Creating a New Memory with My Boy!

Many years ago, after I had moved my family to Southern California from Utah, my son Robert (BJ) and I decided that we wanted to go deep sea fishing.  I am not a fisherman by any means, but I knew that he wanted to go, and I thought it would be a chance for my son and I to spend time together and connect. (See previous posting for rationale)

As I recall, we caught a few fish; I believe they were a couple of fairly modest sized barracudas and another fish.  I can't recall where we had gone to fish, but I want to say that it was Long Beach.  I remember how sunny it was, and I remember how much I enjoyed spending time with my son.

It was about the time that he was beginning his descent into substance addiction.  For the ensuing years, he and I did not spend much time hanging out and having fun. But that time fishing had special meaning for the both of us.

Now that he has sobriety, and that memory had been so dear to both of us, we decided that we needed to do it again.  Unlike the last time when I financed the excursion, this time he would have full-time employment and money in his pocket, and he would pay for himself.

There was an ulterior motive for us going fishing which we discussed as we were making plans.  Since the climatic phenomenon known as El Nino has warmed the eastern Pacific waters, allowing warm water to extend from Baja California up to Santa Barbara (and it continues to be warm by historical standards), yellowfin tuna fishing has been "hot" all summer and into the fall.  I kept reading and hearing about how fishermen (and women) had been catching their limits, and people in the know were telling people to get fishing before the waters turned colder.

BJ and I decided that if we were to fish and to catch the tuna, we would donate our tuna to the Beacon House.  He informed me that there are guys in the rehab program who are considering careers as chefs, and that not only would filleting and preparing the tuna be a great activity for them, but that these future chefs could prepare a delicious meal or two of freshly caught tuna for the Beacon House guys and staff.

After a false start about a month ago (that's a sour memory), we got to the boat by 6:00 am, and along with 21 other hopeful people, we headed south out of San Diego.  We were with some real, hardcore fishermen (and one woman), but there were also some greenhorns like us. 

We would bide our time and wait until the captain of the boat literally yelled over the loud speaker that there was a school of yellowfin tuna below us and to "get those lines in the water."  We would grab our poles, run to the bait receptacle toward the rear of the boat, be frustrated but finally grab a live 4-5 inch bait fish and put it on the hook, run to a location along the starboard or port or back, let the 6 or 8 ounce sinker take the line to the bottom (verying depths depending on where we were), and the bait would wiggle about a yard up from the bottom.  Some hardcore types would sometimes use lures. 

Usually within two minutes, you would either get a bite or you would reel it up, throw the old bait into the water, grab (or waste valuable seconds trying to grab!) a new one and hook it, and then quickly repeat the action.

Everybody was catching them from the very start!  I caught my first one the third or fourth time I baited!  It was a nice sized one, perhaps 15 lbs.  Some short time later, BJ caught his first one.  It was so exciting; everyone was clearly enjoying this good luck! 

But I would question that anybody was feeling the deep felt satisfaction that I was feeling in spending time with my boy, and being able to provide fishes (not loaves) for the Beacon House guys.

The limit for yellowfin tuna in Mexican waters is five.  BJ caught three and I caught four, but our bags were filled with additional tuna by other generous fishermen to get us to our limit of five, by noon!  My left arm would get tired as I wrestled with the tuna to get them up to the surface, but I recall only losing one.

But I didn't lose the "one" that I was fishing with!  My son BJ is clean and sober, and he was very happy to be able to provide work and food for his guys at the House.  Ironically, he is now vegan and will not be able to eat what he caught.  I love my boy!

There we are on the top left!

Paxman Family Reunion - July 2014 #1

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words.  So I want to give you a thick novel's worth of pictures from the Paxman Family Reunion which I attended from July 1 to July 8.  I will indicate when the pictures are NOT mine, otherwise, they are memories that I wanted to catch on film (and still had camera battery to take them!)  They will not be in chronological order; that is, when they happened during the week.  I hope you enjoy them!

The Adorable Johnson Kids!

