Let the Fun Begin !

Day one in Thornton Colorado....

Spent my morning doing laundry that has accumulated since July 3rd....funny how when I'm away from home I kinda miss folding clothes.  It's one of those chores I enjoy doing because I am able to let go of the useless information taken in.  We tend to hold on to info in our heads that isn't really that important and makes it difficult to focus on that which is important to us.  So as I fold my clothes I am relaxed, and focused on the things that matter. How thankful I am to have had the time with my family in Montana, how glad I am to be out of the car for a few days, and how nice it is to not have to get up early and hit the road.  Time for some fun with Scott and Tami!

Late afternoon we headed to Bolder Colorado to the Pearl Street Mall.  Interesting outdoor mall setting, filled with people of all kinds.  Many are students of University of Colorado whose mascot it the buffalo. This was my second visit to Pearl Street and I have to say, I can't help but feel I've been  dropped  back in time......like all the way back to the 70's.  The attire of the extremely laid back youngsters, much like what I was wearing then.  Faded blue jeans, blue jean shorts, gauze
tops, chokers made of beads and leather, gals with minimal make up if any.  Great little place to people watch!

There were a few young street musicians scattered throughout the outdoor area.  Some on guitar, with cases lying open on the ground for tips $$, some accompanied the guitars with voice.
Always happy to hear music wherever I am....






There was a young boy on an old upright piano that was so incredibly good I had to wonder, "why are you here in an outdoor mall and not being paid to perform like that".  I'm hoping he is a music major or at minimum that he never lets that talent go to waste.

The above photo is of Tami and Scott at the outdoor seating area of where we had a great early dinner under the very warm Bolder sun.  The food was great and we left very full and lethargic from the meal, heat and oh ya, we stopped and bought a couple scoops each of Haagen - Dazs.  Not to often I don't feel like shopping and they do have some great shops here!

We got home, complained to each other about how full we were for about 30 minutes and then......bring on the Wii !!  If you've never played a Wii game, its a blast and quite a workout rather you intended that or not :-)  We started with bowling, at which time I announced to those who may not have been aware, " I used to play on a league".... :-)

  I took the game of bowling kinda serious, felt a little competitive...okay a lot competitive..... I pulled from my memory bank several tips my Dad gave me back in the 70's when he and I were on a league together.  How to pick up certain spares by hitting the pin at just the right spot, from just the right angle.  He taught me the same in the game of pool....these memories bring a smile to my face.

We also played baseball, basketball, archery, and cycling.....found ourselves ready to call it quits at around 1:00 A.M !!  We are too old to be keeping these kind of hours....and my arm is sore?

I failed to mention how awesome our quarters are here in the Gotham household.  We have the downstairs to ourselves and here is what all we have....

Yep, life is tough here in Thornton......

I can't not share a photo of Logan the Gotham family cat.  Logan is 20 years old and just isn't ready to leave this house, and his mom states, he's had a good life! 

Looking forward to another day of fun and adventure with our friends....stay tuned!

Hugs!

Honey we're Movin !

So, packed up the car for the next stage, on to Colorado!  A few blocks from the hotel and we enter Yellowstone Park in the State of Wyoming.

When you go to enter the park you stop and pay $25.00 to the Forest Service employee.  She asked if anyone in the vehicle was a Senior Citizen?  Bob responded, "well, five more days I will be 62!"  She looked at his license to verify and said "close enough".  The Horton's entered the park for a whopping $10 and Bob received a membership card that will get us into any national park for free for the rest if our lives, with the exception of Mt. Rushmore....  The Ranger said, " this is a little gift from the government for paying your taxes all these years".  We do feel so much better about all the taxes paid....sure we do....but seriously how cool is it to enter the parks for free!

I took this photo out of the car window while moving so it's really crooked.  In the center, the tree that looks dead has an eagles nest in it.  This particular area of the park is where eagles can be seen at most any time. This year we haven't seen an eagle but glad to spot the nest and know they are still with us!




Yellowstone Park  the very first of our National parks, was greener than ever this year.  If you've never been through the park it's for sure something to put on your bucket list.  Really beautiful, peaceful drive and you are almost guaranteed to spot deer, bear, eagle's, moose....and even a fly fisherman :-)

We didn't stop at Old Faithful this year. Not that it's not worth the stop, just that we were attempting to reach Colorado on the same day.  It does go off at predictable times for those of you who didn't know that, so your promised the opportunity to see the big geyser in action.

