Memorable Hallooweens

One year I wasn't planning to go to a Halloween party, then the last minute I did. I proceeded to do a costume in whatever I could find around the house. I did look scary. I went to the door for trick or treaters and they ran screaming down the street. When I got to the party I sat quietly for about an hour with my very best friends not able to figure out who I was. Finally I could stand it no longer since I am by nature a very gregareus liked Halloween much. gregarious person. Needless to say I won a prize and my friend Sonney sent me this picture for Xmas. I look at it and laugh every Halloween. Up until that time I had never liked Halloween much. When I was a kid it was apple fights and trying to tip people's outhouses over. One time an older boy decided we should go to the school principal's house. None of us knew what the trick was to be but him. When Mr Goobler opened the door he threw a big bunch of flour in his face. Lucky that he wore glasses, but I thought it was just MEAN and always felt quilty just being in the crowd.

When my niece Janice lived with me she wanted us to dress up and go to the disco at the Point of Veiw. Good sport that I am ,I let her prevaile. One of us was Martisa from the Adam's familuy and the other an alien. Mostly I remember wearing her thigh high boots that had 4inch heels. I could hardly stand much less walk or dance. It's funny I didn't breal m,y mecl before the night was over. That would have taken the shine off Janice's love for Halloween. She was always mopre excited about that holiday than most people are about Xmas. I could never figure out this quirk as she is a very shy and retiring person. Maybe being so creative with costumes and feeling like someone new and strange when she got all decked out brought out a plaayfulness hidden deep within her soul.I on the other hand just felt STRANGE.

The perfect trip

My Colorado kids had sent me a ticket to come visit them. I hadn't paid much attention to the details except for the days and airport times. When I got to the airport I had the nice surprise of finding it was a first class ticket. It was a beautiful day and we were flying at 45000 ft but still below the clouds so I could see the desert and mountains all the way. It was delightful. The Colorado Rockies were covered with snow and I didn't know I could be so happy to see snow covered peaks, as it had been a long time since I had been there when this was the case.

I was thrilled to see Randy and Lucinda waiting at the baggage claim. Randy sometimes can't bring himself to leave work if he is in the midst of a heavy duty project which is most of the time. At their home I was warmly greeted by my grandson, Mason, and the three dogs. Sydney who is old and very plump, Gus who is a gangly looking lab with a lame leg and my favorite Cadillac who is a smaller black lab and extremely sweet. They all acted like they still remembered me. Everyone then gave me the tour of their newly up dated home. It is beautiful with all the latest and greatest things on the market. This includes a tremendously relaxing steam room which I quickly stripped down and enjoyed for twenty minutes. In the meantime Lucinda had cooked what could only be termed a five star gourmet meal.

The next day I wanted to walk Pearl street which has been a tradition ever since they have livied in Colorado. Big fat snowflakes were falling so it looked just like a Cristmas card. Later Lucinda helped me shop at my favorite place of Coldwatert Creek. There I was able to find a couple of festive tops to wear for the holidays. We managed to sit around and do lots of talking. The atmosphere of their home is always very pleasant with candles galore, classical music and low fire burning in the fireplace. I hardly lifted a finger excet to make home made noodles one night for dinner. They have a new bread maker that is about ten times better than the ones we all dashed out to buy when they first came out. Therefore either Lucinda or Randy made a loaf of fresh crusty bread every day.

Our Mason was in good spirits, and teased us all about our excentric ways. It is a new generation of people coming on line. He is very smart and cute though, if I do say so, as his grandmother with a few biased opinons.

When I left it was another beautiful day, sunny and warm. I admit to having a few tears roll down my cheeks, knowing it was probably the last time I would be traveling to beautiful Boulder Colorado. They are having a huge snowstorm now and I was glad I slipped in and out before this happened. Haappy Halloween to all.

Oh, those pesky rabits.

MY yard work becomes one big fat challenge. I was thinking about my bucket list and wanting to get this 45 ft. pine tree out of my yard, as the first thing I did. Normally I don't believe in killing tress, but this was such a big greedy sucker, it slurped up all the water nutrients and even the sunshine from my grass and flowers. Luck for me I found a great tree remover and he had it done in one day. I was ready to do the dance of joy when Robert told me they had broken the water line. This was not surprising as it had roots all over the place. Robert has been re-routing all the water and fixing sprinklers in spite of his aching back. My nature is to want everything done like YESTERDAY, so I went to my special nursery and the flowers were so beautiful I wanted to buy them all. I worked all day getting the beds looking beautiful. The next morning when we got up the loveliest flowers were all eaten and we had stems. Off I went to the nursery to buy repellent. So far so good. It's been two nights now and the rabbits have decided I am not going to put out another feast for them and all the ones they left are growing. It is to be hoped the bunnies get the message that these flowers are for ME. I'm taking a break and going to Colorado for a few days, then we will tackle winter grass. I can usually grow enough of that for me and the rabbits both. I'm sure Randy's and Lucinda's yards will be done to perfection so maybe I can enjoy them and not be so spastic about my own when I return.

