AMERICAN FORK & ONWARD TO COLORADO

     In an effort to conserve gas we combined one more adventure with my High School Reunion/Baby Blessing trip.   We had promised our friends the Bryants that we would come see them in Colorado since they have been the ones who usually come see us on their many trips to one of their former homes, Las Vegas.     Our last visit there was when the kids were in their pre-teen years.  We enjoyed it immensely and looked forward to the green, the Rockies and some cooler temperatures.

     Spent the pre-Colorado travel night with Steve and Laurie Sowby, some Chilean Sr. missionaries who have recently returned from yet another CES type mission to Washington D.C.   Hadn't seen them for a long time so it was wonderful catching up - even for a brief visit.  We got to see their new house that is being built - a true Grandchild's dream!  The upper floor is an open play room/dance studio/ theater (complete with a movable mini-stage).  Two alcoves that use the space of the dormer windows are designated for 1) art & art appreciation  and 2) sewing/quilting.    They showed us "our" room in the basement.  (We stay with them a lot on our Wasatch Front journeys)!  Laurie is a journalist and is now doing a book-review column for the Nauvoo Times.  In fact she just reviewed a book written by another of our Chilean Missionaries, Randy Ayre.  The book is about surviving the death of a spouse and moving forward.  He has both an LDS version and a non-LDS version.  I want to get one of them.  Sounds like some information that can help a lot of people.
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At the top of a 12,000 foot summit as a downpour finished we rounded a bend and this was our view.  Colorado never disappoints.  This trip was already living up to its promises.

Bryants are the perfect hosts.  They had all kinds of activities planned, gave us the whole bottom floor to call home and gave us down time, good food, and lots of game-playing opportunities.

On the 4th of July we had breakfast on their terrace and watched as the annual gathering of neighborhood families progressed at the park across the street.  Just like when I was a child they decorated bikes, tricycles, wagons, etc. with crepe paper.  The kids all had on their patriotic color and clothes.  Normally these children are led by the local fire truck, but all fire equipment was pressed into service battling the many fires that were plaguing Denver area fires.   (So sad to see).

We spent a day in Canon City, South of Denver,  where Mike and Victor rafted the Arkansas River through Royal Gorge and Yolanda and I took a lunch train ride through the same spot. We saw them both as we were going thru and then when the train was returning. The water level was not as high as normal so the promised 4 & 5 rapids disappointed a bit. Our train and lunch were no doubt overpriced, but it was fun anyway and one of those things you are glad you did!

Mike and Victor getting ready for their rafting adventure.

Yolanda and Adele set to board the train through the Gorge

Our waiter takes orders.  This table of ladies had fun by ordering one of every kind of wine offered on the menu (made at the local abbey winery)

The highlight of our dinners was the salad and an amazing three-chocolate mousse dessert.

Here we go!

At this point the gorge is so narrow that the railroad is suspended on a bridge so that there is ample room for the river to flow through.  Looking upward there is this other bridge which doesn't lead anywhere actually!  It is there just to span the gorge and is now a tourist destination complete with gondola and zip lines, etc.  (all new since our initial visit to the bridge many years ago).

Look!  There they are!  (On one of the trip stops for people to swim and jump off rocks).  Victor is in the orange swimming trucks lying in sunbathing/nap mode in the front raft and Mike is the one to the right, waving at us.

We passed several groups of rafters.  The water was so low that in the spot where the train stops before reversing course to coast back to Canon City many of the rafts were caught on sand bars!

In this photo you can see the remnants of the large aquaduct which lined the gorge.  A wooden tube flowed the entire length to bring the water.

Yolanda and I finished first so we inspected the town and the Abbey and bought flavored popcorn before we returned to the spot to pick up our river rafters again.

Holy Cross Abbey and Winery

After we left our adventures in Canon City, Bryants took us to their favorite time-share spot at Breckenridge ski resort.  It was gloriously beautiful!  Green, fresh from rain, cool and nicely appointed.  We all wished we could have stayed longer.  It was a bonus that there was an art fair going on in town at the same time so we enjoyed some amazing creativity.

The view from our balcony.  I can never get enough trees!   Love it, love it!

Yolanda and Mike at the Art Fair

Hmmm.   I'll take two please.  Just stick 'em in the back of the car.