It is less than a five-minute walk from the Paxman home in Saline, Michigan to a lake.  This body of water is a perfect place for all ages to have fun, and in the case of the reunion, to strengthen family ties.  I think everybody but Rick and Richard Lin got in on the action!

Elizabeth Jumping In Under Philip and Scott's Watchful Eyes

Good (Handsome) Father and Son-in-Law Adam with Lucy and Charlie?

Charlie Going Airborne into Uncle BJ's Arms

Uncle BJ Attacked by Eddie and Lucy

Isaac the Swimmer and Cousin Scott

Emily and Adam Alone Without the Kids!

Calm (in pain?) Amy Watching

Too Much Good Time for Charlie

Another activity that some of us enjoyed was playing "disc golf" or Frisbee golf, in which one attempts to throw a disc into a basket some 75-120 yards away in three tries. Some of the time is spent looking for errant discs.  I had played "disc golf" before, and got pretty good toward the end of the reunion. The next four pictures are not mine.

The Disc is Thrown Like Scott Here, or Like a Frisbee

"Where in the heck did that disc go?"

Yet another activity was canoeing for some eight miles down the Huron River. One picture is us on a bus to the launch point. Some people fell in the river; I didn't.  I finally got the hang of stopping us from hitting a limb or another canoe near the end. It was a lot of fun.  Didn't get too sunburned.

Elizabeth, Philip's Carolina, Em and Adam

I'm Behind Em Steering, Ha Ha!

We Spent a Lot of Time Socializing and Eating in the Kitchen

Always Good Food (Most Everybody Helped) and Smiles

DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

It seems that most Christians look at this life as a way station, so to speak, in the journey to Heaven, and since this mortality is of a short duration when compared with eternity, we Christians tend to live our lives in the future.   This mindset usually allows the believer to deal with life’s challenges with hope because there is an expected reward in the next life for having maintained faith.   This mindset can cause the believer not to live in the present but in the future when a good life will be compensated.  This mindset usually challenges the believer to not indulge in today’s pleasures for tomorrow’s benefits.

This Christian mindset (especially the LDS mindset) also has the effect of causing the believer to feel regret for “mistakes” or sins.  It usually causes the believer to focus on what they haven’t been, what they’ve done wrong.  This mindset usually causes them to castigate themselves, to beat themselves up.  They usually become depressed because they can’t believe that God would love such a "sinner" and there is little or no hope for them.

This “future/past” mindset has been a part of me for most of my life, since I have been a Christian for all of my life.  I have historically accepted this future/past premise because it seemed logical, and it seemed to be inferred in the words of ancient and modern prophets that I have believed in.   I have looked at non-believers around me and have felt superior to them, for “they are enjoying the present but I will be enjoying eternity.”  “They’re going to pay for their sinful past.”  Those foolish people!

When I was studying to become a psychotherapist, I learned about different modalities that emphasized focusing on the “here and now.”  They seemed to be at variance with my future/past focus.  I thought, “How can you focus on right now AND on eternity?”  “Don’t they conflict?”  I hadn’t conceived of such a thing.  It had never been modeled for me in my upbringing.  It didn’t seem possible.  It even seemed anti-religious.

As the years have now gone by since those introspective graduate school days, I have had many opportunities to see the negative effects of a future/past paradigm.  As I have observed rigidly religious people grapple with tremendous anxiety for their future and regretful sadness or even depression about their past, I have realized the folly of my ways.  I have come to embrace a stance in which I give God or the Universe both my past mistakes and what I was or wasn’t, as well as my future, over which I have little to no control. (The traffic accident I am now recovering from is Exhibit One as to lack of control of my future.)

I cannot change the past.  It’s done and nothing can be done about it.  I cannot control the future, although I can make wise choices that can have positive implications for my future.   All that I can change or control is the present, the “here and now.”  I have come to realize that I can still be a believer and enjoy what is happening in my present.  I have also come to realize that God or the Universe wants me to experience happiness and joy right now.  I believe that it gives Him or the Universe great pleasure when we feel such positive emotions and feelings each day, and that He or the Universe does not want us to go about our lives regretful for the past and anxious about the future.  He or the Universe wants us to have joy as He/It feels joy.

