ah spring

I like dandelions, they are so easy to grow!

which road?

It is boring always going the same way every time.

Yesterday we were on a route that I have traveled several times, so it is not a new route, and to make it worse, I had a map to watch.

But coming out of Burns Oregon I took the wrong road. It headed almost the same direction, so I was not alarmed. We drove down that lonely road about an hour and then I stopped the car.

BTW, if you want an uninhabited part of the country, South East Oregon is a good start. High mountains of sage and grass. I like the desert, it was a sunny day and I was enjoying the route. In two hours of driving that road we met exactly 2 vehicles.

Then I saw a sign about Rome. And I stopped the car. I know where Rome is and it is on the way to Winnemucca (OK Stef, it is not THAT Rome), and if you go North from Rome you go through the Jordan Valley. Not too many places where the Jordan River is North of Rome, but it is in Oregon.

So we turned around, after I did an in head calculation that going back was closer (as it turned out that was not a good analysis). I studied the map and from the town of Crane there was a road north to the highway I really wanted.

The map I had was small and it didn’t show that the road I wanted did not go through Crane, but went by Crane, oops. So we went to Crane, which has nothing but a school (kids bussed in from miles away), and on up a gravel road. The map was uncertain whether it was paved or not.

Another beautiful drive, fine cattle on the ranches along the road, then the road stopped in a farm yard.

Oops again.

So we went the 25 miles back to Crane and found the right road.

It was a fine day and I had a good trip with pleasant company (Miriam and Leo), but what started out to be about 500 miles ended up closer to 650.

But we saw a LOT of sage brush, mountains and not a few cows. Did I tell you that I don’t really like cows?

emily as aphrodite

The play was wonderful. It was a big production with 35 or so kids, plus countless adult teachers, supervisors and technical people.
It was a musical and there was a lot of good music. The story was the old Helen of Troy story, but highly adapted to modern audiences.
Emily did her part flawlessly.
We were proud of her, and I was delighted at the whole production.

By the way, that is called "stage hair!"

Ron and Rozella

We spent Saturday with Ron and Rozella.

If you have read this blog long you remember me talking about them before. But this is the first time in decades that we have spent a whole day with them.

Rozella is a big time accordion payer, classical accordion, sort of rare nowadays. She teaches and enjoys it a whole lot. Their new house has a nice garden area for Ron, who loves to putter in the dirt.

Ron’s Alzheimer's made him retire from his career as a pastor, when he was in his mid 50’s. Dear old Alz cut him out of some of his best potential years as a pastor, and cost his members his accumulated wisdom.

Now he is at that awkward age, just 60, but not retired officially, not eligible for lots of programs for retired people. But they have a good attitude.

Their 4 children were young when we first met them. We were good friends with the kids and they remember us with a smile (maybe they are just kind to old people, hmm). We met 3 of them Saturday.

It is with a heavy heart that we left their house Saturday night. For one thing it was dark and the route to their house was circuitous at best and a challenge I was not sure about, but we made it to the familiar freeway and on home.

I will think of Ron and Rozella often. We will keep in phone touch. They do not have a working computer and do not do internet, so that form of communication is out, but I will talk to Rozella often.

Having to deal with Alz is the pits, but having close friends go through the same thing makes it into sort of a reverse looking glass.

Damn disease.

the phiosopher

some have brains I got hair

sunday

I am a hugger.

I hug my friends, male and female. I hug my children, and grandkids.

But with the Alz clock ticking, ticking, ticking. I hug Miriam as much and as often as possible.

We have a footbridge at our house and we frequently meet in the middle of the bridge and hug right there over the water.

I hug her when we sleep. I hug when we wake up.

Her company is still my greatest joy and I want to celebrate that as long as I can.

We spent yesterday with old friends we met about 35 years ago. Ron has Alzheimer's, about the same stage as Miriam. We visited for hours yesterday, the 4 of us in all combinations.

When we left, we promised to meet again soon, maybe to go camping together this summer, and we hugged, long deep hugs.

They are good friends, I would not wish Alz on anyone, but if it has to happen, I am glad for company.

I love you Ron. I love you Miriam.