My Weather Issues and OtherThoughts
First of all I absolutely hate really hot weather. That seems to be what our current weather pattern consists of. Lots of heat and just enough rain in the area to create humidity. You have to understand that years past Colorado had little or no humidity - that climate change thing again. The weather we have now reminds me of when I lived in Kansas CIty along the Missouri River. I'm not a fan of humidity coupled with high temperatures (could you tell?). When temperatures are colder you can add layers of clothing to keep warm, when its extremely hot there is a problem if you take off too many layers - public indecency. I've taken to wearing a completely different shirt to walk in on days when I work security. My shirt there is black, not a good idea in the heat, I change into it after I get to work.
Our trip to Kansas was all kinds of things, sad, happy, fun, somber and joyful. I was able to talk a Sheriff's deputy out of giving Jim a speeding ticket. He was clocked going 80 MPH in a 65 MPH zone. Of course he was pulled over and when asked why he was speeding replied that we were trying to get to the next county over as there had been a death in the family. After checking that Jim is a reasonably law abiding person and that there were no wants and warrants out on him, the deputy came back and asked if Dighton, was where we were from. I replied yes, not mentioning the fact that I hadn't actually lived there for decades. It is where I am from. He let us go and we actually drove the speed limit until we got there. I lived there until the end of Grade 1 then we moved to Colorado. We would always go back for at least some time during the summers and from the age of 10 on I was sent to spend entire summers shared with my two sets of grandparents. So, I wasn't lying.
Of the 13 first cousins on that side of my family, 8 of us were there. My Uncle Tom brought three of his four kids, My aunt's three kids were all there and my brother, Dane and I were there as well. It was great seeing everyone because as you know or will know as you get older - that time and responsibilities get in the way of so many things. It had been 4 years since Jim and I had been in Kansas and I can't tell you exactly how long it had been since I'd seen the contingent from Arizona, possibly as long as 20 years! It fely great being together and very natural. In fact my two female cousins, Donnis and Cathy, plus myself represented 75% of the female cousins. We have always been outnumbered by the males in the family.
We all migrated to Donnis and Bill's home where the beer was brought out and the stories began to flow. It truly became a celebration on Aunt Doris' life. I got to see people I knew from those long ago summers that I am so glad I got to see. People whose parents were friends of my parents, came by specifically to see me and my brother. After the services we again descended on Donnis and Bill's place but this was very much family and friends. You have to understand this is a very rural area ,in fact Lane county has only about 1200 people in it. I love it and it is still a big part of my life but I could never live there again. Too many years in the city I guess. It was great to see every one and to reacquaint with so many people who I never thought I was missing. We have made vows that we won't drift apart again. Guess we'll see that time does with that.
The best quote from the time there: "Remember those family reunions that we'd get drug to when we were kids, where we made fun of the old farts? It looks as though we're the old farts now." Somehow that happened.
Our trip to Kansas was all kinds of things, sad, happy, fun, somber and joyful. I was able to talk a Sheriff's deputy out of giving Jim a speeding ticket. He was clocked going 80 MPH in a 65 MPH zone. Of course he was pulled over and when asked why he was speeding replied that we were trying to get to the next county over as there had been a death in the family. After checking that Jim is a reasonably law abiding person and that there were no wants and warrants out on him, the deputy came back and asked if Dighton, was where we were from. I replied yes, not mentioning the fact that I hadn't actually lived there for decades. It is where I am from. He let us go and we actually drove the speed limit until we got there. I lived there until the end of Grade 1 then we moved to Colorado. We would always go back for at least some time during the summers and from the age of 10 on I was sent to spend entire summers shared with my two sets of grandparents. So, I wasn't lying.
Of the 13 first cousins on that side of my family, 8 of us were there. My Uncle Tom brought three of his four kids, My aunt's three kids were all there and my brother, Dane and I were there as well. It was great seeing everyone because as you know or will know as you get older - that time and responsibilities get in the way of so many things. It had been 4 years since Jim and I had been in Kansas and I can't tell you exactly how long it had been since I'd seen the contingent from Arizona, possibly as long as 20 years! It fely great being together and very natural. In fact my two female cousins, Donnis and Cathy, plus myself represented 75% of the female cousins. We have always been outnumbered by the males in the family.
We all migrated to Donnis and Bill's home where the beer was brought out and the stories began to flow. It truly became a celebration on Aunt Doris' life. I got to see people I knew from those long ago summers that I am so glad I got to see. People whose parents were friends of my parents, came by specifically to see me and my brother. After the services we again descended on Donnis and Bill's place but this was very much family and friends. You have to understand this is a very rural area ,in fact Lane county has only about 1200 people in it. I love it and it is still a big part of my life but I could never live there again. Too many years in the city I guess. It was great to see every one and to reacquaint with so many people who I never thought I was missing. We have made vows that we won't drift apart again. Guess we'll see that time does with that.
The best quote from the time there: "Remember those family reunions that we'd get drug to when we were kids, where we made fun of the old farts? It looks as though we're the old farts now." Somehow that happened.