We hope 2022 has been good for you.

It has been a roller coaster ride for many of us. We’d intended to acquire tickets for all our family & friends to an upcoming Taylor Swift concert, paid for by heavy retirement fund investments in FTX crypto currency, but that hasn’t worked according to plan (as you can tell, I’m back to just making things up for this update: that is a good sign of healthy imagination compadres). Phil said goodbye to his biliary drain tube in January, after 9-months, and Lucy after 12.5-years. Lucy “The Bullie” was 13 and battling numerous issues (including dementia). Yes, we still miss her (every day). In March he was able to take & pass the annual wildland fire Field Test and was poised and ready for the upcoming fire season (an extremely active one here), but a hernia repair operation in April + a series of biliary infections hospitalized him for ca. a week in May (and then June & August too), with outpatient procedures in July, Nov. and Jan. 2023. It KO’d him from any fire availability. Next year will be better.

We were able to attend the wedding of our goddaughter/grandniece Emily and Colton in the Phoenix area in March, followed by a trip to Pacific Beach (the first of three times this year: yep, making up for previous postponements. The Sept. trip included a Dodgers at Padres game [gee, our two favorite NL West teams], imagine that. November we finally stayed in a cottage on the Crystal Street pier, and we’d do it again). Some family and long time friends visited Santa Fe this year: Pat Medici/Hal Marcus (El Paso); Carolyn/Larry Eppler (Tonto Basin days); cousins Steve & Patrick Riley (NoCal, once-upon-a-time Glendale, CA)- now that was some special train trip from Chama, NM to Antonito, CO; Steve & Jackie Norris (Denver); Julie & Tony “Ranger” Wilson (Scotland) for this Christmas.

In August Phil did a solo visit out to SoCal (had some Southwest Airline credits expiring) for a Senior Bulldog Luncheon with high school classmates, alums & other chums: it was pretty special (see photo below). He was exposed to (in the ABQ airport), and came down with, Covid (though fully boosted). He says he would do it again to be able to see everyone (and hear “happy birthday” being sung). Phil helped teach a Jornada Research Institute course on Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) investigations in Albuquerque in May. In addition to a Tularosa Basin Conference in June, a long planned (pre-pandemic) Site Steward Foundation tour of some Tularosa Basin archeological sites finally happened in early October. Ex-FBI & Friends breakfasts, national Incident Management Safety Officer calls, ARPA snapshot training presentations/calls also helped fill the year.

Last year Justin transferred to the Albuquerque office of the NM Public Defender: one-year and still chugging along there. In late Oct. Phil ventured to first-half of Ranger Rendezvous (RR) in Tucson, visiting sisters & family around Queen Creek enroute. He did get to see some of his friends & colleagues at RR, but missed seeing some others = many more to see in the days ahead. In the span of a few weeks, Phil lost three NPS and State Historic Preservation work-mates. We’ll be thinking of them and their loved ones this season: knowing they’d want us to ALL have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS (and Happy Hanukkah, Kool Kwanzaa, Super Solstice, etc.) and a HAPPY NEW YEAR. Meme continues to be a caregiver extraordinaire and rock-climbing aficionado. PMA all-the-way, everyday… We LOVE YOU and hope to see you soon! Phil & Meme

Los Primos son aqui

Just visited by my maternal cousins Steve and Patrick Riley (our mother’s were the Newlin sisters back in Glendale days). It is always great to see them and recount our previous adventures: starting with family vacation trips in Balboa (where Steve & I first attempted kayaking) and Carpentaria (camping on-the-beach), and Sequoia-Kings Canyon & Yosemite (YOSE) National Parks. Photo is their family in YOSE: I’m on left, Steve is stripped shirt to right of me (my left) and Dennis Patrick (Pat) is to right of Steve (and their Mom- Auntie Ginny), also wearing stripes.

The last time Pat visited us here in Santa Fe was 2006. Meme, Pat & I hiked up to Nambe Lake, east of the Santa Fe Ski Area (Santa Fe National Forest). I was working for the SHPO (State Historic Preservation Officer) at the time and during our ascent we met Michael Romero Taylor (former SHPO and NPS employee) and Roger G. Kennedy (former Director of the National Park Service) as they descended. It was a memorable visit.

