NEW FIRST BEGINNINGS

July 12: I get the rental car from Hertz. It is a Chevrolet Trail Blazer.

July 13: We almost didn't get married due to a small administrative oversight, but the county clerk pulled through and got the information she needed to complete the marriage certificate. Pam's mom and dad, daughter, brother, uncle, aunt, niece and nephew and I get together to celebrate at the Pizza Factory in Lone Pine. We were also joined by Pam's former co-worker (our photographer) and his wife. After dinner, I take Pam, Joe and Jaymi to Whitney Portal Falls to show them the layout where the ceremony will take place. Joe and Jaymi are in awe of the place.
July 14: Pam and I are married at the Whitney Portal Falls in the Inyo National Forest on top of a large rock adjacent to the falls. The ceremony started at 10:00 and lasted about 20 minutes. Jaymi, Pam's daughter, was Maid of Honor. Joe, Pam's brother, was my Best Man. No one from my side of the family was present. After the ceremony, Pam and I later hike to Lone Pine Lake. Our first hike as husband and wife. It is Pam's first time on the Mt. Whitney Trail and first visit to Lone Pine Lake. The lake was down almost six feet due to the lack of snow and snow melt during the past year. We conclude our hike and enjoy a plate of Portal Fries. We have our first dinner as husband and wife at Seasons in Lone Pine. A perfect day.

July 15: We return to Juniper Hills to unpack the wedding stuff and reload for the trip east. We debated to spend the night in Las Vegas, but decided it would be best to push on into Utah. I have forgotten how nice it is to drive through the canyons in Arizona during sunset. We were not disappointed with the colors we witnessed. We spend the night in St. George, UT and eat at Cracker Barrel since I had never eaten Cracker Barrel. I ordered a salad in a restaurant for the very first time.

July 16: We drive up through Utah and take a back road through the countryside. We hook up on the I-70. We stop at the rest stops along the way to take in the views of the canyons and desert formations and stop to look at the Navajo wares. We drive through Aspen, CO and then hit the mountain roads. We drive past beautiful vistas of the Rocky Mountains. We spend the night in Buena Vista at the "luxurious" Topaz Lodge and dine at Jan's.

July 17: We go to Royal Gorge to walk across the 1,053 foot high suspension bridge just to say we did it. After walking back, we decided to drive over it later for the first time just to say we did it. After breakfast, we drive up to the summit of Pike's Peak (14,110). As a child, my first visit to the top of the peak was not a pleasurable experience. I developed acute mountain sickness and may have suffered from high altitude cerebral edema. This time was not the case. On the way down, we decided to sneak in a one mile hike with our packs for an acclimatization hike at 13,000 feet. The hiked took a lot of effort just to make it up one-half mile. After our return to normal altitudes, we were going to head south and then on to Kansas. We thought it was best NOT to go to Kansas since there is nothing there to see since it is so "flat." We did a 180 and drove through Denver and spent the night in Loveland. It was Pam's first visit to Royal Gorge and Pike's Peak. My second for both.

July 18: We drive to Devil's Tower in Wyoming. Our first visit. We walk around the tower on the loop trail and stop to take some pictures. We drive through Deadwood and Sturgis and eventually stayed in Sioux Falls, SD for the night. We barely miss a hailstorm of ping pong sized hail. What a scenic drive through the Black Hills.

July 19: We visit Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Monuments. My first visit. We head east to the other side of South Dakota. We stop at Wall's Drug, SD on I-80 to see what the big hubbub was about the place. Kept seeing all of these freeway billboards about Wall This and Wall That. If you like western wear, this is the place to buy it. We take a "spur" trip to Minnesota's first rest stop on I-80 to say we were there and headed back to Sioux Falls, SD, and then south on the I-35 to Sioux City, IA and spend the night there.

July 20: We go through Kirksville before heading to Shelbyville. Pam meets my mother and Japanese aunt for the very first time. Mileage driven so far: 3,222.

July 21: Pam and I take a walk around Shelbyville in the morning. I later take her to the grave of my grandparents as I say goodbye to them (N 11/18/02 - 12/03/78; H 02/11/06 - 05/22/82). Later that afternoon, all of us go to Quincy. My mother and aunt get us stainless steel cookware as a wedding gift. We stop by Terrible's Casino in La Grange, MO for lunch and to close out dad's comps. We had to provide proof of death and proof of identity. We had the proof of death, but had destroyed dad's driver's license. We had to get final approval from the manager to okay the transaction.

July 22: Auction day. The auction crew comes by at 7:30 a.m. to take everything that is to be auctioned out to the yard for display. The auction starts at 12:30 p.m. at the tools and slowly makes its way in a clockwise manner. I thought it would be best that Pam, my aunt, Mom and I leave when the house and car went up for auction around 2:30 p.m. to avert any emotional breakdown moment my mother might have and drive to my father's grave. When we returned to the auction, we were told by some family members that some of mom's quilts sold for more than $200, the car sold at near its blue book value, and the house and land sold at its assessed value. The good news was that the place was purchased by our good neighbors across the street. The old place will be in good hands. We spend the night at the hotel in Shelbina, MO which is eight miles south of town for the very first time for ANY of us! It is ironic that my last days and nights in Shelby County is spent in Shelbina. Shelbyville and Shelbina just don't get along. Shelbyville is the county seat and Shelbina has been fighting to have the county seat moved since it is four times the population.

