parents' living room, Bushnell, Nebraska.

Esta and Earl, expecting the baby who will become my mother (Photo courtesy Jack Lewis)
Earl, Esta, and baby Paula at home in Pueblo, Colorado, autumn 1954.
Paula, younger brother Greg, and neighbor boy in Broomfield, Colorado, 1959

Paula and Greg, 1960.
Paula and Greg admiring their dad, Earl, in his home office.
Junior early in his friendship with Earl, about 1952. (Photo courtesy Jack Lewis)

A group vacation in Alberta, 1961. From left, Junior, Esta's sister Wilma, Greg, Esta, Earl, Paula.
The entrepreneur at his desk in Greeley, Colorado 1961
Easter brunch in the Hickmans' Greeley, Colorado home with Junior as guest. It is April 22, 1962--two days before Junior's death.

The warehouse in Greeley, Colorado where Junior's body was found.
The Hickmans--Esta, Greg, Paula, Curt, and Earl--in Seattle, 1969.
Earl (left) visiting his siblings in Nebraska for the last time, about 1977.

Paula and 7-month-old Bonnie in Redmond, Washington, 1979
Me, collecting artifacts on the beach in Gig Harbor, Washington, 1982
The three of us, 2009