Please turn back the years

Tune Up

2011-12-29T18:13:00.000-08:00

The old body is kinda like an automobile and has to be tuned up once in awhile. Both the wife and I are finding out that this getting old is not really so golden. Without any gory descriptions I will only say that the wife is going to have to have about a foot of her intestines removed. With this news facing us I learned that I have a tumor on my Kidney and will most likely lose it. My condition seemed to be the most urgent according to the experts so the wife postponed her scheduled surgery so that I can recover from mine first to care for her. Since all these problems popped up in November and no surgery for my Kidney is scheduled until February one can't help but wonder just how urgent this could really be.

On top of all that I have to have another surgery on my mastoid of the right ear again. This has been repaired three times and now the fix that was done six years ago has come lose and bleeding has sent me to the ER. This will have to wait for me get over the Kidney thing.

Here's hoping 2012 will be better for everyone. The whole world is in really bad shape these days and it will take a strong faith to lift us all from the strife. With all my health issues I have so much to be thankful for and will never give up trying to make this country a place to be proud of, God Bless The USA.

So Proudly We Served

2011-11-05T17:50:00.000-07:00

These three sailors from Pagosa Springs are proud to be called "Veterans". All three eagerly volunteered upon completion of their high school education. Although there are no glorious heroic war stories to be told, each would have gladly laid down their life to protect this country.

Their stories all started in 1953 with Ron and friends enlisting in the Navy. Ron was a natural leader and selected as Honor Man of his training company in San Diego Calif. After completion of his training he attended electrician school and served aboard two wooden hull minesweepers, a tug boat in Guam, and an aircraft carrier "The USS Ranger". After twelve years Ron was forced into early retirement after losing a leg in an accident. Today He is still very much a Navy man as he attends to functions in the Local American Legion Post.

Jerry followed in the footsteps of his older sibling two years later and after completing basic training in Great Lakes, he attended machinist mate school and served the remainder of his enlistment aboard and oil tanker. The USS Caliente participated in "Operation Redwing" in evaluation of Atomic Weapons in the Pacific. Jerry passed away in 2008 after a long battle with COPD.

Billy left high school a year short of completion and followed his older siblings along with an old family friend Richard Walter. Upon completion of basic training in Great Lakes he was assigned duty aboard the USS Reaper where his brother Ron was already stationed. A rare thing for two siblings to be aboard the same ship, this lasted until a crisis in Lebanon forced a separation. Billy attended culinary school in San Diego and became the ships cook, a real delight to the older brother who always had a hefty appetite.

As November 11th rolls around each year the old sailors left will proudly display old glory and stand at attention to salute her, then bow our heads and thank God for the young men and women who have taken our place to defend freedom.

Diversified and Proud

2011-09-27T16:47:00.000-07:00

Looking back over the makeup of my family tree, I can see that we are well rounded and very diversified with one common "A" running through our blood. There is a wide diversity in our religious beliefs, political affiliations, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, income brackets, sports, etc. but one thing that binds us as one unit is our belief in a supreme being, love for one another and the big "A" AMERICAN. Each one of us in our own way will defend the foundation this great country was created for, and rights for all to be free to worship, speak, or love whom ever they choose.

Political debates are a healthy thing for this country; support and decent will follow every rally and after all is said the people of this country will make a choice for a leader. If we are to survive another 200 yrs of democracy we must set aside our dislikes and support the government chosen to lead this nation of diversified people. If it appears that the wrong choice has been made then the remedies is at the ballet box, not rallying with profanity laced signs, racial bigotry, and violence.

Remembering 9/11

2011-09-10T08:11:00.000-07:00

Remembering events like 9/11 or Dec.7,1941 should only strengthen our resolve to punish those who wish to harm our Nation. On these anniversaries it seems so easy to join hands and relive the anguish for a day or two but how quickly we close our fist to one another.

I must say that for me the period following such tragedies has weakened my faith in unity of this great country. There has always been political discord witch only strengthens a democracy but the elections following 9/11 have brought to surface all the bigotry,prejudice, and hatred that this country has tried to overcome for decades. The separation of economical classes has been widened with the middle class slowly becoming extinct. Every attempt to help the poor has been halted by wealthy politicians and corporations because of the hatred of our President even though elected by the people. Every natural disaster, financial crisis, or major event has been blamed on one man, one can only wonder WHY?

We still have the most patriotic military of any Nation and those men and women still protect

our rights to sit here and squabble over who is to blame for the mess we are in. Seems to me the least we could do is put aside our bigotry, open our fist and solve our fiscal problems.

On the morning of 9/11 I will be in Church praying for God's guidance, forgiveness, peace and for all the souls lost on that tragic day ten years ago along with all the brave men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

May God Bless America

Music From Yesterday

2011-07-31T21:49:00.001-07:00

Sometimes when I start reminiscing, the old mind drifts back to a time when Song Lyrics were understandable and the stories they told somehow were a reflection of ones own life. Growing up in Pagosa Springs Colorado, we didn't have television to capture our imagination so the old Philco radio put me to sleep many nights listening to country music from Del Rio Texas. When television arrived the "Ed Sullivan Show" gave us a glimpse into the pop music and then "The Grand Ole Opry" came along and all the country songs we lived in our mind came to life. The artist of the time dressed in such colorful clothes and the female artist didn't have to show skin to prove they were ladies. With today's technology now I can visibly watch all those glorious memories, tap my toes and sing along, thanks to a thing called "you tube".

Pagosa Springs now is bringing back some of the good old country sounds through the Bluegrass Festivals there. There are many musicians that like to gather there under the pine trees on a hill side near the famous Hot Springs. I haven't had the opportunity to attend these celebrations but through the wonder of the computer age I can enjoy them by clicking onto a web site called "All Things Pagosa". Anyone who loves the outdoors, mountain air and country music should plan a vacation trip to this friendly little town in Colorado.

Where Are We Going

2011-06-25T07:54:00.000-07:00

Where is this country headed anyway?

This question has been asked by each generation since the founding fathers signed that historic document called the constitution of the United States Of America.

Looking back over the past 70 yrs that I have been fortunate to live in this great democracy I have seen it go through changes and wondered how we have survived. Our fore fathers sought a country of free will but I often wonder just how free did they really mean. America is loosing its stand in the world as a country of high moral standards.

Even the English language has taken on a meaning of its own and Websters dictionary can no longer be the source for interpretation of defining the meaning of a word. There was time as a youngster in school I learned that the word gay meant a feeling of happiness and never refereed to as ones sexual preference. Marriage was a union of man and woman as described in every holy manuscript written.

The right to bear arms when the document was written was needed to allow states to form militias,and hunt for food, not to allow any one who so desired to stock pile weapons to destroy their fellow man.

Freedom of speech and press was never intended for distribution of porn, slander, or profanity

or foul language yet this is becoming second nature to our children.

I too am guilty of becoming a member of a corrupt society but I hope as I near the time when I shall be called to answer to a higher authority, I can be deemed a remorseful soul and forgiven my transgressions.

I am one of the lucky ones, my years left on this earth are becoming fewer and only the ones I leave behind will have to decide whether to continue to stray from the teachings of our religious leaders or stand up for morality.

Welcome Summer 2011

2011-06-23T16:27:00.000-07:00

Here it is the first full day of summer and soon we will all be celebrating Independence day in some fashion. My times of hitting the road and traveling to my favorite retreat, the place I grew up in Colorado have diminished severely.

Reaching a milestone in marriage I attempted to rekindle the youth in my blood by taking my better half to see a show in sin city Vegas. Cruising along the highway and trying to keep up with traffic while listening to tunes from the past, I noticed a strange image pop up near the speed odometer. "Check Engine" message gave a chill that went down my spine. Here I am in the desert a hundred miles from my destination, do I stop and call for a tow or try to continue to the city? Thanks to today's technology I was able to phone ahead to a dealership and winged my way into their service department. The folks there were very nice and shuttled us to our hotel and retrieved us when the repair was done.

Although the cost of repair depleted my playing funds, the "Jersey Boys" show was fantastic and is a pleasant memory to last a lifetime.

I was also pleased to see Old Glory so proudly displayed through out the Palazzo Resort.

This time of years always brings back memories of the July 4th celebration in Pagosa Springs Colorado. If any of the readers of this blog have the time to venture there this time of year you will surely enjoy a patriotic and with some of the most beautiful landscapes America has to offer.

I'm sure that folks my age will remember some of the comic book hero's of the 50's, one of mine was a cowboy whose story originated right there in Pagosa, my home town, "Red Ryder." I always looked forward to attending the Red Ryder parade and Rodeo and my family often participated in making the floats for that parade. Even today as years have passed my older brother is very active in the American Legion and can be seen in uniform in some function of the parade.

Memorial Day Salute

2011-05-30T07:45:00.000-07:00

Having just hung old glory out on this Memorial Day, its time to pause and give thanks to all who have served this great nation as our protectors of freedom. There are no longer ships like the USS Reaper which I so proudly served on during the cold war but the Iron Men of these wooden ships kept our shores safe with very little recognition. During the Vietnam war some of these old ladies were upgraded and saw lots of action.

Although I never served in a war zone and organizations like the American Legion do not consider my time served as worthy of membership, my heart still swells with pride when citizens salute me as a veteran.

My veteran hero has always been my older brother, I was lucky to have served on the same ship with him for a period of time. Ron has continued to dedicate his live for his fellow servicemen by volunteering with the local chapter of American Legion of Pagosa Springs Colorado. He continues to see that every veteran of that region is recognized when laid to rest in the local cemetery and every grave is located and properly marked.

Looking Back

2011-03-22T08:18:00.000-07:00

Wondering if anyone reads this blog? Seems that I am forever recreating stories from the past and trying to paint pictures from memory to share. Without photos of Pagosa's past to reference my recollections, it would be very hard to appreciate the stories.

There is one very vivid memory of one of the landmarks I would love to see a photo of. Back in the 1950's there was one of the hottest Honky Tonks in the area just a few miles from downtown Pagosa Springs. "Pine Grove Inn" on Saturday nights would be the place to be if one liked dancing, drinking, or fighting. So popular was this place that it acquired the nick name of "Bloody Bucket"from all the scuffles in the parking lot. I can attest to this, as I too became a victim of the brutality there.

"Pine Grove" was located about six miles east of Pagosa Spings, this land has since been developed and no sign of what used to be remains. This land also was once one of the largest cattle ranches in the area "Stevens Ranch" which was sold and now is becoming a little city of its own, leaving the downtown Pagosa Springs a thing of the past.

Another Saturday night adventure for those who liked to dance but found Pine Grove a little too rough could always venture out to the old Bales School House. This was an old abandoned one room school house with plenty of floor space to cut a rug. Local musicians would furnish the music, wife's would bring food and of course the men would gather outside to sample each others home made wine. One of the finest wines were made of wild berries that grew in mountains called choke cherry's, this berry also was a favorite of the bears.

Missing The Seasons

2011-02-25T17:11:00.000-08:00

Todays weather pattern across the nation reminds me of winters when I thought the sun would never appear again. I was always anxious for spring to bring out that glorious sight of the sun breaking through the clouds. Oh, how I would be so glad not to hear that crunch of snow under those overshoes sending chills up my spine. Being a normal weather complainer, it wouldn't be long before the snow would be melting

and then one would be knee deep in gooey mud. In my day there was no such thing gas clothes dryers so our Levis hung out on a clothes line to dry and had to be laid over an open oven door to thaw before we could dress for school. Of course the daily morning chores meant that the first one up had to build a fire in the kitchen stove with wood and coal.

Residents and visitors to that winter wonderland of Pagosa Springs with ever changing weather are lucky to live in the 21st century with all the modern gadgets. Snow tires and four wheel drives diminishes the challenge of driving those country roads and if one gets lost there is always a GPS. The old long johns with a trap door in back have been replaced with thermal underwear and overshoes with steel clasps are seldom seen anymore. Oh how I wish my dad would have had a snow blower, but I guess the old shovel didn't do me any harm.