So I am transitioning from a rigid, future/past paradigm, to a faith-filled “live in the present” paradigm.   I don’t experience ulcers as in the past.  I don’t beat myself up anymore.  I don’t worry what others around me are doing or are not doing.  I allow myself to be fine with who I am in November 2013, and I allow others that same privilege.  I take time to look into my wife’s eyes and feel love for who she is now, and feel her love for me as I am now.  I am grateful for this realization now, even if it took me many years and heartache to finally get it.  It has truly helped me to feel tremendous satisfaction and contentment—RIGHT NOW!

WANTING TO WANT

When I was quite young, my mother developed colon cancer and as a result had a colostomy in which her bowel was rerouted to a stoma on the side front of her body.  This radical surgery apparently not only traumatized her (she reportedly had a nervous breakdown as a result and took anti-depressants for the rest of her life) but also my father.  I don’t know if prior to the operation and breakdown her nature was to be very emotionally needy, but she definitely was afterward, and he did not respond well to her neediness.  I was too young to really absorb what was occurring in their relationship at the time, but in retrospect, there seems to have been little or no emotional intimacy between them when I was growing up. 

As a result of my mother’s neediness, she looked to the only other person physically near her who could satisfy it: me.  My brother and sister were both married, and I was her dutiful “baby” who would do just about whatever she wanted. I was an obedient, good boy by nature and an ideal foil for her neediness. When there was a behavior that she wanted from me that I did not want to do, she would often say, “I’ll just go and eat worms.”  I didn’t fully understand this dynamic at the time; I just wanted to please my mother because she was my mother.  (As I write this, I feel tremendous sadness, and I feel tears welling up in my eyes.)  I didn’t know any better.  

The result of this emotional manipulation combined with being tender hearted by nature and not wanting her or anybody else to suffer, was to set me on a life course of putting others’ emotional needs before mine, and being willing to always give up what I want for the wants of others.  It further means that I have gone through most of my adult life flailing about trying to figure out what I want, what I can feel passionate about.

No wonder that I went through university not really knowing what I wanted to study and major in, finally settling on Spanish and Teaching English as a Second Language to give me employment options to help me find a career that I really wanted.  No wonder that I have spent my entire post-university life in a career that is easy (too easy) and safe that was put in my lap by my father.  No wonder I looked through the years for other career possibilities (teaching, tourism, self-employment) only to settle for what was known and provided a constant supply of funds for my family.  

I have to acknowledge that my life has not been completely void of want or passion.  I have wanted to have a good marriage, and in my own codependent way (at times) I have tried to provide emotional constancy and support to Ann.  Sadly, it has sometimes been at the expense of behaviors I probably wanted.  I have been passionate about my religiosity, and through the years I have felt joy in learning Gospel truths and serving others in my various lay service capacities.  I have wanted to be reliable to my children, wanting them to always know that their father loves them no matter what.  I have pursued my musical hobbies which have brought me great joy and satisfaction.  I have been passionate about staying informed about current events.  I have wanted to maintain friendships with male friends through the years and have been successful doing so.  I am passionate in my appreciation for the beauties of nature (just look at some of my blog postings!)

Because I have sensed a lack of want and passion in my life, I have in recent times attempted to pay more attention to those feelings of want and passion. Since I grew up fairly poor, I have felt the want to be freer with money.  Because I have not been able to sing regularly the past few years I have begun to spend as much time as possible with the Southern California Mormon Choir (I am singing with them in performance early this Easter morning).  I asked for and received a camera for Christmas and I am endeavoring to become a more adept photographer, a talent I have always wanted but let slip by.  I love writing this blog, and feel great passion as a write in it.  I feel great passion when I am surrounded by nature, involving all of my senses.  Perhaps most significantly, I have been allowing myself to assert myself in my marriage, often doing what I want to do and not acquiescing to what Ann necessarily wants or would like.