This basket is carved wood with a rim of pine needles and sliced walnut shells.  How do they DO these kinds of things??

More use of natural fibers.  Colorado's artists are big into "green" artistry.

No wonder this is becoming the favorite skiier's haven in Colorado!

A flower you've never seen the likes of before deserves to have its picture taken!!

We could have stayed in Breckinridge forever and enjoyed their fun shops, beautiful sculptures and gardens - and GIANT cookies....but alas....we needed to head for home to get ready for Sunday.

     Sunday was "family day" for us (and a day to let our hosts have a break from hosting!)

My nephew Nathan Hunt and his family live in Ft. Collins, just north of Denver, so we accepted the invitation to go to Church with them and have their traditional after-church pancakes.  We are so happy for this family that Nathan's podiatry schooling and residencies are finished and that they are settled in their new home.  

     The recently-annnounced Ft. Collins temple will be built on the lot that joins their ward house.  They are also closer at last to Beth's parents in Wyoming so that makes them happy too.  Nathan specializes in foot problems of diabetics.  I think that is a contribution that is greatly needed.

Nathan Andrew Hunt is the oldest child of my step-brother, Steve. 

Our son, Nathan Andrew Austin, shares his name.

I have always admired Beth.  She is amazing with numbers (a former math teacher), a great mom, homemaker, and a hilarious blogger. (And she makes a mean pancake!)   Their children seemed to adopt us right into their home and we loved the short time we got to visit with them.  It warms your heart when a child is willing to climb into your lap and show you their world.

Nathan and Beth with their "alphabet" kids:  Andrew, Bryn, Caitlin, Diana, Edwin

Thank you, guys, for a heart-warming day!

     Upon our return to Centennial we had long enough to freshen up a bit and then were off to meet and visit with a distant Forsgren/Davis cousin.  It was providence, I think, that led me to be reviewing a line of the Christina Erika Davis genealogy and to realize that Randy Alder lives in Centennial and that we would be in the same city during this visit.  Not only the same city, but Randy lives in the adjoining Stake, less than 2 miles from the Bryant's home.   Randy was able to supply me with some much-coveted photos and discussed with me the difficult life of his grandmother who had been in a post-manifesto polygamous marriage.   NOT a happy time for her large family.  To her goes great credit for keeping her family together when she eventually divorced Ruel Alder.  Randy had a photo of him that I had hoped we could find somewhere in the family.      Great end for me to a nice day!

     Time to draw our 3 week adventures to a close and get back to Vegas so Bishop Austin could appear again before his little flock!   We had one last day for sight-seeing.  Victor was disappointed to learn the art museum he wanted to visit is closed on Mondays, so at Yolanda's suggestion we traveled out to Boulder, Colorado (amid a horrendous downpour) to the Celestial Seasonings (Tea) Factory.  

     The tour is by small groups so were given a "Teekit" (a single serve sealed package of peppermint Herb Tea) to hold our place in the next group.  While we waited we tasted samples of their over 100 different flavors of teas - 3/4 of which are herbal.  They also have a little art gallery produced by various people depicting their various flavors.   That was great fun.

Cherry/raspberry tea

Gingerbread Spice Tea

 Course I can't remember the name of this painting or which tea it represented

This was one of my favorites.  Where most of the others were painted, this one was all bead work - depicting a citrus blend tea.

The dress, shoes and evening bag are made entirely of Celestial Seasonings Tea Packet bags!

Our tour began. Victor made a great fashion statement with the hair nets required as you walk thru the plant.

     Very memorable were the two "closed" rooms.  The first is where they store the black and green tea leaves  - the caffeinated ones.  They have to be kept apart so that they don't absorb the aromas of all the other leaves.   Second was the Mint Room.  Goodness!  The strength of the odor in there made our eyes water and throats constrict.  Mint contains menthol...and the odor is so strong it will affect the flavor of all the other things around it.  

     It was a nice afternoon.  After leaving the plant we drove on into Boulder because I wanted to see the University of Colorado.  While I worked in the Interlibrary Loan office at BYU I borrowe a LOT of books from this university for scholars who were working on research papers and master's theses.  it is a beautiful school.  But I understand it is also quite a liberal school and I felt that as I looked at the students in town.   Medical Marijuana is legal there, but we happened to park out in front of a place that had a sign informing people that it was available there.  Several of the people we saw going into the shop didn't seem very "sick."   