I did take a couple of photo's of the hot springs that you can see from the road and even stop and take a walk to see several of them. Steam can be seen everywhere...

They Government was performing a lot of road work in the park  so we did experience a few delays.  One of them for approximately 30 minutes, but hey, if your gonna be stuck in traffic what a great place to be stuck!






I'm always amazed at the flowers that grow along the roadside.  Beautiful purple, yellow and even orange this year.  I try so hard to grow them and keep them healthy at home and these just do their thing naturally.  The picture doesn't do the forest and flowers justice.  They really are brightly colored and everywhere.

We experienced several construction zones as mentioned, so at one point it was like, it's only right they make the blog :-)

Before long we entered The Grand Teton National Park.  The Tetons are so beautiful and bigger than life, they too are worthy of making the bucket list.....

We arrived at the Gotham household in Thornton Colorado around 9 P.M..  So great to see our friends again, we stayed up till close to midnight laughing about old times when we were neighbors in California.  It's going to be a great visit with Tami and Scott, almost guaranteed that every moment will be blog worthy :-)

Missing the kids this morning.....so glad I have Skype that has allowed me to to see my daughter in law Katie twice now.  It really does help when you're a little homesick for the people you love and be able to actually see them.  I highly recommend you all start Skyping :-)

Closing with some random shots from our travels.......

Hugs from Colorado!

River of Love .....

7-13-2010

This store sign started my day with a smile....my first thought the Wizard of Oz of course!!  My favorite movie which I have already mentioned and I can assure you it won't be the last :-)

Bob and I repacked the car checked out of our Hotel and headed to Bozeman to meet 18 of my relatives for breakfast at I Hop!  I know, is my day pretty awesome so far?  From there we headed out toward Gallatain Gateway in route to Greek Creek, a little camp ground of about 5 spaces on the rivers edge.  Today we would be putting my Aunt's, Uncle's and their beloved dogs ashes in the favorite spot of a few of us.

Cousin Jackie, cousin Gene son's of Uncle Jack, with Gene's son's Scott and Steve after the spreading of the ashes.  A bitter sweet time for all of us, on a perfectly beautiful day under a big blue Montana sky.  Some soft country music playing in the background as we stood with out conversation and tossed a variety of beautiful flowers onto the current of the waters my Uncle Jack loved to fish in.
We stood for some time just watching the flowers being carried further and further down stream.  I would wager most of us were thinking of the reunion this husband and wife had one November day in 2009.  Thanks for the memories Uncle Jack and Aunt Roseva, until we meet again.

So, the 20 of us said our good byes and promised to see each other again soon.  Everyone of us knowing full well that again, tomorrow is not promised.  Each loading back into their vehicles  heading back toward Bozeman, to continue living their own lives.

I always hope after events such as this that the people that participated can't help but start to think of how short this life is and how quickly someone we love could be gone.  Hope that it moves each to change in some positive way....telling someone they love them when those words have not been recently said.  Asking for or forgiving someone regardless of what the issue was. Talking less and  listening more.  Just something positive that can affect them or someone in a positive way.

Bob and I proceeded to begin our annual time on the Gallatin alone.  We open our bottle of wine, the same kind every year, Pouilly Fuiss`e.  Originally it was to toast Uncle Jack, then we added the celebration of another year married (7/17), Bob's parents and now my sweet Aunt Roseva.
We take photo's of the same things every year, we watch the rafters that float by and wave a friendly hello to each other. We sit back stare at the big sky, listening to nothing but the current moving past us. Yes, there is no place I would rather be than right in that very spot. Today we packed sandwiches and had our lunch at this favorite spot.

We enjoyed several hours and said good bye to our spot, until next year......We pack it up and head down the road to West Yellowstone.  Once we check in to our room we head to the Silver Spur Jeweler's where we bought Bob's wedding ring.  It is an Elks tooth ring that is really something to see.  We stop in and have the owner Greg clean the ring and catch up with him on the past year.  It is tradition to always spend some time with him!