Thus, having felt some passion as I have transitioned through my life, and feeling more passion and want now than I have ever felt, I am confronted now with existential dilemmas.  I really enjoy my life presently, especially the new awakenings of want that I am feeling.  Anybody who has been reading my blog should be able to sense my heartfelt gratitude for my life and just how blessed I feel.  It is a comfortable place (a couple of people who know me well might say, “too comfortable”).  I feel great contentedness for what is my life, humbled that I am so fortunate (those same couple of people might say, “too contented”)

 

So am I deceiving myself?  Am I opting for comfort when discomfort is what passionate/wanting people feel?  Should I always be angry with my mother? Is feeling contented really a good thing?  Is my comfort and contentment just repeating the same, well-known behavior of accepting what my circumstances are, or are my gradual forays into wanting and passion enough?   Am I rationalizing, or am I paying too much attention to what some people who know me well are suggesting to me, surrendering myself once again to persons outside of me?  If I want something I’ve never had before, then must I have to do something I’ve never done? Am I rigid in my religiosity, of thinking that I have found truth and that I am so blessed and that I am in a pretty good place and is that keeping me from feeling—from wanting and from passion—and do I find virtue in that?  Is constantly wanting a virtue?  What is enough? Does wanting ever end and contentment begin?  Am I just copping out?

This is really hard for me to navigate.  Transitions can be uncomfortable….

Family and Holidays--What a Wonderful Time!

Glendale Americana Christmas Tree

The new 2013 calendars have been hung. The Christmas tree is being recycled.  The ornaments, garlands and knick knacks have been placed in their bins for 11 months, and the stuff briefly stored that graced the house before has been returned to where it was.  Besides the excess weight that we’re trying to lose, all that remains of the Holidays are memories and pictures.  I want to briefly enjoy those memories and to share them---and some pictures---as I reminisce about the Holidays just passed.

Last year, we had the Adam Johnson family during the Holidays.  It was chaotic and exciting to have Emily, Adam, older sister Elizabeth, and the triplets in our home at this special time of year.  This year there was definitely not much chaos, but it was exciting to have our daughter Rebecca, and her son, Isaac unwrapping presents in our living room on Christmas morning.  They were accompanied on Christmas morning by our son Douglas and his son, Daniel.  There is nothing like seeing this holiday through the eyes of a seven year old and almost three year old!

It was fun to have Isaac help decorate the tree, even though most of his ornaments rightfully ended up on the front, bottom half.  We enjoyed listening to the familiar tunes of a Mannheim Steamroller Christmas album as we trimmed the tree.  Ann and I had already placed the knick knacks and seasonal stuff in the living room and elsewhere, and we had saved the fun of the tree for our daughter and grandson.   Uncle Doug lifted Isaac up to allow him to place the star on top, much to the delight of everyone.  It was fun to look at the ornaments that we have accumulated (and continue to accumulate), obtained from places either we or loved ones have been, and lovingly place them on the boughs.  

I enjoyed taking Isaac to see the movie Rise of the Guardians.  We enjoyed taking him to our nearby park where he could climb and run and slide.  It was fun to drive up and down Christmas Tree Lane in Pasadena and see the lights.  We enjoyed drinking Ann’s homemade wassail, eating our traditional Christmas time food of German Pancake, and Reuben sandwiches served with homemade potato salad and baked beans, and munching on the delicious treats Ann made after finishing teaching for the semester.  Besides those calories we are attempting to burn off, we accommodated Rebecca’s yearnings by going to eat at In-N-Out a couple of times.

Claymation Christmas--A Davis Holiday Viewing Tradition!

There were plenty of smiles and laughter as Isaac popped packing bubbles, as we put together a puzzle, ran up the street from the park, took pictures, watched Claymation Christmas (a long-standing Davis tradition) and A Charlie Brown Christmas, and watched Daniel play with this cousin he has never seen before.  There was contentedness, tranquility, and hugs as Ann and I took a breather one evening from the activities to sit on the sofa and listen to the strains of soft Christmas music with only tree lights and candles illuminating the room.  So nice.  So memorable.

We said goodbye to Rebecca and Isaac on the 27^th as they returned to Washington State, but then welcomed travelers from the East the 29^th.  The long-awaited sibling reunion with my brother and sister and their loving spouses from Utah began when they arrived in the area that afternoon.