The last time Steve visited here was Mother’s Day in 2018. Being early in the Major League Baseball season these two Dodgers’ fans were still filled with optimism and keeping “wait until next year” at arms length.

The recent trip was the first time we teamed up in quite a while. Even though Steve was under-the-weather we were able on Wednesday to visit portions of the Civil War battlefield at Glorieta, hike in the Eldorado Preserve (open space); Thursday we took the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad from Chama, NM to Antonito, CO, and Friday saw them seeing the sights around the Santa Fe plaza + the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture exhibit “Grounded in Clay” before it goes to The Met in NYC next year (I didn’t make the local things on the last day, as it was my turn to be puny). If you haven’t been on the Cumbres & Toltec try and schedule it in. Beautiful scenery, and we were there when Autumn was kicking-up-its-heals with color: the cottonwoods in lower elevations giving was to broad groves if aspen in the higher country. The RR does get up over 10,000’ and visitors do come from all over the ride-the-rails.

Another highlight for me of their visit was some of the spoken words. Steve stated: “You’ve been my best friend for 75-years”. I hadn’t heard, or thought about that before. I reminded him of when I locked him in a crate in my parent’s kennel (my Mom finally let him out when she discovered his plight). I did not remind him that as his “Best Man” at his first wedding, he pleaded with me shortly before the ceremony to “get me out of here”, and I refused. Some best friend I was then. As we were saying good byes Pat told me “I love you” and I responded in kind. We hadn’t had that exchange before, but I always felt it. My Primos (cousins) are primo! As I write this, they’re flying back to CA. I wish them safe trfavels: LOVE you guys!

Let the Fall begin

23 Sept. 2022 - Ga’Day, feels like Autumn in the air here in Santa Fe + while walking this morning there was the unmistakable sign of same: a tarantula on a walkabout (looking for a mate probably). Mr. T. had trouble crossing the shallow barditch at roadside, due to vegetation buildup, but was not to be denied access to the other side.

This summer was a rough and unsteady one for us. We were able to sneak in a Red River, NM trip with Meme’s sister Pat (Medici) to see/hear Michael Martin Murphy. In my last health update I mentioned being in the hospital in May for an infection in my biliary duct area. June and August also found me in the hospital for 5-day stints as the stents flushed out and weren’t working. What about July you ask? I had an outpatient ERCP procedure placing more stents (that also didn’t stay in place: hence, the August hospitalization). Rejoicing now as it has been over a month and bilirubin counts are holding: I’m getting blood work every one to two weeks.

I traveled to Burbank for a Senior Bulldog (high school) luncheon on Aug. 1st. I contracted Covid-19 (probably at ABQ airport), but it was only rough for 1.5 of the 4-days I had symptoms (really glad I got the boosters). It was great seeing so many longtime friends. I also was able to visit the gravesites of Mom & Dad, where I witnessed something extraordinary: Six antlered deer browsing on flowers followed by a coyote; eventually the two deer at the back had enough of the coyote and they did a 180 that got the coyote to turn around too, then they followed it for awhile until it was at a safe range. Every decade, or so, we experience a microburst T-storm here. In early August we got one with cyclonic winds and hail that stripped the paint from the exposed surfaces of the portal, ruined the hot tub cover, and leaked water into a couple of rooms (office and den). Decades ago we replaced the backyard lawn that was here when we moved in 33+ years ago, with a flagstone patio. Of course no water is needed for that, but also no water percolates of drains down through it either, thus the den leakage. All was back to normal in a few days.

We’re hoping for better & more active days ahead: Monday night we have tickets to the El Paso Chihuahuas at Albuquerque Isotopes AAA baseball game; on Wednesday we travel to San Diego/Pacific Beach (Thursday will be Los Dodgers vs Padres at Petco Park. Getting those tickets was a challenge with Ticketmaster in that I somehow ended up getting two tickets also for Cardinals vs Padres a week earlier when we weren’t in San Diego. I pointed out to Ticketmaster that it appeared to be a “bait & switch” as my computer history showed no “history” for that transaction. They basically told me tough “no refunds.” At least we got the tickets we wanted and the concierge at Pacific Terrace Hotel got the seats for this past Thursday. How is that for making lemonade? Lesson learned: watch your Ticketmaster transactions very carefully).