These new digital cameras really bring out the true beauty of landscape, the old point and shoot black and white kodaks took a good eye and steady hand to get the perfect shot so there wasn't a lot memories captured like today.

If anyone reads this and longs for a memorial vacation be it summer, winter or fall I don't think they will find a more beautiful area in this great country to visit. Just be prepared with charged batteries in the camera and ready for any weather change.

Bring Back Morality

2011-02-03T21:11:00.000-08:00

I often wonder just where my generation failed when it came to teaching our off springs the meaning of self respect, to honor their parents, the reward of dignified employment to know the difference between use and abuse. With the world as a whole in so much turmoil of wars, poverty, famine, storms, why would any person try so hard to take advantage of elderly poor parents. In my own family there are some who believe that parents, no matter how old, sick or frail they become somehow have the means to provide for children well into the golden years themselves.

Each of us as we age look for the day when all we have to worry about is our own health and happiness. Love is a very emotional burden, yet the bond of love that binds a family together can sometimes be the very thing that destroys a relationship.

Every parent tries to provide all the worldly goods to their children that was never within their reach during their youth. Sometimes this seems to make the relationship strong until one day a crisis arises and the so called money tree no longer produces good fruit. When such things happen and the children feel cast off they soon retaliate by doing and saying things they know will destroy the root of the family tree.

Looking for a cure to such relationship illness can bring on a nervous break down but really there is no cure. One must find the strength to cope with such heartaches through divine guidance and learn to say NO with conviction.

Children who become adults and find the need to call their parents foul names, continue to move in and out at will, expecting the care they recieved as infants, will one day answer to a higher power than those they abuse. I firmly believe those who disreguard the ten commandants like "Honor Thy Mother and Father" will forever suffer on earth and beyond.

I'm A Country Song

2011-01-17T18:42:00.000-08:00

My
life is truly a Country Song, I have always thought this to be true but today when I read Musical Mondays posted on my daughters blog these old eyes began to fill will tears. It takes a sentimental gesture like this to make a father realize that just maybe he had a little influence in the path of life his children may choose.

Merle Haggard has such a gift of telling a story with heartfelt emotions, one can close the eyes and be transported to a place and time so reminiscent of days gone by. The song "A Farmers Daughter" reminds me so much of watching my three daughters grow up after loosing their Mother just before Christmas. Another song "If We Make It Though December" is another one that I have a tearful time getting through.

Trying to fill the shoes of a wonderful Wife and Mother was the most difficult task I have ever undertaken. We had so many ups and downs, at times it seemed useless to try and get back up after being knocked down, but God was always on our side.

Time keeps marching on and music tries to change with the evolution, each generation that comes along have their favorite lyric, beat, or as to days young people say their own Rap. Even the country music of today has changed from the genre that artist like Merle Haggard leaves to the history of my generation. I too enjoy all type of Music, can't understand the Rap stuff so don't listen to it but I relate to big band, jazz, etc. When I want to drift back in time and reminisce of time gone by both good and bad I'll put on Merle, Ray Price, or Willie.

Social What??

2011-01-05T18:06:00.000-08:00

I just can't seem to get the hang of this modern age method of communication. Thought I'd give that thing called facebook a try, seemed like a good way to visit with friends and family I seldom see. Things were going great, genealogy information and family photos were being shared, stories being told of good times past and present.
Like a flash and a touch of a keyboard this friendly social website suddenly became a battle ground of profanity & name slandering. Family roots were being ripped out like a storm of the century. For what ever reason written hateful words published for the whole world to see has resulted in a son disowning his Mother, a husband and wife filing for divorce, a father trying to console a daughter with a broken heart, diabetes, and numerous health issues, extended family searching for way to help financially.
When a woman gives her life to a husband and son for 23 years, giving every once of energy in her body to maintain a home while ignoring her own health one would expect just a little show of gratitude. Being a father, I have always believed that a husband should be the backbone of a family unit which includes providing medical insurance for a spouse or child. Watching my flesh and blood deteriorate with life threatening disease while all material wishes were granted to her husband and son breaks this old heart.
Only my faith in God will keep me strong and as long as I have breath in this old body I will do everything in my power to keep my children safe, healthy, and immune from being hurt in any fashion.

Closing Curtians On 2010

2010-12-29T12:24:00.000-08:00

Once again father time had closed another chapter of life with old memories as we will venture off into another time of speculation.
I am still in awe at how my generation ever survived without all the gadgets of today. We didn't seem to need our fingers to do the talking for us and our eyes were usually looking forward so we didn't trip or get run over. Music was easily heard though an AM Radio, or the juke box in the drug store, and no one needed an interpreter to decipher the lyrics. Tattoos were something we paid an admission price at the carnival to see, especially on a woman. Love letters were written on fancy stationary and penned in ink with sincere sentiments attached. Boys learned at an early age what a belt was for and would never think of showing their underwear. Girls kept things like their dignity covered and never needed artificial boosters.
As this year comes to a close, I can look for the coming years to go just a fast with little or no improvements in the youth of today. Respect is something that got lost in 1950 and never returned. I just witnessed one of most heart breaking Revelations of my 70+years when I learned that my Grandson used the most disgusting language and name calling to his Mother. No human being should ever have to be that humiliated especially by their own flesh and blood.
There was a time long ago when broken teeth would have replaced the venom spewed out of a child's mouth even if the child is now an adult.
My hope for the coming year is that more people will learn the value of kindness to one another, get involved with electing officials who will keep America's core values intact. Reach out those who are elderly, poor or just in need of a friendly voice.
May God Bless America and all who took time to read my thoughts.

Seasons Greetings

2010-12-04T17:14:00.000-08:00

WWII Rations

Ho Ho Ho, This should be the season of joy and celebration for those who still believe that X should never replace the name of Jesus.

This old codger is searching his soul to try and find a reason to celebrate other than a quiet moment in prayer to be thankful for what has been provided me.

Having seen some dark days in these past 70+ years and somehow surviving I can't help but wonder if this great country is headed back down the road of despair. We have borrowed our way into poverty and sold our soul to our enemies of the past. I can't say that one political party is totally to blame, we didn't get this way in a short eighteen months. History will have to be told to future generations and the blame game will go on forever.

When folks ask me what do you want for Christmas I have a list that begins with "Peace Be With You", lets all meet as Americans and do away with the "D" or the "R" thing and find a way to get back the simple things like pay as you go, love your neighbor, speak with tongue instead of fingers, believe in the rule handed down on a tablet of stone called "Ten Commandments".

No one knows for certain what tomorrow will bring but the darkest days seem to be ahead of us. The country is full of wealthy people who have no compassion for the less fortunate. Some old folks like myself live in what is known as Mobile Homes but referred to as trailer trash. Its not that we wouldn't like to live in a two story big house but we just might have worked all our life and done the best we could and proud that we don't have a mortgage. Life once was peaceful in a little place to call our own even though we had to rent the dirt it sits on. Wealthy corporation came and bought the land and now want to raise rents 100% with no regard for the elderly of those who already do without food or meds to pay the rent for a piece of dirt.

There may not be fancy presents under my tree but I still want to wish a joyous and happy holiday season to all and please remember the reason for the season!

Thanksgiving

2010-11-23T11:16:00.000-08:00

Its that time of year again when we as Americans set aside a day for being thankful for all our blessings. Some are thankful for the Turkey on the table with all the trimmings to go along with it, while others are thankful just for the thought of seeing another day of life ahead of them.
As for me; my blessings are too numerous to count, but the greatest of all is the love my heavenly father has bestowed upon me with Friends and family who shower me with love each and every day.
With so many trials and tribulations facing this country in the coming years, perhaps we can set aside our political hats and find some common ground to move in a more positive direction. Not only are we facing economical hardships, health care crisis, two wars, terrorist threats but now the the two Korea's are once again on the verge of opening up another war front.
To all who take the time to read this, I thank you for taking time, may the coming holidays bring you all joy and happiness may we all live in peace in 2011.

My Hero's

2010-11-12T13:23:00.000-08:00

Every year when Veteran's Day rolls around it reminds me of the time I served with my two older brothers in the US Navy. I was lucky enough to serve most of my time on the same ship with my oldest brother Ron aboard the USS Reaper and a member of west pac; we made two cruises to the far east. Any time the Uss Caliente and the Reaper were in the same port, word quickly spread that the Willett brothers were in port! I am so proud of the oldest brother who still serves as a member of the American Legion.

How proud I am today to fly old glory on Nov 11 and remember all who served and many who gave it all so that we may have the freedoms we so readily take for granted. No other country can endure the negative and hateful statements towards its leaders so freely expressed in every form of communication. No matter which political party is in the majority there never seems to be any common ground of doing what is best for a democratic society.

There is a new year on the horizon and my prayer for the coming year is for solutions to the economy, peace at home and abroad, medical breakthroughs for such things as diabetes, cancer, MS, etc.

Regardless of political affiliation, please remember that there will always be those who are less fortunate and need a helping hand.

Faded Memories

2010-09-19T19:49:00.000-07:00

To those who cherish memories, I suggest you try to preserve and hold on to such things as yearbooks, awards, photos, etc. I have tried to save my precious memories of my youth in Pagosa Springs through photos and scrapbooks handed down by my parents and grandparents.

With the progression of time and technology, the beauty of this heavenly place is being portrayed with astonishingly brilliant photos that capture the sights as though one is standing there in person.

Its funny how 50+ years can change scenery, ones social status, and gadgets of all sorts. Growing up in Pagosa we didn't know what television was until we heard that Ferris Breedlove who owned the local hardware store had one put in at his home. I was lucky enough to be invited there one Saturday night to see the Ed Sullivan show. We had a telephone, even though we had to tell the operator to ring the person we wanted to talk to and at times share conversations with other parties on the line. No one ever dreamed that one day we would all have a phone in our pocket or be typing messages to one another. Even language has changed over the years: Pot was something mom cooked out of, Gay was an expression of happiness, Queer was something odd, weed was a pesty garden plant, etc.
Oh, how the fashion has changed no longer do we need to guess boxers of briefs, boys pants are now made to hang around the knees. Remember when body piercing were only seen in National Geographic Magazine, Tattooed ladies were only seen in carnival side shows.
I was amazed watching videos of the parade in Pagosa on the fourth of July and seeing the fire fighting equipment they have. I remember when the only fire fighters were volunteers and the first time Pagosa acquired a used fire truck.
One thing that never seems to change is the old timers all move away and new folks loaded with money are willing to come in and start building. I guess they don't realize that if they love the way mother nature does her work maybe they shouldn't try to change it so much. With humans encroaching on wild animal habitat its no wonder that deer and bears are becoming city slickers.

Repeating History

2010-08-31T10:52:00.000-07:00

Here we are in the twilight of the 21st century and we still haven't learned from decades of past mistakes. Seems like we are on a never ending journey on a highway that keeps taking us back to the point of origin. Recessions, depressions, ups, downs, wealth, poverty, all revolve like a carousel out of control.

After completing watching a PPC documentary about the evolution of New York City, so much of what this city endured through the past 200 years has been repeated time and again throughout these United States.

Trying to understand the root of so much hatred running rampant against this elected government and our President. I thought I would try looking back at previous events to find some common ground.

A recent gathering on the Lincoln Memorial by certain groups chanting to restore America's core values under some sort of religious movement, reminded me of speeches made by a dictator in Germany in 1923. Those speeches of long ago incited hatred against any race, creed, or color not accepted by the speaker..This appears to me as the same type of message being instilled in minds of Innocent Americans seeking an answer to turmoils facing every citizen. I can only pray that the past does not repeat itself.

I wonder too, if all these modern gadgets won't eventually be our ruin. I see people of all ages addicted to cell phones, either talking or texting and being oblivious to their surroundings. Every new invention of communication is an invitation for some crook to find a way to invade, steal, or slander. Give me back my pen and paper and an old fashioned telephone, I'd much rather hear a pleasant voice than read an abbreviated message I don't understand.

Bring back some good music that have lyrics that one can understand, love songs and sweethearts can do wonders to a world in need of love. No matter what our religion, color, political party, social status, if we all learn to respect one another this world will be here long after we are gone.