     We had a nice pasta lunch at an open-air eatery (Pizza Joeys I think it was called) and it was nice to just people watch and have the quiet time before heading back to Denver.

Farewell, Colorado!   You delighted us with the awesome sights along Hiway 70, your fresh air and wonderful rain storms.   So sorry the rains couldn't have come a little sooner to help out with the devastating fires near Colorado Springs.  The blackened earth we saw on our way to Canon City renewed our feelings of compassion to all those who lost homes there.   

Just yesterday we heard of yet another disaster to this beautiful state - the massacre in Aurora by the gunman who opened fire on innocent movie goers!     Our hearts are heavy for this craziness.

    

CAN YOU BELIEVE 50 YEARS??? Borah High School Class Reunion

     June 11-13, 2012 brought the big event... the class reunion that people both dread and look forward to!   Talk about nervous!   I very nearly didn't go to the first event, but knew that I had to...to get the anxiety over with!

     I went knowing that hardly anyone would remember me or care if I was there.  I was not exactly well known or popular during my Senior High years.  But I had strong feelings for my LDS friends that I knew because of Seminary and Stake activities.  Among them I was at least accepted, if not on the most popular list.

     That group had gotten together at one other earlier reunion and we had shared what our lives had meeted out to us in the intervening years.   It was an occasion that had great impact on me.   I had left Boise for BYU...and in a way never came home again....so years and years have passed without seeing these people.    But I remember that first gathering with clarity.   These were fine and wonderful women!  I really wanted to repeat THAT experience.

     What a pleasant surprise EVERY planned event turned out to be!  My classmates have done with posturing for each other.  The truth is - as I kept telling myself - that everyone has had sadness, successes, failures, challenges.  People were accepting, happy, glad to be together.   All of us have changed - sometimes a LOT!  Hair color (or lack of it) makes a big difference in the recognition factor.  We quit trying to pretend we knew each other and just openly looked at the photo name tags and then said, "Oh, Hi!!   I remember you!"      So glad I went.

Borah High School as it looks today.  It is just down the block from the old Boise 5th Ward Bldg. where we used to all go to early morning Seminary.  Now there is a new, separate Seminary building right across from this parking lot.   That is where we me for our LDS alumi gathering.

We are gathering in the Cafeteria for a brunch and a memorial to all of our graduating classmates who have passed away.   This was one of our nicest experiences together.  Linda Hochstrasser Garner's daughters catered the lunch which was excellent.  Balloon we handed around with the name of each classmate who had died.

This group is holding the balloons for Renee Snead, Cheryl Wilson Howell (later my roommate at BYU) and Jan Renell.   Also deceased was Marilyn Kelly who had been part of our group.  Her brother got to release her balloon.

We all trooped outside the cafeteria.  The names of the dead were read in groups of 10.  With each name read the corresponding (biodegradable) balloon was released.  It was actually very moving to see them floating into the sky and to pause for that moment to think about the one who had died.  Not everyone had seen the memorial board so sometimes when a name was called there was an outcry of surprise & sadness.  

Another personal note was that part of my anxiety at coming to this reunion came from the knowledge I would again be seeing my "bully."   ( Doesn't everyone have someone who made fun of them in school?)   I wanted to see Ann, and maybe even talk to her.   I did not take any satisfaction to learn that she was among the ones who had passed away. (Apparently early and after a fairly difficult adult life).  I bare her no ill will and I am sorry that her time was cut short.

Here we are - the LDS group of girls (minus several who were not in attendance).  There was a sweet magic among us .  We loved getting re-acquainted and have vowed to stay in better touch through e-mails, Facebook, blogs, etc.   I so loved being part of them for the three days we got together and reminisced. 

     This blog post will only be interesting to those who attended, so I'll cut it short.  I just had to add a significant 2012 memory in case this blog should endure forever!   I'll end with some random photos for any of the classmates who might see this.

Our Mascot - The Borah Lion

And the view of the Boise State Capital (zoomed in) from the Bronco Stadium Events Center where the dinner/dance was held.