October 7-9 I’m coordinating a tour for the Site Steward Foundation of some Tularosa Basin sites (Creekside Village, White Sands NP, Water Canyon petroglyphs, and Three Rivers petroglyphs); the next week my cousins Steve & Patrick are visiting from CA (Redding & Concord), including a 64-mile trip aboard the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway ( https://cumbrestoltec.com ) from Chama, NM to Antonito, CO; followed by a trip to Tucson for the Assoc. of National Park Rangers annual Rendezvous. Nov. 1st is to be my next ERCP procedure (stent swap), followed by another trip to San Diego Nov. 7-10 (we’re staying at a bungalow on the Crystal Pier for that one).

Yes, this will be quite a test for me. It sounds like a lot even when I was younger & healthier, but I’m looking forward to all of it. I also look forward to seeing you sometime in the not-too-distant future. We can rejoice for our many, MANY gifts we have in this life. Please BE WELL! Phil

This "Backsliders" Whine - trip to Red River, NM

A few days ago, I posted this on Facebook. Putting it here for a little longer shelf life (Inshallah). One week ago/Last weekend (16 July) we traveled up to Red River (NM) and were part of dinner concert by Michael Martin Murphey (MMM); we were joined this time by Meme’s sister Pat (Medici) who had journeyed up from El Paso for a visit. I'm glad Meme & Pat were able to get me out of my safe zone (aka "my chair").

Meme & I had attended a MMM BBQ & concert at this outdoor venue in 2017 and loved it. I recall when I posted about it back then that some responses pointed out his conservative views, instead of his music. I usually don’t like to evaluate art by an artist’s politics, as it can be a very slippery slope into extremism (How many times do we need to learn that lesson, comrade?).

MMM honored first responders & firefighters. It was mentioned he’d been recognized by my alma mater, The U.S. Dept. of the Interior, for his “Wildfire” support efforts (which of course is the name of his most famous commercial hit). Let me tell you about where he is now with his music and some of his statements: MMM started the show by welcoming everyone to the ranch and pointed out that it was an old mining area and later a vacation ranch, but for 9,000 years the homeland of ancestral Puebloan people now found in the southwest and locally at Taos Pueblo. He noted that the Apache also called these mountains (we were over 9,400’ elevation) home. He then gave the backstory for, and sang, “Geronimo’s Cadillac” (the title song of his 1st album).

Next up, was the story of how “Backslider’s Wine” came about (his mother worrying about her son’s move to music central in CA: worried he’d “become a communist” – I could relate to that latter part- my mom was certain that if I just stayed home and go to USC I’d amass enough debt that I’d have to turn out OK. I didn’t, but I did). MMM paid tribute to various country and western traditions (like cowboy songs from the trail and how the original cowboys were a very diverse group: 25% black, 50% brown and the other 25% “not looking like Clint Eastwood.”). He told us about Georgia O’Keefe’s accomplishments & legacy: plus her museum in Santa Fe having free admission the next day. Michael also again saluted couples celebrating anniversaries with the playing of “What’s Forever For”. One of his fellow musicians was his son Ryan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Murphey ), who teaches stringed instruments at an academy in Nashville.

To close he came back to the thoughts that as great as we are as a nation, we’ll never attain our greatest potential until we make the original Native American peoples an equal and whole part of this experiment. I say Amen & Ah-Hoo to that! He ended leading us in a sing and clap-along of “Carolina in the Pines.” THANK YOU for the fun times Señor… ALL photos are courtesy of Pat Medici.

“I was so much older then…”

It has been almost 57-years since that party in South Pasadena my freshman year in college, when this “Kid from the kennel” gathered around a circular table with friends, illuminated by flickering candlelight, holding hands we prayed to Dylan. I surely am “younger than that now.” Lyrics at https://www.bobdylan.com/songs/my-back-pages/ (See below for link to Byrds cover version of this classic)

I was scheduled to be flying out (non-stop flights) to the coast on Thursday for a Burbank High School (BHS) Class of 1965 gathering (celebrating our 75th birthdays), but my medical conditions resulted in an eight-day visit to hospital (heckuva way to lose 8-lbs; I think I'd now qualify to be part of the famous '62 Bulldog "B" football team that won the Foothill League, of course age would certainly bump me back to JV.). It was challenging, but eventual success wrestling with my continuing saga of biliary duct infections (after pancreatic cancer Whipple surgery last year). Thank you medical team! However, it does mean NO TRAVEL for me for a bit. Gives me time and pause (I guess that be “paws”) to think about my fortune having the friends and relationships I’ve enjoyed with BHS Bulldogs, Navy shipmates & service vets, fellow Humboldt State (now Cal Poly Humboldt) travelers, and of course National Park Service (NPS) and NM Historic Preservation colleagues. A lot of talent and energy there, with many accomplishments by these folks – they’ve truly made the circle a wheel.