2010-08-16T09:49:00.000-07:00

THE WAY IT WAS

The business portion of town of Pagosa Springs Co. was all on the north side of the San Juan river. The business’s that I remember the most are the Morehart Chevrolet , Citizens Bank, Roy’s Liquor, Pagosa Bar, La Cantina Bar, Hershs’s Mercantile, Ace Hardware, Jackish Drugs, Metropolitan Hotel, Mesa Theater (Liberty), Liquor Store, Goodman’s Dept. At side walk level of the hotel was a set of iron steps which lead to a pool hall in the basement level.

The pool hall was a favorite hang out for all the high school boys and retired old men. Curly Nelson ran the place and always had card games such as rummy going ‘till late hours in the evening. Young boys could enter and play pool only with the permission of parents who had to give that consent in writing. Knowing how my Mother felt about men hanging out in a smoky pool hall or the “Devils Den” as she referred to it, I knew she would never approve of me being there. I came up with the bright idea of forging my Mother’s name on a permission slip and worked for a long time cleaning and racking balls until one day I had to explain where I was getting spending money.

The local theater was sold to Albert Petry along with the hotel and liquor store. Dad continued working as the projectionist and everyone in the Willett family worked there at one time or another. The art of running the projectors was

passed on to the oldest son Ronnie, Inez worked the ticket booth, Jerry, and Butch took tickets and did janitorial duties.

Changing Employment:

The west side grocery was sold to Jim and Gay Whitfield. Jim was the founder of the Baptist Church and held services in the grocery isles on apple crates. He eventually was able to purchase property to build a church on highway 160 near the town park. I am proud to say that the corner stone of that building was done by the author of

this text. The Whitefield’s changed the store into a Gambles Dept. store.
Frank Brown purchashed a house just west of the old building and across McCabe creek where he once again opened a small grocery. That property was sold to Harry Cole and Frank then opened a new business next to the court house. A fire destroyed that business and when it was rebuilt a five and dime store was opened in its place. Ira Rupp was the proprietor and Inez (Mother worked for them).

Mother and Dad tried making plaster of paris figurines in our kitchen. They seemed to sell quite well in the local gift shops. Frank Brown built a store building on his property for Dad to open a novelty store and the rear of the building housed the local newspaper “The Sun”. As the building was going up, passers by would stop and ask,“What’s it gonna be?” The curiosity gave Dad the idea to name the store “The What’s It Shop.” It wasn’t very profitable so Dad went back to painting signs and buildings. He painted just about every house and road side advertisement.

Winter Time:

Winters in Colorado were long and cold. If all the chores had been done properly and the wood and coal put away, then playing in snow could be a lot of fun. there were Igloos to build to play in, sledding, skiing, or ice skating. Many a skinned knee was had from tying a rope to the back of a car and being pulled along the icy road until the sled flipped over. Ice skating parties were always fun, smelling tires burning to keep warm as we skated the San Juan or the pond at a place called Catchpoles Mistake. Old tires were gathered and burned along the river bank for warmth.

Earaches were a common occurrence for me; it was nothing for Dr. Thompson to bundle up and come to our house in the middle of the night to give shot or a dose of some awful tasting medicine.

Somehow the old school was always having frozen pipes from someone leaving the water on. That always resulted in the school having to close for a day.

Like any youngsters in America, a favorite season is fall when Halloween was celebrated with a much mischievous vigor and imagination as one could muster. Like the time we managed to put an old “out-house” in the middle of main street. The next morning a sign was found hanging on the door saying “Dr. Anderson’s Office.

From My Window Seat

2010-08-03T16:49:00.000-07:00

The Internet can be a wonderful tool for research but then such things as social web sites can be a breeding ground political, religious and family feuds.

I recently tried going down the memory trail to find information on places where my family once resided. Starting with the towns that my parents and brothers were born and then looking for places my father would have been employed. I found a site referencing a town where my family lived in 1951. This site gave a very interesting detail of the demographics of the area, and photos of the Theater where my father was employed. The description of all the types of prejudices that were rampant sent shock waves down my spine. It made me so glad that we did not stay in Texas very long. Recently I've seen first hand that such mentality still is the root to the teachings in that state to, the term "Redneck" is really too polite to label those with no tolerance with anyone who disagrees.

Social websites such as Facebook can be a wonderful tool for interacting with friends and relatives, to visit and keep in touch with those whom we selom see face to face. However lately I am finding it more a place where the english language is becoming something of the dark ages and replaced with four letter profanity or coded abreviations that only those under the age thirty can understand. Political and religious views even between family members can errupt into verbal wars and threats of physical harm. These thoughts and ideas would never be mentioned face to face but the ability to write them on a site shared by so many give the writer a sense of bravado.

Happy Trails To You

2010-07-14T20:12:00.000-07:00

Once again this old memory is loosing one its favorite times when as a young boy I would strap on my pearl handle six shooters and ride the hills of Pagosa Springs. No I didn't have a palamino like Trigger or dog like Bullet but with enough imagination I didn't need them, just my trusty old cocker spanial.
There were times I would tire of being Roy and decide to be Red Ryder with one of the Martinez boys being Little Beaver.
While veiwing the morning news on NBC, my eyes glued to the screen and grew misty with tears as the story unfolded of the Action in NYC at Chrities selling of all the memorbella from the Roy Rogers Museum.
As the years passed and I became a grown man, the memories of the Saturday Matinees watching Roy, Dale, Gabby Hayes and Son's of the Pioneers chasing the bad guy across the screen never faded my mind. I was lucky enough to live in Califorinia after my military service and be close enough to visit the Roy Rogers Museum in Apple Valley. My Children were able to also share some of my childhood memories by visiting the museum. The year the Museum was leaving the Apple Valley site I took my wife to the museum and to our amazement Roy was there in person and even allowed us to take his photo. All the years of seeing him on in the movies I picuted him as being a tall man but he really was just an average height but the warmest smile and personality.
I wish our youngsters could have such an example of character to look up to instead of the horror and sexual depictions put out as entertainment.
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time out

2010-06-29T18:25:00.000-07:00

I am taking time out from blogging for awhile, seems the only people looking at this is someone using oriental language that get a kick out of posting porn photos.
Understanding that this wonderful country of ours prides itself with all our freedoms, there are times when a little restrain would be appropriate.
The supreme court just struck down the hand gun ban in Chicago and today advocates of gun rights are parading around like Rambo in Hermosa Beach CA. I'm all for the right to bear arms, I too enjoyed hunting animals, not human beings. Having been the victim of armed robbery twice and having a ten year old nephew blown away with a shotgun given to his 12 year old brother I don't care if I ever see another gun. I would like to see statistics of how many armed civilians have actually stopped a crime in progress or shot a person in self defense. The second amendment to the Constitution with the understanding of the English language should not be interpreted with so much confusion, it seems so easy to eliminate the phrase "well regulated militia" leaving a wild west mentality to gun toting fools.
As I sign off this posting my thoughts and prayers will be for all those in the gulf states suffering from this disaster and pray that our leaders will find a solution quickly.

Fathers Day

2010-06-19T14:15:00.000-07:00

This old tear jerking song by Jim Reeves always brings loving thoughts, remembering my Father and the love he gave to his family. With only a grade school education and living through the great depression he managed to provide for a wife and three boys. We never acheived any wealth only a home filled with love for one another. My father always said a man don't deserve any thing he ain't willing to work for, always do you best and be thankful for whatever your reward might be. As I grew in age my Dad was always looking out for my well being even though at times I didn't realize it. When I ventured out and got into trouble he could talk to me and make me wish he had beaten me instead. When he felt my wrong doings were only a growing pains of a young man he would cover up so my mother would not know just what I'd gotten myself into.
My father first worked as a motion picture projectionest, a trade he learned as a young man and moved from town town in Texas and then to Colorado. While in Colorado he began a painting business where he painted signs and houses. When his health began to keep him from climbing ladders he purchased some printing equipment and self taught himself and opened his printing business in the home. His last years on this earth was a lonely time for him missing my mother who had passed before him and caring for his pet cats.

Reunions?

2010-06-16T09:00:00.001-07:00

Thanks for the world of internet I am able to keep up to date on the happenings in and around my favorite place in Colorado. By visiting www.pagosa.com the latest events with beautiful photos of the place where I grew up come to life.
One of the upcoming events mentioned is a class reunion for any all who attended school in Pagosa Springs, this will take place on July 3rd. I'm sure this will be a memorable event for all who can attend. I recall attending a similiar event in 2000 and cherish the memory of meeting up with some old fiends. I just couldn't understand how my class mates all got so old! Oh how is wish I could be there to join in the festivites and compare wrinkles and gray hair but I don't beleive any '57 class memebers are around any more.
When I departed that part of the country in the 50s there was not much to keep youngsters attracted to the area. Congratulations to the new generations for bringing the beauty and potential for continued growth to such a great little town.
As this older population of which I am a proud member of begins to perish my prayer would be for the conservation of the natual beauty of the San Juan mountians and the home of my favorite comic charactor "Red Ryder" the town of Pagosa Springs.

Good Music

2010-06-06T13:34:00.000-07:00

Seeing this music posted on You Tube of the Music filling the mountain air of Pagosa makes me wish I was young and roaming those hills and streams. There was never any such entertainment for folks to enjoy as I was growing up there in the early 50s. The only place to catch any live music was to go to Pine Grove Inn or one of dances at the old Bales one room school house. My favorite place to catch up on the latest tunes of the day was over the AM radio stations late at night. Many nights my father would open my bedroom door and yell turn that thing down! There was great country music stations that came in loud and clear late at night from Del Rio Texas, thats where I memorized the lyrics of many tear jerkers with a country twang. Oh, it wasn't only the country station that keep my ears glued next to the speaker, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Sinatra, Doris Day, Ella, Bennett etc, etc. Even today those tunes can make feet want to get up and swing or hold a sweet smelling girl in my arms and sway to some love song that could bring tears to any eye.

Spring Time

2010-05-01T16:33:00.000-07:00

Welcome to spring! Once the snow and mud disappear its a wonderful time to get out the camera and go flower hunting. The picture here was taken one spring when I vacationed in Pagosa Springs and took a day trip over Wolf Creek Pass to visit the old mining town of Creede.

As a youngster I never really took the time to smell the flowers or even notice the beauty God placed before me. This time of year to a young boy in the 50s only meant that soon school would be over for the summer. It would be time for finding work for spending money and looking at all of the out of state license plates to figure out who traveled the furtherest.

Thinking back to one of those memorable times when I needed to earn some spending money. Standing on main street, leaning against the rails above the pool hall steps with hands in pocket and hoping some good looking girl would notice me. Suddenly a pick up pulled up and a rough voice called out my name and asked if I wanted to work. Not really knowing what I was agreeing to I was eager to go along with Floyd Bramwell. Floyd needed help on his ranch branding calf's. The only ranch work I had ever done was bailing hay and had no idea what I was in for. I was told that I would be the flanker on a team and had to hold the hind legs while the animal was branded and castrated. The first smell of searing hair and flesh began to turn my stomach and when the other part was done I lost everything I'd eaten for a week. I will always owe a debt of gratitude to all those ranchers who taught me the value of an honest days labor.

I recently read an article in the Durango Herald of the huge land sale of a ranch in Pagosa for

millions of dollars. I was surprised to learn that the same ranch was one I remember being owned by Lucy Turner. After researching the history and seeing how it was transformed from a working ranch to a Paradise for the wealthy I have to agree that "Bootjack Ranch" is a very prestigious beautiful place to visit. Its funny to me that for as long as I can remember tourist have come to San Juan mountains proclaiming its beauty to the world, packing up their belonging and coming to change the very beauty that brought them there in the first place. The wildlife have been driven from there breeding grounds only to learn to forge for food within the city trash bins.

I guess thats why never returned and chose to stay in a concrete forest, my heart breaks every time I visit and see that forest and grazing fields have been taken over by developers. Even fishing and hunting is no longer a sport with all the electronic gadgets to find the poor creatures.