The Vultures are Hovering

I think it is very rude of them to not at least get in back of the grim reaper. But NO one is so brave as to come and set in the tree in the back yard. Rob watched him for a while then came for me to see him. They are not pretty. The grim reaper is probably a handsome dude by comparison.

Then I go to a birthday party last night and my friend Barbara tells me this nice little story about working in her garden and feels something on her back. She stands up and this lovely dove hops from her back to her shoulder. It was so unafraid it set their for about five minutes, before flying away. I hardly dared tell my vulture story after that. Oh well I am in the winter of life, and something new and different is bound to be hovering. If anyone else sees a vulture in their yard let me know.

street Gangs in Helena Montana

Wouldn't it be nice if this was the only types of gangs we had in Phoenix? It seems like almost every morning on the news there has been a shooting or stabbing. Some are related to drugs, alcohol and domestic violence. Most can be traced back to some sort of gang connection. It is sad to see a lovely city that we have all enjoyed so much getting more and more crime.

I love elk. Can't understand how anyone can think it is fun to shoot and eat them.

My cute neices

Being the youngest of six girls in my family I always had the fun and security of having five great sisters to depend on. As we got older and they started to leave the earth I felt quite devastated. Then there was only Melba and Alice left. I didn't think either took really good care of themselves and I worried. One day I was in a real rant to Alice. I said," if you and Melba die, I will be SO mad at you. I don't want to be left in the world without sisters to always get my back." She replied,"You know I am leaving several great daughters to you." She did do that and I have been eternally grateful for their love and support. They are exception people.

The picture from left to right, back row is Connie, Gail, Cute Sherri , Karel and Janice front center.

I'm sorry Joyce and Pat were not in this photo. Joyce is most thoughtful for calling and inviting me to come visit her. She plans it all out. Patricia is the jokester of our family and has provided much laughter. Gail is the one who always comes to see me no matter what is happening in her own life. Karel calls and talks gently about everyone and everything. Janice and Sherri are just my enthusiastic loving fans. I have had visits from all and always feel they enrich my life so very much.

The above picture always makes me smile as Gail had them all come to her house in Sacramento. Then then went to San Francisco to see the sights and spend some special time. Gail being how she is, had reservations for this and that. Schedules for Bart down to the minute. The other girls were sort of strolling around shopping and enjoying each others company. Gail trying to keep them on time for reservations said to me,"it was about like herding feathers" Id find one and loose another but we had a wonderful time together and I would do it all over.

Power on stalls are scary.

After my divorce I dated Bill Pratt for sometime. He was a motorcycle racers. A departure from the cowboys I was used to. Still, he was very witty and anyone that could make me laugh was in like Flin.Best of all he was gone all week and only came to his home in Phoenix for the week-ends. This suited me very well as I was working hard and trying to keep an eye on my teen age boys.


Bill suggested one day that we should take flying lessons. This had been a vague dream in my mind for years so I quickly agreed. We soon were off to Paradise flight school. A hanger and a pot hole filled airstrip behind the race track. Of course we both thought we were too smart to need the weeks os ground school so red the manual and jumped right in. Bill soloed after five hours with an instructor. It took me more like thirty five. I was not a natural but I had determination on my side. On the hill by the airstip there were two green water tanks. That was where you cut power and started your turn to land. We had many good laughs about how we would never be able to land if we were where there were no water tanks. This was not true of him as he went on to be a commercial pilot where as I was so glad when my solo flight was over and the certificate in my hand I never cared to ride in a Cessna again.

The day I soloed I went way out in the desert and tried a power off stall. That was okay so I thought I would do the power on stall. That scared me plenty as I came out of it disoriented and couldn't find the horizon for a few minutes, which seemed much longer. Then I hear 409er, 409er come back to the field. I went gladly and the instructor sighed as loud as I did when my feet hit the ground. She said,"You weren't supposed to go so far or do so much your first time up." The custom was to write your name on your panties and post on the bulletin board with all the men's shirt tails. Many more men than woman flying those rickety old cessions at that time.

Anyway I got thinking about Bill and decided to post a small poem I wrote in his honor. It was published in a small slick poetry book being done at Scottsdale at the time. (Chimera)
DESERT LOVE

Some men share riches, wine or flowers.
You shared a desert night,
A million stars.
Memories of times past,
Dust smells.
The sound of small animals, thing about making love.
A warm belly
A hot passion,
A gentle kiss for goodbye.

LaRena Hall, Phoenix Arizona