South Fork

South Fork Payette River -- Idaho.

Back before he was married my friend Randy bought a lot, way up a gravel/dirt road on the south fork.

You can look across the canyon and see the highway between Lowman and Banks. It is not that far away, but there is a deep canyon between, and one of the premier white water rafting streams. The group of houses (might call it a subdivision, but that does not seem right this far out) includes a number of unsold lots, and only a couple who are there most of the winter.

Early on he borrowed some money from a neighbor, who also was a banker -- so it was all very business, and built a rather small “cabin.”

He has worked on it through the years. Friends have helped. Some friends were better at what they did than others, but it is coming together very nicely. I helped a few times, setting tile and gluing down laminate counter. More than likely I’ll go back up this summer and set some more tile.

This time we just went to visit. We have not sat and visited for a long time. He told me of his successes, showed me his projects and his progress. We compared garden ideas and notes (this time of year there are no deer or elk around and his garden is very fine).

I reminded him of the new england saying that when a man finishes his house he will die. We will both be careful on that one.

The visit was good. We talked about gardens and sun, and deep things, of belief and values.. We talked about the wolves (he sees them quite often in the winter) of cougars and black bears. He asked about Miriam.

We have been friends for 30 years maybe. We haven’t seen each other as often as I might like. But when we get together it is good.

So, here’s to another long time friend. It was so good to sit and talk again.