Mother's Day

2010-04-23T16:14:00.000-07:00

"MOTHER"

What a beautiful word to give title to the one who suffers a life time for her children. I have been blessed by enjoying the love given by my Mother and the Mother of my children. God, called my loved ones home much too early and as years pass, the empty feeling in my heart never goes away. On this upcoming day of remembrance I hope everyone takes the time to wrap arms around their living Mothers and praise them for all the years of giving.

One day in 1963 I was reminded just how special my Mother was when she was chosen as "Queen for a Day" on a television show. She was chosen for the story she told of the love of my older brother who had lost a leg in a hit and run auto accident while in the Navy. This accident ended his quest for a naval career. She lost a battle with liver disease at age of 65.

The Mother of my children passed away at age 37, no one could really fill those shoes . My children and I still wonder how we made it though so many years without her.

Just Wondering

2010-04-18T14:53:00.000-07:00

Thinking back to the time I served in the US Navy, it was the so called cold war era. I was just a fresh kid from high school not even yet a grad and only seventeen. Two older brothers were already serving and knowing I would be draft age soon I chose to leave school and see the world with my Uncle Sam.

For years after I was honorably discharged, I kept getting all these inviting brochures in the mail inviting me to join other Vets and become a member of the American Legion. That really seemed to be an honor I would be happy to accept; however I was rejected for the time frame I served was not warranted. I don't know if any other Cold War Vets feel as I do but it appears to me that my service was not appreciated just because I never came under fire. In order to be recognized for service rendered to the country you must serve in a combat zone. Oh sure I got a medal for "China Service," playing war games with the nationalist Chinese and we found and destroyed old mines around Korea which could have killed us, but my service upon discharge was forgotten.

Even the old wooden hull minesweepers that was home to many MSO sailors are only a memory now. I still love this great country, its military forces and all the citizens who is protected by men and women in uniform who may never see a battle but are ready when called.

Perhaps someday an organization such as the American Legion will honor those who serve regardless of whether time is during a conflict or not.

Pagosa Adventure Guide | Margaret Archuleta | Pagosa Springs, Four Corners, Southwest Colorado, Indian and Settlers History in Archuleta County

2010-04-01T10:50:00.000-07:00

Pagosa Adventure Guide | Margaret Archuleta | Pagosa Springs, Four Corners, Southwest Colorado, Indian and Settlers History in Archuleta County

Lumber Barons and Timber Pirates

2010-04-01T10:45:00.000-07:00

Lumber Barons and Timber Pirates

2010-04-01T10:26:00.000-07:00

While researching to try and find photos of Pagosa Springs during my childhood of the 40s and 50s I found some interesting sites and stories posted on web sites. One of the historical stories was of the way the narrow gauge found its way to Pagosa. I remember as a young boy playing in the area of the old narrow gauge train station, using a coal shoot shed as a hideout playing cowboys. The coal shed has long disappeared like so many other memories, it was located on highway 160 at Putt Hill.
One my favorite old time friends Margaret Archuleta did a marvelous job of telling her memories of Pagosa. The Archuleta family were life long friends of my family and Pagosa lost a great patriarch of the comnmunity with her passing.
One of my favorite memories of Margaret was during the big 4th of July celebration in 1965. I had proudly taken my in-laws to Pagosa to see the parade and rodeo. My father-in-law who loved to drink his beer ; sat down in Margaret's bar enjoying a cool one, when one of my old friends thought it would be funny to send a couple of Indian ladies to flirt with him. Little did my father-in-law know that they were quite serious and began bartering to see who would take him home. Margaret,seeing what was happening came to the rescue made them leave him alone. Later in the day my father-in-law left the bar with a cold bottle of beer only to be told by a deputy to get back inside. He always told the story of being thrown into a bar in Pagosa!

Changing Corner

2010-03-27T13:34:00.000-07:00

Remembering how the corner of 4th and Lewis was when I was a youngster running across the street for a day of schooling. Lewis street where our house sat was still a gravel road,the land that now houses a gym for the school was a small hotel and grocery store with frozen meat lockers to rent. The owners of the little store would hire high school boys to help dress out deer and elk taken during hunting season. I recall one day when I was helping to prepare some of the game when a pick up pulled up and the carcass in side had shoes on the hoof, some poor farmer lost a mule to a hunter who mistook it for a deer.
Long before my family ever arrived in Colorado there was building on Lewis street across from the gym that once served as the local jail. This was one of my favorite places to play cowboys and Indians. This building was still standing
when I made a trip there in 2000 for a high school reunion. The vacant lot across the street from our house soon became home to the Post Office, which made it real nice for us to get our mail.

St. Pattys Day

2010-03-18T16:11:00.000-07:00

Just looked over a blog titled "All things Pagosa" and was surprised to see that the little town has grown large enough to have a St. Patty's day celebration. The restorations of the buildings downtown leaves very little resemblance to my memory bank. The parade route seems to travel the same way the "Red Ryder Roundup Parade" has for many years. It was refreshing to see so many folks get into the spirit of the day and everyone decked out in green.
Soon the snow will give way to new spring flowers, high school's will be looking for the day of graduation. I hope many of the new grads find a way to continue their education, its their generation that we must put our trust in to make this world a better place for everyone, long after us old timers have gone to greener pastures.
I sure don't ever want to see this country go back to having to rely on such things and tokens and stamps to get by.

These are samples of the way things were when all Americans had to give up simple things like sugar and gas, my Mother made sure such things were kept as a reminder of the price of freedom.

I see also from posting of Pagosa that music is still alive in the mountains with bluegrass bands performing along with other types of festivals. We never had such things to entertain us, we did manage to have a shin dig now and then. There was an old one room school house long abandoned that served as a dance hall and when there weren't local musicians a stack of vinyl records did the trick. The only advertisement that a dance would be going on at Bales School was by word of mouth, but it always got filled up. The grown ups would pack up their spirits of choke cherry wine, all kinds of goodies to eat. Those we cared for more spirited drinks would make many trips to their supply in the trunk of the cars. If there was not dance at the Bales then the next best thing would be at "The Pine Grove Inn" but getting in could be tricky if you weren't of drinking age. I always seemed to find me a chaperon to promise to keep me out of trouble if they let me in, I always hung out next to the band stand enjoying that good old country music.

Liberty Theater Stories

2010-03-14T13:46:00.000-07:00

After the old theater was sold to Albert Petry, things began to change for Pagosa's rowdy teenagers. The Saturday afternoon double feature matinees that used to be so much fun and could become an adventure of pure bravery. Just when all attention would be focused on the screen action or smelling the perfume on the girl sitting next to you,you just might feel a tap on the shoulder or on a shin if your feet rested on the seat in front. Mr Petry took on the job as the town moral Marshall and anyone attending had better tow the line or feel his walking cane. He didn't mind pulling an ear lobe either if he thought boys were getting fresh with the girls.
Buying a soda was nothing like today's concession stands. Ten cents bought a bottle of soda which was then poured into a paper cup to make sure the bottles never entered the seating area.
Janitorial duties after shows were done by those lucky enough to hold a job as collecting tickets or working the concession stand. Sometimes the loose change found under seats was more than an hourly wage, but then you might find other treasures, like half consumed wine bottles,coats,wallets,diapers etc.
Being the only source of entertainment, no matter what picture was showing there was always a gathering for the weekend shows. I'm sure many high school romances blossomed before intermission of the double feature. The little stage in front of the screen served as a treasure trove of gifts during Saturday raffles promoted by local merchants. I came real close to winning a bicycle but came in second to Johnny Madrid.
I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for Mr. Petry and his family, he never failed to greet me with a smile as he stood leaning on his cane in front the Liberty. He was always willing to give a young boy a job and teach the value of honest days labor. As a young man returning home on military leave Mr. Petry was always the first to greet me as I stepped off the the Trailways bus in front of the Theatre.
I would only hope that one day the city will find it worthwhile to honor these old buildings with some sort of historical marker of importance.

If Walls Could Talk

2010-03-13T08:36:00.000-08:00

In comparing views of photos taken of downtown Pagosa Springs in a span of fifty plus years the thought occurred of marvelous stories these buildings could tell. Lets look at the Metropolitan hotel est. in 1919 with it newly decorated face to attract fun loving tourist.
The Liberty Theater, previously known as the Mesa was a beacon of hope to the Willett family when they moved there in 1944. This little theater served as a place of employment for every member of that family from time to time. Herman with his background in motion picture operations became the projectionist and passed on his trade to the eldest son. Every member of this family worked every facet of this operation from tickets to janitorial duties.
The Hotel itself has seen so many changes over the years, if only those walls could talk. The Lobby has served as a post office, a Trailways Bus Station, a restaurant, a ice cream parlor, and once housed a local physician.
When the post office moved out an ice cream parlor opened and a serving window was cut into the wall adjoining the theater so patrons could be served at either concession area. The restaurant was once proudly operated by a fellow every knew a "fuzzy Guzzy."
the prices for the time period must have been reasonable, this was my first recollection eating in a restaurant.
Dr. Anderson had a room on the 2nd floor that served as his quarters and office. I recall an episode as a young boy developing hemorrhoids from lifting bales of hay too heavy for my size. My father took me see Doc Anderson, he took one look at problem and told my dad to go get a couple men down it pool hall. It took all them to hold me down he gave me in injection and sent me home with a pillow to sit on. I don't know what his remedy was but the problem never reoccurred!
As one would approach the hotel entrance from the street and looked to the left a metal railing and staircase led to local billiards hall,a place mother called the devils den. Along with all the games played on pool tables there was also a table tennis section where tournaments in the art of ping pong were held. One room was for card games and games of rummy could last until wee hours of the morning. Every young high school er had dreams of becoming a great billiard player like Minnesota Fats. The proprietor "Curly O'neal" was willing to teach but only if parents gave permission, other wise a person had to be eighteen years of age.

obsolete

2010-03-10T08:45:00.000-08:00

Seems like every thing in time becomes obsolete even these old vessels that house our souls. I have a difficult time dealing with this modern technology that changes more often than the weather.
My favorite thing to pass the time of day is trying to be creative with photos and scrap booking. I recently decided to upgrade and get a new computer with more memory and one of those slim monitors that is comparable to a flat screen TV. Little did I know that by doing this some of my programs would not be compatible with the windows 7 operating system. My favorite program was Microsoft Picture It Publishing, It seems that Microsoft does not deem it necessary to upgrade this one the new operating system. Oh, sure lots of extra goodies are added to Windows 7 but I have yet to find a photo publishing program as good as what I was used to. All the extra goodies added to Windows 7 are on a trial basis so you like them be ready to whip out that old credit card.

Random Thoughts

2010-02-12T14:18:00.000-08:00

While preparing to enjoy the winter Olympics and seeing the taping of "We are the world" I couldn't help but wonder if these words really have true meaning in this messed up world we live in today. Not a day goes by when some headlines are depicting how either political party is hurting this country. Its always easier to point fingers and play the blame came than to say "lets put our ideas together and work things out."
At least for a period of time now we can all focus on something in common, the greatness of athletes around the world and then look forward to spring training of the MLB while still cheering for our favorite teams of basketball, soccer etc.
There seems to be enough turmoil and strife throughout the world, earthquakes, freezing snow storms,rain, drought,wars and the worst enemy of all GREED, so if there is a higher power as I believe we better all try to learn to get along.
Congrats to all the athlete's of the winter Olympics, I must say my heart was filled with pride every time I cheered on Team USA.
The older I get the more sentimental I get. Being away for half a century from the little place in Colorado that I proudly call my home town, I keep searching for some resemblance to the past. Thanks to today's technology I can turn on a piece of electronics and view movies or still pictures that the present day residents love to share with the world. I must say though, the beauty that these modern day devices display makes me wonder if I really lived in the same place. Its amazing how many videos are posted online promoting tourist and developers to come bring your life's savings, big city ideas, kill the game, cut the trees, change the rivers, its no wonder that the senior population now consists of retires from other parts of the world. They came with loaded wallets and like a magician made the real historians disappear.