I was recently asked to reflect on professional endeavors from my life’s work with NPS. Several come to mind – the one most far-reaching had a hometown (Burbank) nexus, but more about that in a few moments. By far the greatest “take away” was getting to work alongside so many outstanding professionals protecting our national parks for future generations. Oh sure, there were some bureaucratic clunkers, but by-n-large what a cadre I was privileged to serve alongside. Small, medium & large parks all had gems. THANKS to YOU all.

A cherry on top event was most likely getting to speak on behalf of the United States at the INTERPOL/UNESCO Conference (Dec. 1999, Mexico City) on the Trafficking of Stolen Antiquities (poster atop page). I was an 11th hour addition to the program (thank you State Dept. + getting to travel with a Red/diplomatic passport was cool): I enjoyed every minute of it. I recall thinking, as I walked up on stage: “OK, kid from the kennel in Burbank, this is for Dr. Blucher” (a professor of mine at Humboldt that had accomplished her graduate field work at Teotihuacan –outside Mexico City). The Conference may not have resulted in long lasting effects; we’d have to research worldwide efforts post-9/11 to see. For me it was pure ego blast. I sure loved the experience and at least a temporary illusionary accomplishment.

Certainly the emergency incident responses for wildfires and hurricanes come to mind: working with Incident Management Teams (IMT) has been a blessing. I’m forever thankful I could help with Katrina (2005) efforts after having lived in New Orleans when working Jean Laffite NHP in the early 80’s. Getting to work with Park Rangers and the Tourist Police at Petra Archaeological Park and Wadi Rum Protected Area in Jordan, both UNESCO World Heritage Areas, didn’t suck either. OK, it was another cherry.

When I think about significant cases I was involved with, East-West Trading Co./Richard N. Corrow comes to the forefront. Corrow was the first trial in U.S. District Court under the Native American Graves Protection & Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). It resulted in a jury trial conviction that was appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court (after a full en banc review by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit). The U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear the case and the conviction was thus reaffirmed. There was also the Joshua Baer case repatriation (pictured).

Probably the most emotional and “feel good” incident was the repatriation and reburial of over 2,000 individuals at Pecos National Historical Park in May of 1999. I was the Operations Section Chief with the IMT that was a small cog in helping the park achieve their time sensitive objectives in a respectful manner. It was the subject of a “National Geographic” article (Nov. 2000, vol. 198, No. 5, page 118, “Pueblo Ancestors Return Home”) and covered by the various news organizations, including the NY Times https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/23/us/pueblo-indians-receive-remains-of-ancestors.html

OK, so what was the far-reaching event mentioned above? The most educational effort of all started one Saturday afternoon in the early 1990’s. I was with the interagency ARPA (Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979) Task Force (T/F), as a Special Agent & then as T/F Coordinator. When home on Saturday afternoons I liked to watch “Star Trek: The Next Generation” with Meme and our son, Justin (he was <10 then). Towards the beginning of an episode, the character Captain Jean-Luc Picard is showing off an archaeological artifact he found and brought back from shore leave, just as a “Looter” would do. I looked at Justin and thought: “This is not the message he should be hearing from Capt. Picard.” A couple of days later I got out my stationery with ARPA Task Force letterhead and wrote the President of NBC (pictured). Since the TV show was carried by the NBC affiliate, I surmised that the NBC studios and offices in Burbank would get the mail through to the proper individuals (thank you Burbank Public Schools).

About a year later, we were again watching the continuing adventures of the USS Enterprise and crew when Capt. Picard was reunited with his shipmates after he’d been tortured by adversaries (probably the Cardassians). In a show of support his Executive Officer (“# 1”), Commander Riker suggests that he should take some time off and relax, and dig at some ruins. Picard’s immediate response is something like” No number 1, that’s best left to the professionals.” Bingo! I drafted another letter to the President of NBC, this one for the signature of our National Park Service Regional Director. I basically said: way to go, this is the kind of message that needs to be heard – it will pay dividends for generations.