We purchased some souvenirs for our children and grandchildren then headed to the Wild West Pizzaria for the best Pizza around, and yes its' tradition we eat there every year as well.  We actually had some entertainment this year, very unexpected but very much enjoyed!

 So, I'm about to lay my head down for my last night of sleep in Montana.  Tomorrow I will travel three blocks and I will be in Yellowstone Park in the state of Wyoming.  We will drive through the park and head to Colorado.  The state that holds two very special friends to Bob and I.   They are reminders of what real friends, true friends are.

Thank you Montana for all my new memories....until next year.  Hugs!

The Sweetest of All......

Monday July 12, 2010

Today was the day we had the celebration of life for my Sweet Aunt Roseva.  She passed away on November 16, 2009, the family waited for the summer months so those of us from out of state could be here with them to celebrate her life and share the impact she had on each of us.

As mentioned in yesterdays blog, of the 11 children born to my Grandmother Aunt Roseva was the eldest of the girls .  She was 92 years old when she left us to be with my Uncle Jack in heaven.  Aunt Roseva was another one of the 11 children that worked on the railroad.  She was a time keeper and pumper foreman for the Northern Pacific Railroad.  She opened the first beauty shop in Manhattan (the home town of the Herndon's) and loved to bowl.

My Aunt Roseva married my Uncle Jack in California and they eventually settled in Oakview where the lived until Uncle Jack retired to Montana.  Oakview is where I spent  many weekends as a child visiting with my parents.  I loved spending that time with them and I always knew they loved me.  My Uncle Jack actually taught me to fish and he was an excellent fisherman.  He and my Uncle Milt were my Dad' favorite fishing buddies and Uncle Jack was my Dad's favorite Cribbage player.

Tomorrow some of the family, us included will travel to Gallatin Gateway to the spot on the Gallatin River called Greek Creek where my Uncle Jack's ashes were put.  It was his favorite fishing spot and located down the mountain from his cabin.  Because I loved him so, that is where Bob and I chose to be married and where we put Bob's parents ashes as well.  Tomorrow we will be there to spread the ashes of my Aunt Roseva along with the remainder of my Uncle Jack's and there beloved dog Misty's.

Though I believe after my last breath I am in the presence of God for my next, there is something special about the act of spreading one's ashes.  The spot is so incredibly beautiful you can't help but feel you put their remains in a peaceful, beautiful place much like heaven is promised to be. To think that they are in a place more beautiful than this makes my heart so full it overflows.....

Today I had some very special conversation with my sweet cousin Shelly, oldest daughter of my late Uncle Milt.  She said to me, "it doesn't get any easier does it", in regard to the loss of our Dad's only months apart.  We shared many tears and hugs and I love her more than ever now :-)  I have said  a lot in the last few months that it doesn't get easier and it helped to know that she could relate to the magnitude of the pain I sometimes feel in missing my Dad.

I said good bye to my "new" cousins Wendy and Terry that I met for the first time.  I sense Wendy and I made a connection and I know we will be in regular contact.  That is so exciting to me!  Many good byes to several other family members all going on their own little road trips from here.

Tomorrow Bob, Wilson :-) and I will head to the river where some of us will be for the the spreading of the ashes.  After everyone leaves Bob and I will do as we do every July, we will sit in our beach chairs at the rivers edge.  We will take the same photos we do every year, we open a bottle of wine and we will toast Uncle Jack and this year Aunt Roseva and Bob's parents.  Its always our favorite part of our summer trips to Montana.  We will then toast each other, as on July 17, we will celebrate the day we married in that very spot ten years ago !

It's always very hard for me to say good bye to my family members, here in Montana especially.  I can't imagine this place without each one of them.  Every year I hope that each will still be here when I return.  Because I know that tomorrow is never promised, I leave them knowing, that each one of them knows just how much they mean to me, how much I love them and our Herndon heritage.

What do I take forward in life that was my Aunt Roseva?  She was one of very few people in my life that never said an unkind word to anyone or about anyone.  She always had a smile on her face and sparkle in her eyes. She loved each of us as much with our flaws, mistakes, and poor choices as she would have if we had none.  She was kind, sweet and  a non judgmental person.  Who wouldn't want to be remembered like that?  Blessed to have had her in my life, as was everyone who knew her.....


Tomorrow a whole new adventure for us....