Thank you Linda Hochstrasser Garner for all your effort on the planning committee to add a personal touch and groundedness to these wonderful events and for hosting us all at your home for the "Borah Babes" luncheon and the Sunday-after-church gathering where we got to meet up with other good folk from our High School Days!    Loved seeing Jim and Jack Wilson and Dave Despain.   I will never forget that spirit in your home and yard and how it radiates from you and Royce to so many people you have hosted over all these years!

Wardles, Kellys, and Wheelwrights - We are glad we got to spend at least one event with you, even though we would have liked longer!    

Thanks to those who brought scrapbooks and old yearbooks to help our 67 year-old brains down memory lane!!

Also a BYU roommate, my always-smiley friend

Norma Benton Lacy showing off Linda Hochstrasser Garner's beautiful balloon arrangements at the dinner dance.  Norma moved and did not graduate with our class but had joined the Church while associating with "The Ladies".   She and I were dorm mates at Bowen Hall at BYU our Freshman Year (fall of 1962).

The Crandall twins (Dorene and Ilene) were always objects of my admiration, and, yes - envy - in my High School Days.  They lived in a different part of the Stake so we were not in contact much, but at this reunion I loved being with them and feeling their good, genuine spirits.  Lovely ladies.

They were also just one of several sets of twins roaming Borah's Halls!  Others were the Jeppson brothers and the Theobold twins (brother & sister).

Linda hosted us in her back yard for two events:  the Borah Babes luncheon on Thursday (all girls and LOTS of food contributed by everyone) and the post-Church luncheon on Sunday for some who had traveled to Boise from farther away.  That is when we got to see some of the other LDS kids that were not in our graduating class but with whom we had fun Church experiences.   I felt a new and profound bond with Linda on this trip.  She is one amazing lady!   The Garner home, kitchen and huge backyard is a place of rendezvous for the whole ward and neighborhood!

Gloria & Kent Rydalch currently live in Centennial, Colorado.  Another amazing couple who are faithful and giving, even after experiencing a lot of pain with a son who is struggling with a difficult health issue.   It was so nice to have them with us!

 

It was an amazing surprise to reconnect with Leroy Kelly after 50 years!  His sister Marilyn was my tried and true Saturday Night Dance-going partner!   She had a joy of life and an effervescence that made her really popular with everyone (especially the boys we BOTH had crushes on)!   Marilyn passed away from Cancer in 1993.   She married & left a happy, solid family.  Leroy went on to achieve good things in film-making and other entertainment areas 

David Despain was my brother Roger's best friend and the younger brother of Carolyn Despain Purcell who was my closest friend on Franklin Rd.  Dave now looks just like his Dad who was my seminary teacher and a great example and influence in my life.  (David & Carolyn's Dad below with Gloria Taylor.  See - she hasn't changed much!) 

Pam Cannon and her husband Bruce Karn.  Pam's first husband passed away.  She and Bruce are happily completing their third mission together!   Pam was also a roommate at BYU for a short time and her dear mom was our Mutual Advisor.  We called her Aunt Lucy and she was mom and confidante to lots of us!

Jim Wilson is the brother of our sweet Cheryl Wilson Thornton who also passed away too soon.  Eileen was another soulmate from my Borah Seminary days.  Jim and Eileen spearheaded the LDS gathering after the Classmate's Memorial on Saturday.  A bizarre thing I learned when Eileen was bringing us up to date on her family was that her brother Richard Thomas had served in Chile and had been called from his mission there to go be mission president in the Dominican Republic.  I was astounded because I remember the Senior Missionaries talking about them when we arrived.  I am not sure that we overlapped.  I think they had just left to go to the DR!   What a small, small world!

This is Durinda Booth Sands.   She was unable to come to the reunion because of some family commitments in Oregon but since Victor and I had seen her and Ned in March up in Oregon I got to tell everyone I saw hello from her.   Her husband and I knew each other in California when I worked at the Los Angeles Temple Genealogy Library and he was still single.   Another "small world" ocurrence that they found each other and married.

I hope other friends who could not attend the reunion will see the blog and share photos and updates with us.  I continue to feel the effects of friendships renewed....but MORE than renewed!  Many of them are BETTER.   What is true is that we are all more alike than we are dissimilar as our lives progress.   So glad I went and could share four glorious days with these people.

Thank you, thank  you Reunion Committee for all your hard work!