Time Changes Everything

2010-01-27T12:52:00.000-08:00

While trying to keep from feeling like an old bear in hibernation during the past deluge of rain, I decided to drag out some old photo albums and put together a memory slide show to share with the up coming generations.

Being a sentimental old fool, the blood shot eyes began to tear up when I ran across a photo of one of my favorite places to hang out as a young boy, my grandmothers house. This was the place where the aroma of old fashioned home cooking was always an open invitation. A young boy could always expect a handout when asking "Mom, can I do some chores for spending money?" knowing that a quarter would slip into my pocket without having to do anything.

This photo is the property where my grandparents home was in the 1950s. It was located on the north side of US 160 at McCabe creek. The auto parts store is where the garage was and a two story apartment was behind. The house was approx. 50 yds east of the present store. The hill in the background once housed the local school until it burned down in early 1900s. The land on top of the hill belonged to Buck and Nellie O'Neal who had two boys. Many adventures were enjoyed playing with those boys on the hill.

The water from McCabe creek ran under a bridge on US 160 and behind a big red barn across the street belonging to an early pioneer "Ed Speelman." The place where he cleaned his horse stalls near the creek was a perfect place to find feisty little red worms in the manure to lure a rainbow trout onto my fishing hook. It was under that bridge that I caught me 14 inch trout and proudly took it my grandmother who made sure I got my share for supper.

Yes its true time changes everything and now all that is left is memories and faded photos.

Where's The Ark??

2010-01-22T10:29:00.000-08:00

Be careful what you pray for you just might get it! This golden state of sunshine has been in a drought and people were being fined for watering their yards, now it looks like someones prayers were answered but who ever is charge up there forgot to turn off the faucet. I"m just real grateful to be an old timer who don't have to get out in the rain to punch a clock anymore.
Being shut in has given me time to tackle a project on computer. Many attempts at capturing my old family photos into a slide show I could share or hand down to grand kids was getting the best of nerves but I think I finally mastered it. After recently acquiring a new computer and printer I thought my problems would be solved until I discovered my favorite photo program was not compatible with the new operating system. After using up all the colorful language I could muster I decided maybe I better just learn to deal with the programs that came bundled. Being a stubborn old fool has now brought forth good fruit, I now have a slide show with background music that brings tears to these old eyes.

By The Numbers

2010-01-10T15:08:00.000-08:00

Well, old father time has turned the page on yesterday and now we can all wonder just what changes the new year will see.
As for me I'll just wait and see if I can add up more failures to my life span. I remember growing up and hearing my grandfather say, "get your hands out of your pocket"," or you're never goin' to amount to a hill of beans." After surviving for over half a century and looking back at my past failures, I see maybe he had the foresight into my future.
Back in my early teen years living in Pagosa Springs, my attempts to be accepted along with my peers found me only getting into trouble. Maybe the hormones were growing faster than the brain and looking for that magic bullet to strengthen the nerves lead me straight to the liquor bottle.
If only I could turn back the years and have the courage to say no to tobacco and beer, I would not have broken my Mother's heart or embarrassed my family. Many adventures found me letting the beer do my thinking for me, like the time I must have made some remark to a fellow on crutches that he didn't like. We were at the wildest night spot in Pagosa, a place by the name of "Pine Grove Inn," standing in the parking lot. I had no Idea what I was being accused of saying so when I denied it , I got beat to a bloody pulp by a cripple on crutches. I wouldn't fight back because he was crippled., big failure! My face was such a mess none of my so called friends wanted to be around me. All I have is memories of the the place called the bloody bucket or "Pine Grove', like many other landmarks it has disappeared. That was also the sight of a terrible auto accident that took the lives of four of my high school friends.
The last episode was at the age of 16. Both brothers had gone off and joined the Navy. Feeling lonely and sorry for myself I got into a car with some older boys who were celebrating a huge Elk Kill and the car was filled with all kinds of booze. After consuming so much, I got sick and ask them to pull over at a place called the "Y" where US160 and US89 merge. While heaving my guts out a car pulled behind and I thought it was more high school kids but it turned out to be the highway patrol. After a short pursuit we all ended up in the local jail for a few hours but the episode ended with a court hearing and fines issued. My punishment was to pay off my fine by sweeping the streets in "Jail" overalls after school and cleaning the drunk tank in the jail on the week-ends. Seeing all my school friends watch as I swept the street was bad enough but my Mother bless her heart worked at the bank and could see me from her desk. I couldn't wait to see my birthday roll around and talked my Dad into signing for me to join the navy. I missed walking down the isle to graduate with my classmates.
Military leaves and vacations always found me making it back to good old Pagosa, mostly during the summer months to attend the 4th of July celebrations. The "Red Ryder Roundup" was not only a favorite of mine but all of my in-laws. My parents never mentioned my troublesome teen years but I have always felt ashamed for what they went through.
I was really blessed when I fell in love and started a family as a young man, loosing the Mother of my children after only 18years left a big void in my heart. I've had many failures in my life since but the good Lord has been good to me and helped me steer this old ship on a much straighter course with extended families, so for those who read this, Happy Trails and many more Happy New Years.

If We Make It Through December

2009-12-21T08:08:00.000-08:00

YouTube - Merle Haggard-If We Make It Through December

This song really has some deep rooted meaning for me. I try to go along with the merriment of the season, knowing full well that the only thing to celebrate is the birth of Christ. Seems I'm always expecting some sort of tragedy to fall in the month of December.

Years come and go but somehow I can never shake the memories of loosing the love of my life and the mother of my children just days before the big season in 1976. I'm kinda like chicken little waiting for the sky to fall. Oh, sure there have been many joyful times since then and I've been blessed with new and extended families but the beast of past never leaves my mind. This year is starting out kinda bah hum bug, not only is the economy bad, a granddaughter who is

expecting is having difficulties carrying and a grandson was just rushed to the hospital with appendicitis.

Wouldn't it be nice to turn back the years and leave all the worries behind? Being a kid in Colorado and the only thing to worry about was how to keep warm. I didn't even mind getting frost bite while searching for just the right tree to chop down or gathering pine cones to make wreaths to ship to sunny California folks.

Here's wishing all my friends , family and readers of this blog, a joyous season and a Happy New Year. My wish for all is good health, peace and love shared to one another.

Looking Back

2009-12-16T09:54:00.000-08:00

On my last trip to Pagosa while trying to re-trace landmarks where I once enjoyed nature in its glory, my heart was crushed to find nothing resembled those special places. The place where I once skinny dipped with friends had been transformed into a place for tourist to pollute the river and build condos along the river bank. "Cotton's Hole" as we knew it was not longer a place for youngsters to learn to swim, spear mud suckers with hand made willow spears and pocket knifes or steal a first kiss from the girl next door.

Mesa Heights as I knew it decades ago gave many youngsters a thrill parking on the hill overlooking the town,listening to some romantic tune while embrassing your sweetheart. This hilltop now is a serene setting for some lucky homeowners to have a daily
view of the beauty down below. The sawmill that once provided much employment to the area is long gone. The smoke from its smoke stake could be seen from the top this hill. This was where highway 160 and 89 separated and was also a favorite parking place for teenage lovers.

While visiting and reminiscing I was thrilled to enjoy sharing an evening of bingo with folks from my era, even got to meet one of my old school teachers there. My brother being very active in the local American Legion helps with the activities there. I was amazed to find the old building so well kept but my mind kept having flash backs of the days that building was the local Teen Canteen, home of the duck tail haircuts, saddle shoes and poodle skirts.

The Reason for the Season

2009-12-15T16:34:00.000-08:00

Once again old father time has marched into the land of young just to remind us all that our time here is only on borrowed time and the only insurance for longevity is to love one another.
With the economy being on the down side, I ventured out into the local shopping mall to attempt putting a gift or two under the tree. What would have been a nerve wrecking trip in past was quite pleasant. Since I am not the only penny pincher looking for a bargain, the other souls though few, seemed in good spirits. The few things I managed to find worthy of resting under a beautifully decorated tree, I would have been embarrassed to claim in years past.
Reading scriptures related to advent and the coming of the real reason for the season I was taken back in time with my thoughts. Remembering when Christ was really the center of festivities and decorations, and local merchants greeted with a "Merry Christmas" and political correctness was never considered with Happy Holiday replacing the birth of Christ.
Growing up in a poor family in Colorado, only two Christmas's stand out. One was a year when my most treasured gift was a basket of fresh fruit, the other was a time I got a Roy Rogers outfit complete with guns and holsters. Expensive gadgets escaped my youth and I seemed to have survived, living with a land line telephone, a Philco radio with laughter and suspense coming out of speakers that only my mind could visualize, a brownie Kodak camera, a 35 cent movie ticket or a gallon of gas for about the same price.
As years have come and gone I tried to instill some the values of life handed down to me into my own children, but like the pied piper of stuff they have all fallen in line and at times I'm sure have forgotten the real reason for the season.
When driving down the road in the comfort of our shiny automobiles and burning $3:00 gas and seeing some poor soul standing in freezing weather on the corner with a cup in hand. do we curse and say what a lazy bum or do we wonder if maybe he just lost his job or had his home forclosed. Perhaps the change in our pockets could put a little nurisment in a belly or help find a warm place to sleep on the eve of the reason for the season

Thankfull?

2009-11-26T20:31:00.000-08:00

With a turkey and all the trimmings on the table this day of Thanksgiving I had to pause and think just what in the heck am I really thankful for. After eight plus years this country is still fighting wars in foreign lands, the rich are getting richer, the poor getting poorer, jobs have disappeared, rents are too high, banks are closing, crime is rising, yet there must be something to be thankful for!
After filling my belly from a bountiful feast that I will surely hate myself at next months bill paying time for. I looked back into my memory bank and realized how truly blessed I am and gave thanks to the lord above and asked for forgiveness for being so negative. Lets see now, I am thankful for surviving a near death event, for my three wonderful daughters, a loving wife, a roof over my head (as long as I can pay rent) most of all for all the love I receive from my family and friends.
While traveling down my memory lane I recall that Thanksgiving seldom meant a Turkey on the table for my family, we were lucky to get a Chicken. My most memorable Thanksgiving was in the 1950's when a family friend who owned a mom and pop store in Pagosa Springs , invited me to go with him on a hunt for a Turkey. This was not a hunt in the super market but an actual hunt in the woods. After hours of trying to quietly stalk though the leaves on the ground without making a sound my teeth were chattering from the cold, I was hoping to just go home and settle for a chicken. Mr. Whitefield began blowing into some sort of gadget that sounded like a turkey gobbling and soon we heard a real turkey answer back. Well, we got our turkey and that was the first Thanksgiving I remember eating turkey on this wonderful holiday.

God Bless Our Vets

2009-11-06T12:49:00.000-08:00

Each year at this time when Veterans day rolls around it brings memories of the days I served. I was lucky never to have seen combat but like to think I was well trained and prepared if the time came when I would be called to lay down my life. The photo here is the wooden hull minesweeper that I called home for four years. Although my time aboard the "Reaper" was during the cold war, there were times when we had our nerves rattled a little. Once while patrolling the waters near Korea we were able to blow up a mine left from the Korean conflict and one time while practicing maneuvers with the Chinese, their air force mistook our mine sweeping gear as targets and began firing at us. There was always the issue of weather and rough seas like typhoon Emma that almost destroyed our sister ship in Japan and as we rode out the storm we lost our mast and fuel stored in barrels on the fan tail.
Now the sea legs have become land grabbers and shades of Grey have crept up on the top, my chest has fallen into my drawers but my pride has only grown deeper for those young men and women who are giving it all for our freedom. Its not only those youngsters who as so dedicated but the older vets of the American Legion and VFW who give there time and talents to aid their fellow man. One of those dedicated souls is my brother who, although he had to end his Naval career with the loss of a leg still devotes most his time to helping veterans and his local American Legion.