Captain Picard’s lifelong fascination with history, heritage & archaeology is revealed in subsequent episodes and seasons: he goes undercover (using the alias Galen) with galactic looters and traffickers to unveil and stop their nefarious intents. He is re-united with Galen, his archaeology professor, and we learn that as a youth he once wrestled with becoming an archaeologist or pursuing a career with Starfleet (adrenaline won out: I can relate). His mentor tries to recruit him to assist with studies that will reveal ancient secrets of the universe, but Picard stays on course with his Starfleet missions.

I obviously wasn’t the only one watching the evolution of Jen-Luc Picard. I’ve been told, several years later the Society for American Archaeology (SAA) awarded Star Trek: TNG for their public education efforts. You know, education: the gift that keeps on giving – one generation to the next. “Engage.” So, I’m thinking long after we’re all gone some positive vestiges of heritage resource protection will still be alive and passed along. Besides space, time is also a frontier. To everyone please: “Live long and prosper…” “My Back Pages” - covered by the Byrds - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h80l4XIPJC4

Feelin' Alright...

Hello Again: Wow! We’re approaching 3-months since I last put my butt-in-chair (the BIC method of writing) to think about my evolving health issues and status. I suspect that my reflections are received on a varying scale from “so what” to “OMG, still?” Let me see, what happened i

MARCH: We still miss Lucy and her comical Bull Terrier ways. I was able to take the annual wildland fire refresher (RT-130) - prepping for the upcoming fire season (which erupted early in the Southwest, especially here in New Mexico). I continued to participate, as I could, with the bi-weekly national safety calls, and passed the annual Field Test. So, I was “Ready” to go – or so I thought (see next month).

In the latter part of March, Meme and I flew to Phoenix for Emily’s (our goddaughter and nephew Evan Erickson’s daughter) nuptials with Colton Lowery. It was great to be around family we hadn’t seen since pre-pandemic. It also gave us an opportunity to travel out to Tonto National Monument, and visit the cliff dwellings, where we exchanged vows in April 1978. From Phoenix we jetted on to San Diego for our first visit to the Pacific since plague covered the earth: the visit was super! Though a favorite place or two had shut down, the waves kept rolling in depositing a little more sand and seaweed. We made reservations to return in early November. Maybe the smoke hereabouts will be gone by then (thinking by July).

APRIL: 6-month visit with dermatologist: they keep whittling away at me as I protest - how can I have skin cancer? After all, I only worked the family kennels in Burbank & Malibu, went to the beach a lot, played baseball, joined the Navy & went to the Pacific, had a career as a Ranger with the National Park Service – including many fire assignments, played & officiated tennis, went on dive trips and beach vacations, etc. Tell me, where was the exposure? I bet it was hereditary: D-a-d?? The next day we resurrected the monthly breakfast of Ex-FBI & Friends here in Santa Fe: great seeing some longtime law enforcement colleagues.

Uh oh, I also developed an umbilical hernia on the inferior end of my Whipple surgery incision. It hurt, so it was repaired on the 8th. Over the Passover/Easter weekend we enjoyed visits from Carolyn and Larry Eppler (from Payson, AZ); followed by Pat Medici and her hubby Hal Marcus (from El Paso). On the 20th I was called by dispatch at Santa Fe NF asking if I was available to help on Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fires as a Safety Officer. I told them I needed to check with my medical team at appointments the following day. When I broached the subject with my oncologist & surgeon, they basically said “No Way!” In fact, there were enough medical issue “flags” brewing at the oncologist’s periodic appointment that he ordered some tests and another appointment in 3-weeks (vice 3-months). Dealing with high B/P too; which brings us to:

MAY (I be excused now): It has been a challenge, starting with an encompassing MRCP (think MRI). On the 10th & 11th I was able to co-teach an Archaeological Damage Assessment course (per Archaeological Resources Protection Act) with Dr. Jeff Hanson through the Jornada Research Institute: good course, good organization - they’re coordinating the Tularosa Basin Conference (TBC) next month. The following day I had follow-up with Dr. Snyder (oncologist). Based on the MRCP and blood work from that morning he instructed me to “go directly to the ER for admission to the hospital. They know you are coming.” It was my 5th admission to a hospital since being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer: 3 prior, including birth. I had biliary duct area infection, obstructing proper bile drainage (you may recall I had a drain in for 9-months and that was removed in January). An ER doc told me I could expect to be in the hospital “somewhere between a few days and the rest of your life.” I didn’t like the latter part of that prognosis and aimed for the few days. My bilirubin count was spiking and I’d had severe shakes and pain + high blood pressure. Over 5-days I had IV antibiotics (followed by oral for 3-days after I got home). They also placed a stent at the blockage area. I completed the oral antibiotic regimen, with persisting pain in right abdominal area (front and back). A very good Hospitalist (aka “Attending”) told me that is to be expected as my “liver is hurt” – I described the pain to her as “if I’d been shot by an arrow from front through to the back; it’d been removed and I’m now healing.” She said it was an apt description.

COMIN’ UP: I want to praise ALL the positivity coming my way from high school & college chums, Navy shipmates, NPS & SHPO colleagues, law enforcement and fire service folks, etc. You’ve really helped: Gracias a todos. In June I’m registered to attend the TBC in Ruidoso: I’m looking forward to in-person presentations and seeing Ruidoso again. There is something special about Lincoln County to me. I also have some follow-up medical appointments and the annual recertification and range qualifications per the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-277). More interestingly are our planned trips: Meme will be traveling up to Utah (Manti-La Sal NF - Maple Canyon) for a climbing trip while I’m out in Burbank for a BHS Class of ’65 75th birthday bash: complete with taco wagon, la musica de las 60’s, and I’m sure lots of Hawai’ian shirts. Hey Jimmy Buffett, even though you were a ’64 high school grad you’re 75 now, so c’mon over. If only we knew then what we know now, right? Naw, we’d probably do it the same again…

Tonto Times 2

When I first started this rendition of my blog it was to document some of my travels while working at Petra Archaeological Park (Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan), working with Rangers & Tourism Police at Petra (and Wadi. Rum some). Two superb National Park Service Ranger retirees (which I nicknamed the “Two Wise Men & Me Tour”) led & completed our cadre. Two-thirds of us had worked at Tonto National Monument earlier in our careers; the other grew up at Mesa Verde, where his father was the Chief Ranger. Anyway, in the tradition of the blog I’d like to post about travels in late March (2022), our 1st in a long time (initial non-medical trip since being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on Oct. 1, 2020).

The first leg of the trip got off to a slow start, in that our morning Southwest Airlines flight from ABQ to PHX was canceled due to mechanical issues (wing door light) and they couldn’t re-book us, and many others, until the final flight of the day. Fortunately it was on time and our bags were waiting for us (of course SWA failed to mention that to us, and the other re-booked travelers. It took an ol’ Ranger to sniff ‘em out and pass the word that our bags wouldn’t be coming with this flights baggage, plus they weren’t at SWA baggage customer service, but over in a locker adjacent to another delivery area (just the ordinary conditions of current airline travels I’ve been told). Then it was onto the DoubleTree in Tempe to hugs from sisters Chris & Laura, cousin Nancy and aunt Karin (Uncle Bruce had turned in; or as a retired educator was it that he wasn’t going to reward tardiness?). Made it all so worthwhile.

The purpose of the Arizona journey was the family wedding of our goddaughter Emily Erickson, only daughter of my sole (or is that soul?) nephew Evan. Emily is an O. R. nurse at the Mayo in Scottsdale and very special to us, and her extended family: well just about everyone she meets that takes the time to get to know her really. Her life partner, Colton Lowery, with family roots in Trinidad, studies Finance at ASU. Quite a couple they make. It was a wonderful wedding and reception at the Secret Garden too. Meme & I frolicked-on-the-floor (aka. danced) for the first time in several years. My stamina waning we didn’t compete for any cup or prize money. It was a lovely time. I can now pass-in-peace with Emily now married (I’m just kidding folks. C’mon, you know my sense of ha-ha).

