Oregon, a Cold Sore, and 5 lbs.

 I returned from our trip to Oregon with a cold sore and 5 lbs. ( I am not posting pics right now due to a new computer program, but if I wait to post pictures I will forget to post about the trip.  I know that a blog about a trip without pictures is boring.)  Now back to my cold sore and 5 lbs,  I can't blame it all on the trip, I started working on both a few days before we left.   Walt and I took the shuttle to Las Vegas, flew into Portland, and met my brother Tim, wife Ginny, and my sister Robin at the airport.  We then rented a car and drove to brother Steve, and wife Sharon Arnold's home near Newport Oregon.  The trip to their home takes about 3 hours, but it went quickly as we five visited and enjoyed the country as we traveled.  They moved about a year ago from another beach house they owned in Waldport, a small town about 30 miles away.  This different beach house is lovely, but is a little more challenging to get to the beach.   The trail is really down and then really up.  I did okay, but had to take a little breather about half way.  Walt, born with mountain-goat in his blood line, beat us both ways and was waiting while looking at his watch.  I never gave him the pleasure of asking him, "how much slower was I than you?"  Steve and Sharon's home has three floors, so Steve had an elevator put in, which was very helpful for Robin.  I took the stairs most of the time, but forgot the rules of the elevator twice...I forgot to close the sliding door making it not available for the next person on a different floor.  I heard a yell or two from my now elevator-user- brother from another floor.  "SOMEONE FORGOT TO CLOSE THE DOOR.  PENNY?"  I needed the exercise anyway.  We arrived on a Friday and left on a Tuesday.  Sharon was so accommodating, making two perfect meals that could have been on the menu of any Red Lobster, only her meals were better.  It was so sweet to spend time with Ginny, Sharon, and Robin.  I have seen Robin frequently, but Sharon was not been able to attend our Jessi's wedding, so I had not seen her for a long time.  Tim and Ginny have been able to come to our family events, and we have also been able to see them periodically in Boise.  The visiting was sweet.  Saturday we helped celebrate Tim's birthday.  Sunday we attended church.  I loved attending RS with my sisters.  Sharon is in the presidency and conducted.  She shared a sweet testimony of the importance of family.  We had days of  laughter, shared stories, and complete enjoyment of each other.  Monday the weather accommodated Steve, Tim, and Walt a  fishing trip for tuna 50 miles out in the ocean.  They caught 12 huge tuna and had a great time.  Tim still provided deck-hand service even though he started vomiting when his sea-sickness pill time limit was up.  Steve declared Walt an excellent deck hand.  Meanwhile, Robin, Ginny, and I had a great time in Old Newport while Sharon finished an infant seat cover for an expectant grandchild.   Later we all went to a Chinese restaurant, laughed and talked some more.  Sadly, we left early Tuesday a.m. for Portland to catch our flights.   We do not get to see each other often, but when we do it is like manna from heaven.  In my mind's eye, I see  passing into the next world, into paradise I hope, to be a little like spending time with my beloved brothers and sisters for a few days on the coast.

Walt Connects with His Heritage

Walt gave me a trip for Christmas. He did not know where, but said it was forthcoming. Finally, he told me we were going on a road trip to Safford Arizona, the place where he was born. It is not far from New Mexico and we traveled a total of 1200 mile.. We left the third week of February for four days. On the way there, we toured the Petrified Forrest, and it was mind boggling that the trees were once like mighty red woods.  They are now as rocks among the cactus and sand, standing or laying as reminders of a world long ago. 

Then on to Walt's great grandfather Moses Cluff 's ranch of over 788 acres near Pima at the foot of the Graham Mountains. The Fish and Game bought it after WWII, so it is intact. It is still called Cluff Ranch and is an amazing place. I was surprised by the farm country near Safford and Pima. I was expecting nothing but snakes, cactus, and lizards. Instead, it is a rich farm land with a river and a network of canals. It was humbing to walk the paths his fore fathers and mothers walked. They were amazing people. We took pictures of pictures behind glass at the tiny visitor room. One picture of his great grandmother looked strikingly like his neice, Sherre Finicum Henderson, daughter of his sister Nelda. Walt and I enjoyed the trip, but we have always enjoyed traveling together. We listened to audio books Old Yeller and Louie Lamour's High Lonesome, listened to talk radio, and communicated with each other. Even though it was dedicated to Walt's roots, it was still joy to me seeing  him connect with his heritage.

The Picture Grinch

We were ready for a Christmas party and I asked Walt to pose for a pic before we left.  He agreed to ONE.  I asked for a second, he said no, and tried to leave.  Our son-in-law snapped a pic during our "compromise discussion".  I would like to share at this point, I have been called to be the Family Relations teacher on Sundays.  Need I say more?

Fish Finds Soul Mate

Walt and I went to San Diego for a week.  I enjoyed Shamu Show, but I was mezmerized by the huge fish aquarium.  There was not one fish the same.  I have never seen so many colors.  Walt took a picutre of a huge room of fish, but we did not know until we looked at the photo later that he had a reflection on me watching the fish.  We laughed hard because it seemed like the yellow fish is watching me with the same dumb smile on his face like I have on mine.  It is as though he is smiling at his new soul mate....me.  The first couple of days we were involved in a conference summit.  It was excellent.  We listened to top business people on marketing, the affects of the economy, and some interesting information given by a scientist on 2012.  We then spent a day touring the Midway Aircraft Carrier.  I accidently dropped my new glasses in a little hole in the floor of a war plane.  Five men had to take the floor out of part of the plane to retrieve my glasses.  Other than my blunder, it was a great tour.  We visited Old Town, traveled to Coronado, and then spent a day at Sea World.  There were very few people there on a Tuesday, so we walked into everything.  Walt and I enjoyed this relaxing few days together.  It was a sweet refreshment to spirit and our marriage.