Ann, Tom and Darlene at the Americana, Before the Movie

Ann cooked up a storm for our guests.  Other than their occasional run to a fast food place for a drink or a bite while at the hotel, they were served all kinds of delicious food in our home.  The women wanted to get recipes from Ann for some of the delicious delights they ate.  It was wonderful afterwards just to sit around the table or put feet up in the living room and talk about our families, our memories, our lives.

The six of us attended Sunday services and asked a friend to take a picture of us dressed in our Sunday duds.  I particularly wanted to make sure that we had a photographic memory of this rare occasion of us being together.  As I remarked to them, it’s pretty amazing that 1) we’re all still alive, and 2) we’re all still married.  I will treasure this photo and make sure it is placed in a prominent place in our hallway of family pictures.

Yours truly, Ann, Janeen, Tom, Darlene, Bill--My Family I love!

Leading up to attending the Rose Parade on Tuesday, we decided on New Year’s Eve day to watch the movie version of the musical Les Miserables, and then went out to dinner (for the first time since their arrival).  Tom and Bill were unable to eat all of their HUGE but delicious chicken pot pies.  We then retired to their hotel where the six of us reminisced more about our upbringings before running out of steam and calling it a night.  I think we were all asleep by 10:30, knowing that we were needing to get started early to attend the Parade.

I sense that we all enjoyed the beauties and pageantry of the Rose Parade.  We didn’t need to spend the cold night outside; we just showed up and took our reserved bleacher seats in the morning.   

The floats were gorgeous.  The marching bands were wonderful.  The horses and costumes were at times breathtaking.  Just beautiful.  The parade experience was enhanced by the fun we had sitting with other Pasadena City College families, and being constantly led in sometimes ridiculous cheers for people in the Parade.  “Yay, pooper scoopers!”   "Happy New Year, Support Vehicle #5!"

Bill even won a door prize as we wore our red PCC ball caps, threw confetti, smiled a lot, and cheered the Davis High Marching Band from Utah, and marveled at all of the beautiful flower-laden floats.  I hope that the Parade experience was as memorable for my family as it was for me.  I am looking forward to attending next year's parade.  It's definitely a special occasion. 

Afterwards, we marched to Ann’s office where once again Ann provided a delicious lunch while waiting for the crowds dispersed.  After returning to our beds to recapture some lost sleep, we went out to dinner one last time in a folksy, comfort food restaurant in Burbank, and then said our fond farewells.

What a memorable holiday it was!  I tried to capture in pictures a fleeting moment or two of these singular experiences.   I tried to live in the moment, to soak it in.  It is the most wonderful time of the year, and to be able to spend it with those I love.

WOW! What a Trip It Was!

Last summer, Ann and I went on a cruise (my first) to Alaska with some good friends.  This year for our vacation, we endeavored to coordinate our time with my brother’s vacation week at a Family Cabin at Bear Lake in Utah.  We had attempted in the past to travel there to spend relaxing moments with extended family, but to no avail.  We made the decision last year that we would try again this year, and we finally were able to do it!

When the decision had been made to spend some days there, I contemplated what else we could do (and see) on our way there—and perhaps what else we could do on the way back to Southern California.  I created an itinerary for a road trip that ultimately took us just under 2500 miles.  And what a spectacular road trip it was!!!

I will tell (and show in some pictures taken) where our journey took us, and some personal impressions.  It was just the two of us, and we both agreed afterwards that it was even better than our cruise last year.  (We’ve now taken two formal vacations in our transition as an empty nest couple.) 

We left on a Thursday morning and drove to a place called Kodachrome Basin State Park. 

It is just a few miles south of the east tip of Bryce Canyon National Park in Southern Utah near the tiny town of Cannonville, and we stayed in a nice little cabin right in the Park. 

The scenery was simply awe-inspiring, and we were right there in the middle of it!  

     This particular Park hardly gets visited at all but it should be.  The lack of crowds was so welcome, especially in light of the crowds we saw at other Parks.

