Year 2019
Hey, have you heard the good news?
Our mothers are both doing well. My Mom, Gertrude is 91 and Nancy’s mother Winifred is 97. Both want those who care about them to leave them alone. They have lived this long as they are and with their house in the condition it is presently – just leave us alone.
Erik, Laura, and dog Reggie have adapted well to parenthood. Erik teaches at Elmwood. He brings Reggie most mornings to our house for dog sitting. A quick drop in as he grabs his travel mug of tea which Nancy makes for him. He earned a master’s degree from Arizona State never going to ASU or getting them to change their awful school colors. He has now returned all my books. He wrote much about the Civil War and Ulysses Grant. Laura quashed naming James Ulysses or even the more Trekkie & Roman, James Tiberius Davis. She continues to help students at Illinois Valley as a guidance counselor. They each do many activities beyond just the school day; they are the good people society needs. Of course, they bring a little Jesus to their church, at least they did last Sunday.
James at his Baptism September 29, 2019
I got an opportunity to use last year’s Christmas gifts of tent and other camping accouterments. I have gone from a back-yard tent to a 2 P Marmot. I am now the envy of the tent camping crowd. Dan Flanagan, an old friend, invited me to join him in Bears Ears area of Utah in April. All my friends from college are old friends. I still think of them as young. Phil and Karen were able to join us at Natural Bridges National Monument. This is in the Bears Ears area of Southeast Utah. The campground had a pit toilet, drinking water at the park visitor center, no electricity. Cell phone service was a 36-mile drive. It was a great experience; once it was survived. It was very interesting, and I am glad I had this opportunity to visit friends. There are many petroglyphs and ruins of dwellings in the area. I doubt it was the indigenous people’s first choice. My guess is other indigenous peoples had forced them to make this choice as their land. Dan, Phil, and Karen actually cook as they camp. I am believer in apples, nuts, peanut butter, trail mixes, jerky, all good things to enjoy without fire. These nutrients do not require preparation or cleanup. Apples are great trade items. This is an important concept to keep in mind when interacting with foreign peoples (anyone not from Smithshire). I had a fantastic time. I did have to sleep in the next campsite, somehow my snoring could keep everyone awake and might attract bears. I learned to believe the Colorado Dept of Transportation web site when they report winter driving conditions in the passes. Driving by Telluride during snow conditions in a Crossfire is an excellent way to concentrate the mind. Chock up another amusing anecdote for the story archive. Colorado passes in April caused me to return home through Santa Fe. I really enjoyed a day in historic Santa Fe.
Hikers of Bears Ears
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