Hugs!

Its How We Spent our Time....

A slow paced little visit....
Yesterday was a visit day....sitting on my Aunt Wilma and Uncle Ray's patio.  Aunt Wilma and Uncle Ray (on left) are the owners of the family home that was my Grandmother's.  My Mom (center) and her twin (right) were born in this house. The house has three bedrooms and one bathroom...They were child number 10 and 11 to my Grandma Goldie :-) Mom likes people to know that she is the youngest....I understand that :-)

It's interesting to sit and listen to the sisters telling stories of old....they each have a different memories of most stories!  Occasionally I would have to throw out there that " its interesting how kids all remember things differently even when brought up in the same household"....it does help end the debate :-)  On this particular day I learned that Aunt Wilma made a doll house upstairs for the twins and even made sure they had water for bathing their dolls....evidently Grandma wasn't real pleased with the water being transported up the stairs.  It's not as if they could have occupied the bathroom to bathe their dolls, not with 11 kids!

 In the above photo is my oldest cousin Gene and his wife Anne, from Yucipa CA.  Gene was the very first grandchild to Grandma Goldie..and he recently celebrated his 70th birthday.  He's a handsome man that doesn't look a day over 60 :-)  Gene has always been talked about as an almost perfect nephew by his Aunties....a place none of the rest of us would ever reach :-)  Well, I learned some things about my ruggedly handsome cousin today too!

Gene at one time lived in the house next door to the family home, so he was around all of our Aunts and Uncles early on.  Evidently Gene was responsible for setting several small fires on the property and I believe I heard something about him rubbing chocolate into an area of carpeting???  Gene of course put the blame on his Uncles as they provided the fire crackers that started all the fires. Gene grew up to be a Forest Ranger!!!!  Coincidence???  I let the reader decide :-)  So though not perfect, he is a very special man to all of us......

Much was said about the family garden that they all evidently put way too many hours into.  Most vowed to never have a garden when they grew up and didn't.  Obviously with all those children a garden was a smart choice when the cost of feeding them came up!  In conjunction with the garden they canned most everything and stored it all in a very organized fashion down in the root cellar. The root cellar, has the lift up door just like the one Dorthy's family lifted to get to safety from the tornado that touched down in Kansas and left poor Dorthy on her way to Oz :-) (My favorite movie).

I loved going down in the cellar as a child, but only if an adult or several cousins went with me...A very damp, dark place...and geeze we were underground!  Many dark little corners down there and who knew what was hiding back in them!  So many memories for me in this house....mostly those of sliding down the stairs from upstairs on our rear ends...well I guess it was more like bouncing down and they were steep!  A talent I passed on to my sons when they were little :-)

As we sat and visited, what started out as a group of 8 to 10 gradually built to 20 and higher.  Family just keeps pulling in from all over the states.  I had told Bob on the way here, half joking, "wonder if I will meet any relatives I haven't met yet?"  Trust me its never ending!  Sure enough I met two new cousins, Terry and Susie my Uncle Shorty's(Everett's) children.  Its really cool to meet a new family member, and you can tell in the eyes of the "new" one your being introduced to that they are generally happy to meet yet another Herndon too! I love it!

With what seemed like an hour to agree on how many to make a dinner reservation for I called Sir Scott's Oasis the local steak house, just across the dirt road from the family home, it would be 20 for dinner.  Sir Scott's really is a great little place to eat and a bit of a family tradition.  In past years with family reunion's we tend to eat a meal or two there.  One year Sir Scott's put on a barbecue behind the place for the family of probably 90 of us, including a band playing country on a flat bed truck :-)  That same year they were building onto the little place and it wasn't quite finished, drywall was up and that's as far as it got before the mass of Herndon's arrived.  All were given markers and we all got to writing our names on the drywall, some left little thank you notes to the proprietors.  Great memories :-)

So here we sit preparing to share a meal as a family.  I, sitting next to Mom's twin and Mom to her right.  I couldn't help but think of the two awesome men who used to be a big part of this group.  My Dad and my sweet Uncle Milt.  My Mom's twin lost her husband Milt only months after we lost Dad.  My heart was sad for myself thinking of these men and how much they both meant to me, but even more so when I thought about the loss Mom and my Aunt have to experience.  My Aunt and I shared some heartfelt words about how surreal it still is today that they are no longer with us.  I admitted to her that it did make me feel better knowing Uncle Milt was in heaven with Dad, they were like brothers and they had so many great times together.  I can hear the two of them laughing just thinking about it :-)

The main reason so many are coming into town at once is that we lost our sweet, sweet Aunt Rosevea, Mom's oldest sister a couple months back and on the 12th (today) we are all here to attend a celebration of her life service.  That means there are still family members I anxiously look forward to seeing today that I haven't yet.