The day following the wedding we took a trip out to Tonto National Monument in the Tonto Basin. Travels Alert: don’t try to take the Apache Trail (AZ 88) out from Apache Junction as it is closed due to fire damages from the Woodbury Fire in 2019. Note: I didn’t get an assignment at that fire, as I was already assigned on the Coronado NF. My first drive over the Apache Trail was in Oct. 1977, driving a 24-foot U-Haul truck, and dang was I happy to see pavement (and my 1st career-conditional position). While many of my temp-position peers were going to Independence Hall, The Arch, or Alcatraz for career appointments I drew Tonto. In retrospect, I was very, very lucky as I was surrounded by three wilderness areas and got to do what National Park Rangers did back then: everything. From cleaning bathrooms to herding commercial jojoba bean pickers we did it all. Of course there were slow times. I recall one rain-filled day when we hadn’t had a visitor by about noon and Jim Troutwine (the lead Ranger) looking out the window said: “You know, there just has to be a place halfway busier than here and the ‘South Rim’"(Grand Canyon)… It was at the Monument visitor center observation deck that we first exchanged vows on Apr. 27, 1978 (coming up on 44-years). 1978 was a rainy winter and the hillside up to the Lower Dwelling was carpeted in poppies, lupines & owls clover. It was a sunny & beautiful day – in so many ways.

We loved visiting and reminiscing with the park staff. Remembering hikes from Workman Creek up to the Aztec Peak fire lookout: staffed by the writer Ed Abbey (and his flute). When stationed there (Oct. 1977 – Aug. 1981) I was the closest thing the park had to an archeologist, though a GS-4 Park Technician, I worked with the Tonto National Forest archeologist, mostly Martin McAlister. Now there are two archeologists working from the Monument, multiple interpreters, a Student Conservation Association volunteer, a seasonal resident couple enrolled in the VIP (Volunteer-in-Parks) program, plus additional Ranger, maintenance, administrative and managerial staff. Visitor Services have grown over the years.

Seeing the fire areas from the Woodbury blaze in 2019 reminded me of Honey/Monument fire in 1980. The Initial Attack was my Crew Boss trainee assignment. We called it contained overnight. As the next day was a lieu-day (day off) for me, Meme & I went up to Workman Creek area to cooler temperatures. As we descended towards the Monument & home we saw a large smoke column and I immediately thought “Holy $h!t”. As it turned out we’d probably missed a burning sotol that had later burnt rolling across our containment line throwing embers into a fine field of receptive fuels. It was a great lesson learned for yours truly, and off to the races for fire resources. Years later when on the cadre for Advanced Incident Management, when I heard the module for the Southwest’s fuel descriptions & characteristics for sotol I thought: “been there, done that”.

One of the local fire resources back then was George Harlan, the District FMO (Fire Management Officer) for the Tonto NF. On our 2022 sojourn Meme & I stopped to pay tribute to the George Harlan mile of the highway (the Linny Warren mile too). Meme had worked with George and I’d been fortunate enough to work with Linny years later as we both were retirees doing Safety Officer assignments. We miss them both and they are well remembered. As I participate in taking the annual wildland fire Field Test I think of them both. I passed again this year earlier in March. Another firefighter we knew back then & there was Larry Eppler: he gave me my first belt weather kit and has been a friend over the decades. He and his wife Carolyn will be visiting from Payson this next Friday (Good Friday/Passover). It’ll be great to see them again.

The remainder of our week was spent out in the San Diego area: Pacific Beach (PB)/La Jolla actually. Since Emily & Colton were postponing their honeymoon trip (saving to buy a home), we decided we’d take one for them. Always love our sojourns to & around PB (where I lived in '69 & '70 when in/out of NAS Miramar). For over a decade (14-years) of staying at Pacific Terrace Hotel we’ve said “next time” for the cottages on Crystal Pier. You usually need to book a year ahead. As we walked by their office we checked and they’d just had a cancellation for 3-nights in early November. So, we booked it. We were also able to catch up with Meme’s brother Mark that lives in north part of the county. We did miss out on our previous rendezvous’ with her stepbrother Charlie, a pilot with Alaskan Airlines that moved from PB to Vancouver, WA area - now based out of Portland, OR. Another time Charlie.

On the medical news: I’ve been suffering from an umbilical hernia that erupted at the inferior end of my Whipple surgery incision, when they removed the pancreatic tumor last April. Friday, April 8, 2022, I had another surgery – this one to repair the hernia. So far it is good. Thanks for ALL the thoughts-n-prayers: they seem to be working. I love y’all: you mean a lot to me… and that keeps me going. “HAPPY TRAILS”!