 

 After putting our suitcases in the cabin and acknowledging what a hidden gem we had found, we drove 22 miles on a washboard dirt road to an arch that juts up dramatically from the flatness around it.  It’s called Grosvenor Arch.  

We later hiked within 5 minutes of our cabin, enjoying interesting rock formations in reds, orange and grays in the evening, setting sun.  

We lamented that we were not able to stay longer but vowed that we would certainly return some day and spend more time exploring this unknown place and stay in the same cabins!

We left there about 9 Friday morning, having hiked a mile and a half or so in Kodachrome (awesome!), to travel to a trail that accesses Bryce Canyon from its east side in the small town of Tropic.  We had been told about this quite unknown access by one of the Tropic locals the last time we went to Bryce.  

As before, we hiked from the bottom up—the floor of Bryce, unlike everybody else—literally (nobody parked by us near that secret east trail entrance), and it makes for an easier hike.  Everybody else that chooses to hike at Bryce starts at the top, descending, then has to huff and puff back to the top.

However, Bryce Canyon needs to be seen from the top, near Inspiration Point or Bryce Point if possible.  But it also needs to be seen from the trails such as the Navajo Trail that take you next to the incredible rock formations—called hoodoos.  

Other than its smaller, nearby sister Park, Cedar Breaks, just outside of Cedar City, Utah, there is nothing like it—except maybe at the “Cars” area of Disneyland California Adventure Park in California.  

The rock formations of Bryce are very different from Kodachrome, and the Park much more crowded, but people should not only go to Zion National Park, Arches National Park, and other well-known destinations, but should check out Bryce too.  And while they're at it, they should check out Escalante Petrified Forest State Park.

And if people go to Bryce or Kodachrome, they should travel Highway 12 east from there, designated as a national Scenic Byway.  

It is a singular road that affords awesome vistas, a section of road that can have steep canyons on either side, and a lovely ascent and descent of 10,000 foot Boulder Mountain.  It was fantastic the first time we drove it a few years ago and was still as awe-inspiring as it was then.  

We stopped on Highway 12 and spent three hours hiking at Calf Creek Canyon that dead ends to a magnificent, spectacular waterfall.  Incredible landscapes, magnificent fall, and unforgettable visual memories. 

We next traveled north toward Salt Lake City.  After spending a wonderful evening and morning with our long-time friends, Bill and Janice Harten, we headed north to Bear Lake, on the border of Utah and Idaho.  

I have been coming to Bear Lake since I was a little boy, but I had not been for a while—perhaps 10 years.  I have always gone to a place that an aunt and uncle owned that has two cabins and a large boat house.  This place simply holds many memories for me of family and fun. 

 It was so great to spend time with my brother Tom and sister-in-law Janeen, and five of their six children as well as some of their legion grand and great grandchildren.  Although chaotic at times, it was wonderful to be with family, whether it was on a boat on the lake, sitting around talking about children or talking about life, eating together, or just shooting the breeze.  

Ann and I also enjoyed taking a ride on my brother’s four-wheeler and getting caught in a thunderstorm while doing so, and going for a bike ride and stopping to buy and eat some just-picked Bear Lake raspberries.

We spent Sunday afternoon to Wednesday morning at Bear Lake, but it was time to wend our way to our next destination: Yosemite National Park.  That is quite a distance from Bear Lake and we had decided to make it in two days, and had picked our half-way point to be the small town of Ely, Nevada.  The road from Wendover, Nevada (the location of the famous Bonneville Salt Flats) to Ely was deserted—at least going our way.  We stayed at a little motel in Ely and ate some surprisingly good Mexican food nearby. 

Rested, we left to head west toward the east entrance of Yosemite.  Part of the road was hilly and we had a good time flying over them –- no air, just stomach tickles.  We finally saw the Sierra Nevada jutting up, and having eaten a fun lunch in the Eastern Yosemite town of Lee Vining, we drove on the Tioga Road into Yosemite. 

 The vistas of the mountains and domes were breathtaking.  They just kept appearing, one after the other.  The skies and lake were intense blue, and the gray and black and white of the rock formations was incredible.  This landscape was majestic, and different from the other kinds of rock formations that we had seen up to then. 