My favorite part of today was each time the train rolled through this little town of Manhattan, not a
blocks stretch from the house patio, blowing its horn. Its a sound and sight I loved as a child and still do today.  Not only did my Mom and Dad work on the railroad, so did three of my Uncles and one Aunt that I know of.  It's as if those that are no longer with us, in view of where we sit on this patio, occasionally pass through in a form and sound one couldn't miss, to remind us they are still with us.......

Words cannot describe the love I have for every member of the Herndon family. Of the eleven Herndon children, only the three girls remain, but the memories and stories of how each touched our lives are ever present.   I count myself blessed to be a part of of all of them....

Hugs!

It all Started in St Regis.....

Said our good byes to the lovely Wallace Inn and snapped a couple shots of this cute little town.  I loved the little house tucked up in the hill amongst all the trees. It's pretty common to see homes scattered on these beautiful pine tree laden mountains. My Mom actually worked at the train depot in Wallace when she was young, she said she remembered it had snow on top of snow!  I think it may have been a lot :-)

We were on the road for about 20 minutes until,  I was home at last.  Montana opened its arms to welcome me back.  Yes, though I was raised in California, I was born in Montana and as I've gotten older I realized it feels like home to me....its in my soul.  It is such a huge part of my life's summer memories.  This is were we vacationed every year for two weeks my entire childhood.  I found myself getting very emotional last night thinking of the fact I would be in Montana shortly after we got on the road in the morning.  Today I realized clearly, I get emotional because Montana is where so many memories were made with my Dad.

My father worked three jobs most of my life and for the most part we saw him at dinner time....the largest quantity of time spent with him over consecutive days was always our two weeks in Montana. So there lay the connection, Montana's opening its arms to me is time spent with Dad :-)

  Okay on with my day.  We hurry down the road to St. Regis Montana headed to a truck stop cafe that was recommended by a clerk at the Wallace Inn.  Below is the sign out front of the cafe....only in Montana :-)

We also visited a tackle shop next store...in search of  a tackle shop t-shirt for my son.  We didn't find what we were looking for but we did  find a table set up for making flies for fishing.  The work that goes in to making one fly is something.Spools of thread lined up and ready to go!

 Back on the road filled with excitement of seeing my family a short 200 miles away and plenty of time to check in to our Hotel, shower and change in time for my cousin Lindsy's wedding reception.
We get approximately a mile and a half down the road and the light on the dash comes on to let us know our right rear tire was low, in fact it was holding only 15 lbs. of the 33 lbs it was supposed to hold.  We right away turned around to head back to St. Regis to see what could be done.  St. Regis population roughly 500 people, three gas stations, none with garages for repairs.

We are told of a towing company just down the street...that's where we go.  Schovos Towing, 24 hour towing for AAA members, yep we are!  Mr.  Schovo  doesn't' work on high performance tires, but can arrange for us to be towed to Missoula....79 miles down the Interstate.  We wait roughly 30 minutes for the driver to show up and Schovo gets our car loaded on the flat bed and tells me the air is on in the cab of the truck if I want to hop in.

 

I climb up into the cab take a quick look around, "my its dirty in here".... I take note there are three seat belts but it is going to be a long ride!

I slide in and here is my dilemma....

I realized in order to not sit side ways with my legs squeezed tightly together, well, that would require I put my left leg on the other side of the very high stick shift.....but wait, of course the driver will need to shift! Again, it's gonna be a long ride to Missoula.  Turns out the driver we were waiting for, says Mr. Schovo, "had to send him on another tow so lets go!"  Mr. Schovo himself was going to drive us to Missoula.....did I mention Mr. Schobo is probably 80 something?