>THIS OLD HOUSE

2009-10-30T19:37:00.000-07:00

This old house was not just lumber and nails it was a treasure chest that held the memories of pioneers, teachers, Moms and Dads, brothers and sisters, yes it was my treasure chest. A place where ear aches were cured with warm towels warmed in a cast iron stove and gently stoked with the hands of a worried Mother. A place where real buried treasure was found between the many layers of wall covering and early tokens from local merchants of days when the stagecoach rolled across the San Juan's, lay in the ground underneath. The old chicken coup also held its own treasures, found between the walls was a 1879 Springfield rifle barrel without the stock.
This was a gathering place for high school boys and girls to bring their friends and be part of our family. No one ever need worry about a place to warm their hands on a cold snowy day or place to lay their head to rest as long as the Willett's lived there.
A room in back served as my Dad's printing shop, a place where he felt at peace no matter the time of day. For a time there was a chicken coup out back but gave way to a place to park a car, called a garage. As young boy, I once thought it would be brave to steal a chicken or two but figured the safest hunt would be in my own back yard. Dad told me years later of watching my antics from the window upstairs. Once he even watched me attempt to get out of a ditch in front where new water pipes were being laid, he never told my Mother of his drunk son trying to get home.
Christmas in the 1950's and 60's were always filled with joy around this old house. Months and years of Mother and Dad searching and designing just the right yard decoration to put in the yard for the enjoyment of all who passed by always brought some new excitement to Lewis street. Nothing was put out that was not hand made except for the lighting.
The old house became quite lonely as time passed, my brothers and I all became sons of Uncle Sam and set out to protect this country from what ever evil lurked. Even though the folks were left alone they always found some one in need of place to stay and took in a young girl to live with them until she finished high school.
Seeing the changes that have taken place leaves very little resemblance to the place I grew up, its amazing what money can do, my only regret is that my parents never reached the mountain top of wealth to enjoy the grandeur in their last years.
The old home is now a bed and breakfast, listed on the web as www.lewisand4th.com,

Rocky Mountian High

2009-10-09T07:46:00.001-07:00

It was nice to return my roots not as a disgruntled ex resident but as a tourist out to enjoy the beauty of this wonderful country. One of the reasons I wanted to venture back to the San Juan mountains of Colorado was visit my older brother and to visit the family plot where my other brother was recently laid to rest.
Our first night on the road found us in Flagstaff AZ where after feasting on some of the best home cooking at the Cracker Barrel restaurant we settled in at the near by Econo Lodge. The following day we stopped by the four corners monument to take a few snapshots of the place where four states meet. We were then on our way to Durango Co. where we were looking forward to an adventure of riding the narrow guage railroad train to Silverton.
Although I had ridden the train many years ago I really didn't recollect what was in store on the journey. It was a cool fall morning as we waited along with all the other tourists to board a train back into the past. We were seated in a car named the "San Juan" witch was really appropriate for this area. AS the old train whistle began to sound the departure and the smoke and steam began to rise, our anxiety also rose. The old locomotive slowly pulled away and headed out towards the mountains with a back and forth motion that would shake our insides for another three hours.
Like so many others aboard our eyes were focused on all the splendor of the changing colors of the landscape. With our cameras snapping as many scenes as we could capture, each mile became more beautiful. As the old train made its way along the mountain wall with rivers and gorges below we were at awe how such a feat could be accomplished to lay the tracks in such a place.
The little of town Silverton was a bustling place, awaiting the arrival of all the tourist to spread their money around. Since only a two hour lay over is allotted between train departures the local restaurants witch appear to be many are rushing to feed the hungry travelers.
Our next adventure took us to my home town roots of Pagosa Springs. The little town I once called home was now a city with all the amenities of any large city along with price tag. Our old home is now a Bed and Breakfast, its a beautiful place now with hardly any resemblance of the past. We enjoyed visiting with family and touring the area, even took photos of deer that have decided its better to live in town. My brother is very much involved with the American Legion and we took in a bingo game with him where he was charge of the concessions.

Black N White (Photos)

2009-09-20T15:38:00.000-07:00

Here I go daydreaming again, looking back into the past when my Sundays were spent with my Mom, Dad, and grandparents. After church we would all pile into my grandfathers old Nash and go for an afternoon drive to enjoy the beauty of the San Juan mountains in Colorado. There were no such things as digital cameras but Frank (grandpa) always had his trusty old Kodak along. I can still imagine smelling his King Edward cigars as he drove along with only the side wing window open. My Mother was always the one to yell out, "there goes a deer under those trees" and when the car stopped we all would climb out to see how many we could count. The elk posted in the above photo was a time when the poor animal got bogged down in the snow with his heavy antlers.
Thanks to some caring cowboys the poor thing was pulled out and given a bale of hay before sending him on his way.

Although Frank was the only grandfather I ever knew he was really a step grandfather but I followed him around and thought he was the greatest thing since RED RYDER. Frank was a carpenter by trade but also an avid outdoors man, he taught so many things about the wilderness and the values of honest labor. I watched and worked beside him as he built my grandmother a house from old lumber and nails from building he had torn down. Each nail was old, but with a brick, hammer and sore fingers I straightened them all. When I would try to slow down he would say to me that I would never amount to a hill of beans. Funny how such things will stick in the brain, I think that's what drove me to try my best at what ever life handed me.

MY DAd

2009-09-17T10:15:00.000-07:00

My dad really did go to school although I think he too was forced to leave at an early age and go to work. The stories he would tell was like sitting down in front of the radio and hearing a mystery unfold and constantly waiting for the big climax. The stories he would tell to my brothers and I kept us mesmerized, how he ran from home and began to ride the rails with hobos, the time he got into a boxing ring to spar with prize fighters to earn money to eat on or the time he drove a getaway car for gangsters. I can't say for sure if these tales were true of just his way of entertaining us. Without much education Dad always found a way to earn a living and raise a family. One of the longest tenures of employment was as a projectionist in movie theaters,having his own business as a painter of houses and signs and finally a printing business he ran from home.
There are times like now when I wish I had his talents with printing and the equipment. My faithful Epson printer is on its last leg. After spending a load of cash on ink cartridges I get a message saying that internal parts are beyond service and its now time to buy a new printer.

What's The Season

2009-09-11T10:45:00.000-07:00

Its getting harder each day to tell what season of the year it is. While cruising through the big box store the other day I noticed all these scary things glaring at me and begging for me to touch or buy. then a few isles further I heard Christmas carols and saw blinking lights indicating Christmas was near.
Still another display was begging for me to go camping or big game hunting, oh my how confusing for an old man who can't remember if he took his Geritol in the morning. Its no wonder my sneakers are beginning to show a tinge of yellow and the zipper is needing wd40.
Reminiscing back to my youth and the way the witching season of Halloween was celebrated was much different than the way it is today. We didn't have all the manufactured scary stuff and had to think of our own mischief. A ghost of long ago only required an old bed sheet and a bottle of ketchup and a trick when candy was not supplied might just be to have your clothes line cut or out house tipped over.There were a few times when I came home smelling like the last rose of spring from missing a step while pushing over an out house.
I have to admit that I really enjoy seeing today's generation put their utmost effort into scaring the daylight out of everyone with their imagination. I was recently honored when my grandson invited me join his haunting club and his sharing photos of his horror objects,like the new zombie baby.

Fires, Floods, Bigotry

2009-09-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

Smoke still fills the sky, hundred year old water mains are flooding homes and businesses and the air waves are filled bigotry. What a way to celebrate the land of the free and home of the jobless.

There was a time when a child in school would be honored to hear the President of the United States encouraging them to work hard to achieve their dreams. Many years ago when I was a youngster in school such a speech may have saved me from being a drop out with a brand of troublemaker to follow me. The one thing I did learn not only from my teachers but my parents was to respect and most of all the President of the United States regardless of the color of his skin. Although I chose to leave school instead of being chastised for my mistakes I learned from my military experience to respect my leaders,elected officials,elders,and most of all that all blood runs the same color. Only in a country as great as this can one serve his country, go back and get educated and live on a social security program that was fought against just as hard as today's health care.

I don't assume to have answers to the worldly problems,but I can agree that things are really in a mess and it didn't get this way in six or nine months of an election. Mistakes have been made in both political parties for decades and neither can repair the damage as long as neither will trust the other but the latest rash of attacks are really making me one sad American citizen.
Lets face the fact that if the President had a different color of skin the name calling and decent would be much less.

These are only my views and I wouldn't try to force them on any one, I can listen, read, analyze, and hopefully chose a respectful attitude to those who see things differently.

Daydreaming

2009-08-30T18:29:00.000-07:00

Nothing seems to be as relaxing as sitting on a bench watching the waves gently roll up to kiss the sand on the beach. Gone are the days when swimsuits and sunburns were the uniform of the day and transistor radios blaring out tunes like "Lets do the twist', Good Golly Miss Molly" kept us dancing in the sand.
One way I love to reminisce is to sit with the love of my life on a bench with the replacement for our old transistor radio, this thing called and IPOD and let it take us back in time with the tunes we loved so long ago. Since I have these gadgets in my ears called hearing aids, I can't use the ear buds so we take along our docking station so we both can enjoy the sounds.
Its amazing how many people stroll by and hear our music and stop, if just for a moment and maybe do a dance step or two. If they happen to be walking their dog. it gives them an excuse to let the animal rest a spell.
As Bob Hope said "Thanks For The Memories", its so nice to have such memories captured that we can have in our treasure chest of dreams. Each tune that plays is like having a slide show in motion going through the brain as I recall the era, the place and with whom I loved each song. Oh, I know today's generation love the music they have even if I can't understand or relate to any of the screaming, I can't help but wonder if fifty years if they will be able to serenade the love of their live with a special lyric they fell in love to.
With all the turmoil going on in this old world, if you want a really relaxing day, try shutting out the negative news media, politics, or personal woes and head for the beach or some secluded place and let your mind go back to a time of happiness with some good old fashioned music!

Random Thoughts

2009-08-24T12:14:00.000-07:00

The world has lost another Hero, one of the few politicians who really cared about the less fortunate even though his family was blessed with wealth. The country will truly miss Ted Kennedy just as much as his brothers who have gone before him. It will be a great task to find one to fill his shoes who can reach across the isle and persuade the Republican party to have compassion for the sick, poor, and elderly. My prayers go out the Kennedy family and all who mourn this country's loss.

"The minute you read something that you can't understand, you can almost be sure it was drawn up by a lawyer."

On account of being a democracy and run by the people, we are the only nation in the world that has to keep a government four years, no matter what it does.
Will Rogers

A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk forward.
Franklin D. Roosevelt,

Today my prayers also go to Carleen, who is going through another surgery. This girl has endured more pain and suffering than most of us will ever know. She never complains, like she says you just deal with what God puts on your plate. She must get her strength and courage from her Mother or from that strong sole standing by her side, the so called'Egyptian Dude'. I can truly understand this strength for I am proud to say that the rock she leans on is my son-in-law.

Then and Now

2009-08-17T19:07:00.000-07:00

While exploring the thought of returning to my roots, I decided to look up the latest advertising gimmicks for the old home town. The first search lead me to the Pagosa Sun newspaper, this paper has been the local news media there for over 50 years. A printing once a week keeps the locals informed of all the progress and activities in the town and surrounding areas. The headline that caught my attention was about a new Hotel that was constructed near the hot springs which read "10 million dollar hotel owned by who?" The web site for the hot springs displays some beautiful photographs of the resort and the new hotel which has a base rate of approx. 250.00 a night, something I could never have dreamed of as a youngster there fifty years ago. The story goes on to explain that several of the contractors who built this extravagant place have not been paid and have placed liens against it. The photos I have included here show the way the springs were when my family arrived there in 1945 and the way it was when I left home. The water in the spring is supposed to be the world's biggest and hottest mineral spring. Its a place where as a young teen I attempted to dunk a stolen chicken in to remove the feathers and only a skinless carcass was left.
It seems strange that I can no longer afford to visit my childhood romping grounds where the hills and streams were as God had made and the animals did not need to depend on garbage from residents to survive. Pagosa is still a beautiful place but plan on taking a life's savings if you plan on visiting for any period of time.
Politics,Politics, I sure get fed up with all hipe on the television over this medical reform thing. Personally I think everyone should be entitled to first class medical attention. I don't think the government trying to help the less fortunate is being a socialist, after all I thought the government included all citizens of this country. I may be wrong but I thought Medicare, Medicaid, and the VA were government run programs but no one calls them socialist.