July 23: All of us then head back to Shelbyville to pick up the proceeds from the auction and to sign paperwork at the attorney's office to finalize the grant deed. We return to the house to finish packing up some things and discard certain items. It is a long and very emotional day for my mother. It is hard to let go of 33 years of memories living in one spot after spending our entire lives as nomads living in different states and countries at U.S. Army bases. Later that night at the hotel, Pam and I break open a bottle of champagne that we had brought back from the wedding and went to my mother and aunt's hotel room. At first I couldn't figure out what to toast to until Pam said, "To new beginnings." Very appropriate.

July 24: I take my mom to the bank to deposit the check from the auction sale. Pam and I say "see you later" to my mother and aunt. Pam and I leave Shelby Couny for the last time. It was quite an emotional moment for my mother and me. We stop at the county border for that last picture along Highway 36 near Clarence, MO. Pam and I stop by the veterans' cemetery in Jacksonville where my father is interred to say good-bye and to have that final beer that dad and I never had back in March. I popped open a can of Busch beer and took a sip and poured the rest on the grave. Love you, Dad. We drive south through Columbia, MO and through Ozark Country. We spend some time driving near Pam's (her mom's side) grandparents' old homestead. We later drive across into Arkansas to meet Pam's aunt and uncle (her father's side). They are remarkable people. They have a beautiful house just a short distance away from the lake. It is so serene there.

July 25: We leave Pam's aunt and uncle's place near Emerald Springs, AR. We stop for a photo opportunity at the AK and MO border. Goodbye, MO. We hit Ft. Smith and head south to the I-40 and head west. The oil light comes on in Oklahoma and I decided to change the oil in Shawnee, OK. We stop to eat at Sonic. Pam's first visit to the eatery. We drive on and later stop at The Big Texan in Amarillo, TX to feast on steak and salmon. The 72 ounce steak? Maybe next year. We spend the night in Tucumcari, NM.

July 26: We drive through New Mexico and stop in Albuquerque as we search desperately for a Starbucks. We do not see one but manage to stop at a place to get some caffeine in our system. We reach the Arizona border. I decide it would be best that we prolong our trip just one more day and so we decided to stop in Flagstaff, AZ. Note to self: DO NOT GET A HOTEL ROOM NEAR THE RAILROAD TRACKS!

July 27: We return to Juniper Hills and unload the car and drive to the rental place to return the Trail Blazer. End of trip. Total miles: 5,682.

Pictures maybe...

SHOULD YOU GO FIRST

by Gertrude Rosentrater



Should you go first and I remain

To walk the road alone,

I'll live in memory's garden

With happy days we've known.



In spring I'll watch for roses red,

When fades the lilac blue,

In early fall when brown leaves fall,

I'll catch a glimpse of you.



Should you go first and I remain

For battles to be fought

Each thing you've touched along the way

Will be a hallowed spot.



I'll hear your voice; I'll see your smile,

Though blindly I may grope;

The memory of your helping hand

Will lift me on with hope.



Should you go first and I remain

To finish with the scroll,

No lengthening shadows shall creep in

To make this life seem droll.



We've known so much happiness,

We've had our cup of joy,

And memory is one gift of God

That death cannot destroy.



Should you go first and I remain,

One thing I'd have you do

Walk slowly down that long, lone path

For soon I'll follow you.



I'll want to know each step you take

That I may walk the same

For someday down that lonely road

You'll hear me call your name.



I dedicate this poem to my Mother who would have been married to my father for 51 years this day July 16, 2007.

A PERFECT WEDDING

If there is such a thing as a perfect wedding, ours was. The weather, the scenery, the ceremony. All were perfect.

GOODBYE, ORANGE COUNTY

I am outta here...

Orange County is no more. Since 1985, Orange County has been my California home. All good things must come to an end.

So long to some of my friends Ken, Bob and Jayne L., Mark and Heather G., Joe M., Mike B., Dave and Jane P., Kindra W., Kandace D., Erin M., Jonathan S., Jean M., Julie K., Yvette W., Debra J., Sue R., Cheryl L., Wendy H., Horacio C., Ira K. We played a lot of softball, rode a lot of miles and hiked a lot of trails. We had fun.

I will miss some of you, but for some I hope to see some of you again on the trails somewhere out there. I am not that far. Just on the other side of the mountains, closer to the mountains. I cannot ask for a more better playground than that. If you are in the area, let me know. The door will be open.

As for the rest of you, you will not be forgotten.

Thank you.