I commented to Ann that the rock formations we had seen of Kodachrome, Bryce Canyon, and Highway 12 and the Calf Creek Canyon, were each different and unique, and that what we were witnessing in Yosemite was yet other types of rock formations.  Each was breathtaking in its own right.  And speaking of rocks, I made sure to collect a few samples of rocks from each place to add to my rock collection that I collect on hikes to new locations.

We decided to stop and do some hiking while on the Tioga Pass road.  We picked a moderate, 2 ½ mile hike to May Lake.  Much of the trail was over rocks, and it was at a high altitude (9270 feet).   The lake at the end of the trail was beautiful, and luckily, not too many people were on the trail.  After we finished our hike we continued driving west, eventually leaving Yosemite and headed for our campsite at an RV park.  Even though the camp was dusty and the people and their kids were making noise long past the curfew hour, we managed to get enough sleep and headed east early in the morning toward Yosemite Valley.  We arrived early enough to beat the lines of cars that are known to clog the entrances at a later hour.  We whizzed right through at about 8:00.

Anyone who has been to the Valley knows how stunning and breathtaking the rock formations are, and they were indeed stunning and breathtaking for us. 

 When we first saw El Capitan, we were amazed at its majesty.  

 And as you drive eastward, you are flanked on either side by incredible rock walls and domes.  It was as if the trees along the road obscured the views of the majesty on either side. 

Sadly, it was the wrong time of year to see the Yosemite Fall, but we made it a point to see all of the falls that were running.

We found a parking place in Curry Village (very lucky!) and started our hike to Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall.  We continued to see spectacular rock formations, but we gained different perspectives as we left the Valley floor and hiked up a few thousand feet to the falls.

  We made a loop of a hike and avoided a lot of the crowds (and the stairs we had just climbed) while seeing incredible vistas.  

The hike to the Falls took it out of us and we spent the rest of the day visiting what there was to view on the valley floor in the Village.  The Village did not disappoint, nor did checking out the magnificent Ahwanee Hotel.  On our way back to the dusty campground, we stopped to see the third and final Fall, Bridalvail.

  Lucky for us, it was a short walk to the viewpoint, although the view was crowded with non-hikers.  (Am I being snoody? Yes!) This Fall was barely flowing, and it would rarely flow straight down because it was “wispy” and a breeze would blow the stream to the right and left of complete vertical.  

We were also afforded one last view of El Capitan before leaving the Valley.  Wow!

We left the noisy and dusty campsite the next morning and set our sights for the Coast.  Between us and there, however, were a lot of twisty and turny roads—and hot Fresno.  We were looking forward to some relief from the heat that we had experienced in Yosemite and its environs, and we finally got our wish as we approached our bed and breakfast in Los Osos.  The B&B rests on a bay, and lies some 4 miles south of Morro Bay.  

After we put away our suitcases in the room and rested for a while watching some Olympic competition, we decided to take a short ride to Morro Bay for some delicious fresh seafood.  We enjoyed the cool temperatures and the nice room that had a romantic fireplace—which we lit, ironically enough.

We woke up the next morning and attended a church service in Morro Bay as we had done the previous Sunday in Salt Lake City.  Returning to our B&B, we packed up and embarked on our journey home.  This journey involved seeing numerous glimpses of the Coast and soon began to feel the heat as we moved farther inland.  When we arrived home, it was really hot and we realized we had been spoiled by the previous evening and morning.  We also realized that we had driven a long way.

As I have reflected on this incredible journey, I realize that it was singular and extraordinary vacation.  It was fall of memorable views and memorable experiences with people we love and care for.  I have realized just how much I enjoyed spending time with Ann and how well we get along and are enjoying our empty nest.  I appreciate more than ever God’s creations and this beautiful earth and earthly experience that He has given me.  What a trip it was!

 I hope that if you have not taken the time to read this lengthy travelogue, you have at least been able to appreciate many of the views and landscapes and people from our pictures of our Big Vacation Loop through California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Nevada and back to California!