Saving Yesterdays

2009-08-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

Along with my scrap booking project I decided to dive into my Adobe program and attempt making a slide show of the lives of my two brothers and myself. From a very early age I have always wanted to be just like my older siblings although two years separated each of us.
My oldest brother would have rather not have a little brat brother following in his tracks. He had some strange ways of showing his brotherly love for me. There was the time he invented a little game called "grab the treasure" where all his friends or any kid in the neighborhood could join in. The only requirement was that what ever each individual treasurer-ed, items such as pocket knifes, marbles, balls of string, chewing gum, spinning tops, etc. would all be place in one pile. A bucket then placed on top and everyone would go hide and count to a hundred then run as fast as possible to grab all the treasure under the bucket when big brother lifted it. No one knew that as we all hide our eyes he replaced all the treasures with slimy garbage and somehow he made sure I would be the first to get to the bucket. Once when we lived in Texas as I was just a bare foot child he made a dummy of old clothes, stuck a knife in it and poured catsup over it to scare me.
As we grew older and both had jobs working in the local theater in Pagosa Springs Colordado, he ran the projectors and I took tickets. I couldn't understand why every Sunday matinee some one would be waiting to fight me, as I found out later my dear brother was taking bets with the local kids to see who could beat me up.
The middle brother "Jerry" was always my best friend and we tried to be each others care taker. He was my mentor when I tried to keep up with the older boys on the football team and covered up for my bad behavior so my parents wouldn't find out.
When the two brothers left home and joined the Navy my heart was broken and I felt so abandoned. With no one left to keep me out of trouble, I found plenty to get into and broke my Mother's heart, I'm sure. As I tried once more to follow in their footsteps, I joined the Navy too, and my basic training took me to Great Lakes where brother Jerry was in trade school. He was there throughout my boot camp and helped me learn the Navy way of doing things. Upon completion of my basic training, I was assigned to a minesweeper that just happened to be the same one my oldest brother was on and we served together for two years.
I hope that as I complete this endeavor and leave a photo record it may be enjoyed by those I leave behind.

Scrapbooking

2009-08-04T07:17:00.000-07:00

While searching for some sort of hobby to occupy this old mind I decided to make another attempt at scrap booking. I remembered as a child how I loved to visit my Grandmother, this was a period of time when televisions were unheard of. We spent our treasured visits by siting in front of the old Philco radio and listening to stories like "Fiber McGee and Molly", or her telling stories of her youth. Other times I would sit on the floor in her bedroom and empty the bottom drawer of her dresser which held a treasure full of photographs. Yesterday while going through stacks of old photos handed down to me I drifted back to those special moments and still wondered just who the folks were in some of her old photos, the trials and tribulations these people went through somehow has given us hope over many years.
What wonderful progress has been made over the years to preserve our treasured past, things like visual recordings and digital photos. I recall how excited my father was when he acquired a box full of glass negatives made in the the early 1900s and was able to bring to life the images, now images are stored on computer disks that one day will be obsolete and children will no longer be able to thumb through stacks of family history or hold in their hands images of their ancestors.

A TIME TO REFLECT

2009-07-30T16:35:00.000-07:00

Its been a one heck of a week and although I was looking for restful period the nerves feel like they have been through an 8.0 earthquake.
Things started out quite peaceful even knowing I could not make the trip to Colorado to see my Brother's ashes put into the family plot. Our youngest grand daughter was performing in a Cinderella ballet in Old Town Temecula and since her parents had purchased advance tickets for the family it was a must to show up. Not only was it important to be there for the show, the following Monday was a memorial service for our Son-in-laws Mother.
Knowing that we needed to spend the three days away from home I decided to take advantage of "Free" hotel rooms at the fabulous Harrah's Rincon Casino. The room was beautiful even though it was in the middle of nowhere. Since I'm not an accredited gambler I stick to slot machines that scream with video displays when you win something. It's really amazing how fast those colorful little gadgets can suck up a twenty dollar bill! After letting one machine tease me for a couple hours it was time to look for food. Off to the Buffet we go and check out the price, Wow!, $20 a piece, not me! I don't mind feeding a slot machine but it don't take that much to fill me up. Maybe it's cheaper at the "Cafe"; it is but only by a fraction, by the time I pay the tab and tip I could have eaten in the Buffet.
Back to our own little castle we were ready for some real nap times if we can get the fans to cool us off. Doctor appointment for the wife sent her to have CT scan to see if her kidney is manufacturing more stones. Called my Dr. for results of biopsy done on my face to learn I have to schedule an appointment for follow up. Today was the day of reckoning with the dermatologist and report not good. Cancer showed up in both places only one requires that I see a plastic surgeon to cut up my cheek. At this point in my life I don't know if want to just put a bag over my head or go see a lawyer and make out a will.

THINGS THAT GET UNDER MY SKIN!

2009-07-24T07:31:00.000-07:00

Just when I thought the summer would be mine to enjoy as I see fit, one appointment after another keeps me tied to roaming my own area. This aging thing is really for the birds. After having a dermatologist dig in my face and leaving my completion looking like the craters on the moon, I called to get the results of the biopsy only to learn I have to go through the whole procedure again.
Politics, politics! I get so tired of all the politics playing out on the media. Everyone gives their two cents worth of commentary on the need for health care reform but no one knows what reform really is. Until those fat cats sitting in Washington have to survive on what most of the senior citizens on social security have to live on, they will never understand the suffering. No one wants the government to run health care; that would be socialized medicine so they say. Lets see now. is medicare socialized medicine, how about the VA, is that socialized medicine, how about state sponsored aid programs?
RACIAL PROFILING? Seems to me no matter what stature a person has even being a Harvard professor doesn't warrant the rage displayed over a police officer attempting to do his duty. Before the media puts video footage and statements over the air ways I think it would be helpful if the whole story was investigated first. It just might be that tempers were ignited unnecessarily.
These people who are called birthers, can they really be so stupid as to question the birth of our President. If any person in the US requests a copy of birth certificate I doubt that they can get the original document.
The second amendment is constantly being debated and the NRA would have every citizen armed with AK 47s, carry concealed weapons and shoot when confronted or shoot it out like Billy The Kid and WYATT EARP. Growing up in Colorado where big game hunting is popular and the kill is usually put on someones table, I think guns for that purpose is great. Being the victim on more than one occasion where a gun was placed to my temple and my belongings taken from me, I truly think I would be dead had I resisted or tried to pull a gun of my own.

Good Eats

2009-07-20T08:18:00.000-07:00

Birthdays are fun when its not you getting older! My better half celebrated another revolution on father times clock and the family was kind enough to see that we stuffed ourselves. With so many offspring's we have to split our time between them. One family took us out for lunch at Joe's Crab Shack, where we enjoyed the sea food and ocean view. Later that evening another group took us for Mexican food. The rest of the evening was spent nursing our overloaded guts and watching television.
Looking back into memory vault I am trying to remember just how we survived heat waves in the 50s. Air conditioning was something only the most wealthy would have had. I do remember a water cooled contraption that we had for our car, it sat on the hump between driver and passenger and plugged into the cigarette lighter. It was great for cooling the legs of front seat passengers. Home cooling was a matter of getting a #2 galvanized wash tub and filling it with ice and placing a fan behind it to blow the cool air, worked great as long you didn't move from in front of it.
Those of us who still haven't achieved the luxury of air conditioning or the means to pay for the electricity still rely on some of these old remedies of cooling from the past

Reflections

2009-07-17T08:27:00.000-07:00

Looking in the mirror and seeing this old man looking back at me I think of this song by Tom T. Hall. These lyrics have such a meaningful lesson of what life's treasures really are.

This modern technology such a facebook sure has a way of bringing together old acquaintances. I see pictures of young folks who I knew when all of us were much younger, some were cousins I haven't seen in many years and would never recognize if I passed them on the street. Its nice to see that time has been good to them and blessed them with loving families. As I browse through the listing, reflections of the good times our families shared come to surface in my memory bank. Its nice to know you are not forgotten when an invitation to become friends on facebook pops up and it turns out to be family that you have lost contact with over the years.

With the anniversary of Apollo 11 at hand it brings back memories for me when I first began work in the aerospace industry and worked on the experiments left on the moon by the astronauts. Although there is little praise or recognition for the little sub contractors, I feel honored to have been a small part of history.

Its been a long time since I made a trip back to the town in Colorado where I grew up. My sister-in-law called to let me know she would be taking my brothers ashes there to put in the family plot. When she informed me that she would be staying in a motel close to a "McDonald's" it sent shock waves to my memory bank. The little town has grown up! When I lived there we knew everyone and didn't need a map or street names to find our way around. Now it seems there are many developments, the place has tripled in size and one needs a GPS system to navigate. I complained a lot the last time I visited about the way the land was being taken over with little regard to preservation of natural resources but since I no longer live there I guess I just have to accept the growth of the wealthy newcomers. There are no longer old friends to visit there only my oldest brother, so next time I make the trip it will be as a tourist and I will pretend its my first time and maybe then I'll fit in.

Rambling thoughts

2009-07-14T08:38:00.000-07:00

This old body required another trip to see another doctor and I came home looking like a clown with spots dotting the face. After months of wondering just when zits or ingrown whiskers would heal and clear up I decided maybe it was time to have them checked out. No conclusions were established but biopsy's were taken and I came home with holes in my face and waiting outcome of lab results.
Getting old has its ups and downs, its great to get discounts on certain venues but as the saying goes "My can do can't keep up with my want to"seems to be more prevalent with each passing day.
With the state of California now issuing IOU's and it appears a mass exodus will soon be taking place, the greed of the wealthy just seems to be expanding. Many elderly and low income families live in Mobile home parks, their home may be paid for but they still have to rent the ground it sits on. If they are lucky they may live in a community that has local government controlled rent control keeping their housing cost within budget. Some of the property owners who are big corporations continually try to overturn rent controls with court battles, causing anxiety and mental stress to the elderly on very low incomes. It becomes more obvious that these corporations would like to round up the elderly, handicapped, and minimum wage earners and march them to the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean and watch them fall off.

Sad Day Brings Memories

2009-07-07T15:35:00.000-07:00

Today was spent glued to the television choking back tears as I absorbed the love poured out to the world for an amazing entertainer and humanitarian. Too often we as a public are bombarded with celebrity innuendo from media spell casters and are swept away in their spell. I too for years had doubt and negative thoughts about Micheal Jackson, but as his love and charitable givings was poured out on the stage of his memorial tribute my heart melted.
I could not help feeling the pain his family was going through, it brought back painfull memories of the family members I have lost through the years. The most recent loss was by best friend, my mentor, my Brother.
Jerry was my eldest by two years, we were always the best of friends and never ashamed to tell each other how much we loved one another. He was my tutor in grade school, my body guard in high school and my buddy in the Navy. Our cowboy playing days in the hills of good old Pagosa often found us on opposite sides. Jerry always wanted to be the good guy with the white hat and I would be the outlaw or Indian. One day while acting out our roles, Jerry hide behind the old out house and as he peeked around the corner to shoot me with his rubber band pistol, I let him have it between the eyes with my Red Ryder Daisy BB gun. Luckily the BB only glanced off his forehead but left him a tell all sign for my dad to see.
Many times when I would be trounced on by some bully in school Jerry would be right there to pull them off. When he left to join the Navy my heart was broken. Oh, I had a few friends I could hang out with but no one watche over me like my big bro. as a result I managed to get myself into trouble. As soon I could get old enough to join the Navy I too left good old Pagosa. I was really surprised when I learned my basic training would be in Great Lakes, Il. Thats where Jerry was going to training school, when he found out I was there he came to visit me often and of course help through the rough periods.
Whenever his ship and mine entered into any naval port the word would get around that the Willett boys were in town! Jerry's ship was in the Atol Islands when the A bomb was tested in operation Redwing and he stood on the deck as the mushroom cloud rose into the sky.
Jerry suffered for a long time with lung problems COPD and passed away in 2008, time goes by slowly when a broken heart is mending and I hope mine soon will, it has taken time with the loss of my parents and my first wife. The old heart is full of scars from days of sorrow just as I know the hearts of the Jackson family will be.