Now just a reminder in the event you may have missed this fact.  I am a very nervous passenger even with those I know and love behind the wheel, and I am not a fan of steep winding roads with very large drop offs at the speed of 75 miles  per hour!  I try and think positive, I say a quick prayer for our safety.  We all are in (very close to one another) and we pull out onto the two lane road outside the tow company and I do mean pull out.  No stopping to see if any cars are coming, nope we just pull out in to the street.  I believe I may have yelled, "car"!  Mr. Schovo stops to avoid the first of many near misses and we haven't even got onto the interstate!!

We get on to the interstate and I say another quick prayer, can't hurt. I remind myself, its going to be a long ride.  I am holding on to Bob's arm so tightly his hand may have changed color once or twice.  I am trying so hard to hold my left leg against the right as to allow Mr. Schovo room to get into sixth gear.  At which time he says, " you can put your leg the other side of the stick shift, you'd be more comfortable".  Very kind of him to say so, and very true....however that ain't gonna happen.... Needless to say I spent the 70 some miles doing what I can only describe as an extended kegal type exercise in order to not touch the gear shift.  About half way there I put Bob's hand on my leg and quietly let him know he was going to have to hold my leg against my other leg which is against him, I could no longer hold them as tightly as needed. (note to self....spend more time at the gym)

 At least three times, traveling at 75 miles per hour he attempts to change lanes due to the STEEP downhill grades without, yes without checking his mirrors!!!  Good gravy, I'm praying again...this time eyes closed looking slightly upward......  Just when I didn't think it could get worse he shares with us that he has to take medication that makes him cough..he adds, "well, I have an enlarged heart with a leaky valve but its no big deal".  Really, did this eighty some year old man just tell us at 75 miles an hour that he has a heart problem?????  Prayer time, I would kneel if I could....Lord please don't let anything go wrong with Mr. Schovo's heart today!  Especially going down this steep grade.....

About the time I think my legs are permanently going to be cramped up, my back is now starting to spasm....he starts telling us some great stories,  His first is, see that house over there? Belongs to Bill Gates".  (photo below)

It was a great story how he met "Uncle Bill" not knowing it was him at the time and how very down to earth he was.  Bill Gates asks him if he would like to see the inside of the house and Mr. Schovo says, "well I don't think the owner would like that with me dressed in my dirty overalls".  Bill says, "I don't think he'd mind, I see him in the mirror every morning". 

He shared towing stories with us, shared about his family with pride and even though I was nervous about living to tell the story of my day....I now have a soft spot for Mr. Schovo, I realize what a cute sweet little man he is.  Now I start to worry about him making the drive back to St. Regis alone :-(

We at last arrive in Missoula and as he is turning left into the driveway of  "Tire Rama" (yes its a real name) he pulls directly in front of a car coming from the opposite direction!!  We unload the car, shake his hand to thank him again for all he did to help us.  I of course told him to drive careful going home....

One quick stop after that to my long deceased Uncle Harold's bar/club.  It holds childhood memories as we would always stop in to say hello to my Uncle while going through Montana...oddly enough it was always okay for kids to come into bars with their parents.....ah...the wild west.  Any how, there was a little stage for entertainment and my sister's and I sang on stage once..only a few people in the club and it was daylight.  I'm sure it was "I've been working on the railroad" a childhood song we often sang :-)  On the wall still, goats heads behind a bubble of Plexiglas so the cigarette smoke didn't discolor them. I was surprised to see them still there.  Bob insisted to take my photo on stage, I agreed only if sitting.  I will say, the stage seemed so much larger back then :-0 Of course one of the patrons sitting at the bar knew my Uncle Harold and said some nice words to me.

We made it to Belgrade, quickly checked into our room, showered and dressed in record time and made it to the reception only about and hour and a half late.  We scrapped together bits of left over food, and had the best piece of German chocolate cake ever.  The winds were strong and it was pretty cool out.  Was great to see our family members and they continued to celebrate as we headed back to our hotel at about 10 P.M.  Lindsay looked very beautiful and very happy.

Yep it was quite a day, one I won't soon forget.  I am extremely exhausted and ready for serious rest.  Thankful to find our Wilson waiting patiently for us upon our return to our room, he too had a rough day, though he with plenty of room...he rode in the car :-)

Thankful for Mr. Schovo and answered prayers !
Hugs....