Bad Economy?

2009-07-04T09:35:00.000-07:00

Looks to me like we may be heading down the road to the past. Never thought I'd live to see the day this country would be in such sorry shape.
I remember when such luxuries as have tokens or ration stamps to put a meal on the table was a real blessing.
Many times my father would glue a piece of rubber from an old tire inner tube to the sole of my shoe to cover the hole. A chicken on Sunday meant the Lord had blessed our family again, we ate so many chickens that my father refused to eat that bird when time got better. Every member in my family worked and contributed to the family budget. My first job in 1951 when we lived in Texas for awhile was to haul popcorn in a wagon from the the "White" theater to the "Colored" one two blocks away. The Colored theater was for Blacks and Hispanics, the Hispanics had to sit in the balcony. I never understood such discrimination. My father was the projectionist, my mother worked the concession stand and my two brothers were ushers. Our weekly pay came in a little coin envelope and we would all empty ours onto the dining room table for my parents to pay bill and buy food. This lesson carried over to our move to Colorado until dad gave up the theater work and started his own business and my mother began working in the bank.
I hope these lessons of days gone by will help me as I struggle in my old age to stretch my social security dollars between a roof over my head and medicine never mind eating, guess I could loose some weight anyway.

I Miss Red Ryder!

2009-07-04T07:44:00.000-07:00

July 4th celebrations bring back fond memories for me as I grew up in this small town in Colorado. Pagosa was the home of a famous artist and cartoonist by the name of Fred Harman. Fred created the "Red Ryder and Little Beaver characters, his comic books and stories also became movies and of course all little boys would want to emulate him. I am so proud that I grew up not only knowing him but his first side kick to play "Little Beaver" was a classmate of mine in grade school. My family knew him well and my father who owned a little printing shop would print his stationary for him. In 1949 the first July 4th celebration to honor him was named the "Red Ryder Roundup." Red Ryder and Little Beaver would lead the parade down the main street of this little town and along the parade route people from all over would stand elbow to elbow to get a glimse of the famous cowboy.
The afternoon would be highlighted by a rodeo santioned by the RCA and leading contenders would compete for the top cowboy award. This celebration continues today with Fred's son who owns a museum there and as the population has grown so has the celebration.
Oh, I enjoy the tasty barbeques and the flashing of fireworks lighting the night sky but those memories of days gone by still brings a tear to these old eyes.

God Bless America

2009-07-02T12:24:00.000-07:00

Before we fire up a barbecue or watch fireworks light up the sky, lets all take a moment to remember just why! Lets remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy. Look around and see if there isn't a gray headed being next to you who may have served this country is some small way, perhaps they didn't serve in military or stood on some political soap box. They just might be the policeman, fireman, teacher or ordinary taxpayer but all have contributed to what we enjoy today. Those who have wealth and security should be congratulated but those who gave all in labor, treasure, and tears should not be condemned.

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Proud Father

2009-06-22T11:01:00.000-07:00

Just when you think your life's contributions have gone unnoticed or appreciated little words or deeds come your way that just melt your heart. This is what happen to me on Fathers day with my daughter Carleen. On Saturday I tired to surprise her by giving her a doll to replace one she treasured as a child and I thew away when it seemed that the poor thing had seen its last day.
On Fathers day she returned the love by honoring me on her blog with the most beautiful tribute a father could ever hope for. The words expressed were like a sonnet that could be sung by choirs of angels. She is so talented in the literature field, its hard to believe we share DNA.
I love all my girls and we have traveled many roads full of pot holes, laughed, cried and screamed at one another from time to time but each in our way give our love that knows no boundary. My dad once told me that any man can be a father but it takes a good woman to make him a good one. Now I know what he meant I could never have succeeded as a father without the love of their Mother, May she rest in peace.
The past week was spent baby sitting a pair of cats and house sitting for my Step Daughter who lives in Temecula. Their family had to make a trip to Penn. to attend a memorial service for my Step Son's Mother.
Temecula is an old west type of town in San Diego county, the buildings there resemble the 1800s and has many Antique shops and tourist attractions. On of the main attractions in the area is the wineries and Indian Casinos that resemble Las Vegas. One of my favorite Casinos is "Pala," where one of the oldest Missions in California still has service and a school in operation. The Casino just opened a new Buffet which seats 630 people and has the best varity of food I have ever had in any Buffet.

Silent Thoughts

2009-06-11T08:34:00.000-07:00

I think everyone should have roll models in their life and these are three of mine, My dad and my two brothers. Some times when we look at our family tree we don't realize how strong the roots are until some of the branches wither and die. Although my father only acquired an eighth grade education, he never forgot the value of faith, hard work and family devotion.

As I look back over the years and wonder just what legacy has been left to me, I can only see the devotion of love of family, country, honesty and faith. I didn't need wealth of monetary value handed down to realize my wealth in love.

When my maker calls me home I wonder if the roots of this old family tree will flourish or if it is time to uproot the stump. This old barn reminds me of my life, it has stood firmly over years and sheltered its contents, and holds so many memories of good times and bad.

a little reunion

2009-06-05T15:55:00.000-07:00

Today was a joyful reunion with old family friends. Dick and Jeanne Taft are here visiting their kids and grand kids. We all met at Mimis cafe in Torrance for breakfast, his daughter "Vickie" came along. We had a good time reminiscing about the good old days and wishing we could all turn back the years. Remembering the good time we shared when we all lived in Lawndale, Dick and I shared the duties of Boy Scout leaders while Jeanne and Anita (my dear departed wife) took care of girl scouts.
Here we are forty plus years since we were all in good health and enjoying watching our families grow. Now Dick is dealing with a pace maker, diabetes, and recoving from prostate cancer, I've had surgery on both ears, back surgery and a new hip. We may not be able to hike the mountains like we used to but the story telling is just as good.

Birthdays?

2009-06-03T20:29:00.000-07:00

Email from my oldest brother confirmed that the big event of putting the other brothers ashes in the ground in Pagosa was canceled. Funny after all these years I never knew when my sister-in-law Betty's birthday was but in the email he mentioned that her birthday is on the 22nd of June and he was looking forward to celebrating that too.
Speaking of birthdays, our grand daughter Marissa just turned ten and we made a trip to Temecula to celebrate. My how birthday parties have changed over the years. Remember when a home made cake and kool-aid was the high lite of the day? I don't know how many kids came to this shindig or how many adults but it was wall to wall people. Dave is quite the chef and prepared a grilled feast. This party even had a theme, "Wicked" named after the play and the eldest grand daughter dressed up as the wicked witch with green make up, she was the hit of the party.
I had a party one year when I was a youngster, only four or five kids came but my Mother took us all the Liberty theater to see "Red Ryder."
Today was the last check up with orthopedic surgeon and I got a clean bill of health on my new bionic hip. Since I've been coughing like I had whooping cough or smoking, I decided to see the family doctor and get checked out, a little congestion in lungs taken care of with regiment of pills. Chest x-ray was good but blood work not so, seems I have to go on low fat diet, triglycerides are out of wack and have to take dose of vitamin D every day.
Guess I better change my ways if I want to keep having Birthday Parties.

Changes

2009-05-29T08:27:00.000-07:00

Our upcoming trip to Colorado was put on hold yesterday. A phone call from my sister-in-law let me know that they could not make the trip due to Rob's father going to have surgery at the time we planned to make the trip. This trip was going to be to put my Brother's ashes in the family plot and a small service at graveside was planned. Jerry suffered for a long time with COPD, he was a Navy veteran and a veteran grave marker is in place waiting for him.
I had made reservation at a local Motel in Pagosa and when I called to cancel the front desk person did not know about the cancellation refund policy. After a few phone calls and emails I finally got it resolved. In the process of emailing the manager there I learned that she was a long time friend of my family and knew both my brothers and parents quite well. Upon expressing my negative thoughts to the expansion of millionaire mansions and the destruction of the natural landscape in this beautiful place, I learned that the old time residents are just as disappointed as I.
Some day I will have to make a trip back to my roots but will most likely need a map or GPS to find my way around. When I left many ages ago there were no street names, stop lights, and only a few paved roads. That was a time when a traveler needed directions he was told to go so many miles past a land mark such as the springs or down the Piedra road.
I still see in the depths of my memory bank walking down main street and passing men leaning on the railing above the pool hall and being greeting with a smile by and men tipping their hats to ladies passing by. That was time when all the merchants knew you by name and you could run a tab in any store or saloon.

remembering

2009-05-22T18:56:00.000-07:00

One thing one can do while retired is turn to modern technology and read such things as a blog, its kinda like reading a book in progress. Today in between feeling sorry myself for the aches and pains in the old body and the thought of Memorial Day approaching I took time to read a blog posted by my oldest daughter. As I read and wiped tears between each sentence, memories of her childhood and how she always had her nose in a book came to light. I thought to myself how blessed I have been to have her, her brilliance will forever outshine anything I have achieved in my lifetime.
Memorial day coming up is day of remembering those who gave the their life so that we may enjoy the freedoms we have. It is also a day of remembering those we have loved who my not have died in battle but have devoted they life so that we my have a linage known as family. Each year I make an effort to place flowers upon the little piece of earth that covers those who have gone before me.
In reading the blog I wondered what comforting thoughts could a father give a daughter who seems to always be the one nurturing and teaching the parent. As I make my way to the resting place of her Mother all I can do is pray and give thanks for the gifts she left. I will silently let those who rest know that they can be proud of the fruit their seeds have produced.

looking back

2009-05-12T09:37:00.000-07:00

Looking back at the way the economy in Pagosa was handled when I was a young boy. My grandparents owned this little grocery store in 1945, not only was it the place to buy groceries and heating fuel it also served as a place of worship and home for my parents and three boys. Many residents with limited income could come into the Wayside grocery and purchase their needs with only signature of good faith to pay whatever they could on the first of the month. Those who still fell short of funds could trade with goods grown on their farm.

2009-05-06T08:56:00.000-07:00

What God has given, man has taken for his own treasure chest. This hot springs once called the worlds largest and hottest was once a site for all to visit and enjoy. Now man has changed, added, deleted the natural environment to attract those willing to spend, spend, spend! The San Juan River that runs through this little town used to be a place for fishing, swimming and local drinking water, Now man has decided that God is not a qualified landscaper and the waterways would better serve the residents as a thrill ride for those who have the money ride man made waves.

Blue Monday

2009-05-04T18:59:00.000-07:00

Just another exciting day in the land of old folks. Took the car in for service today to get ready for trip to Bakersfield on Thursday to celebrate Mothers day with Cookies Mom. With the economy the way it is all I needed was for a service writer to tell me it was time for the 90000 mile service. Maybe my $800 bucks would help keep GM stay in business but I had to tell him that I had to wait for my stimulus package from Obama.
Thanks to Carleen and her gift of Netflix our afternoons consist of watching soaps or movies then napping until time to nourish the old bod.

Lazy Sunday

2009-05-03T21:18:00.000-07:00

After admiring the talents of my eldest daughter with her blog I decided to give it a try. This kinda reminds of the way I learned to swim in the San Juan River of Pagosa Springs Colorado, just jump in and if you don't sink you must be swimming.
Today being Sunday, once my body came alive from a night waking to force the joints to open up in my hand or rubbing the ache of a new hip joint, I managed to make it Church on time. There's always a comforting feeling comes over the soul after going to Church. We stopped in at Hoffs Hut for a late breakfast early lunch then proceeded to our 12x60 mansion to keep our Lazy Boy rocker from being lonely.
As the evening approached the old belly began singing the blues so I decided to fire up that new BBQ, actually its a gas grill, don't know why they are called Barbecues. After filling up on Tri-tip and baked potatoes, was ready to curl up and let the world pass me be. Now, don't that sound like an exciting life!