We’re now getting ready to leave Barstow KOA. We spent two days here catching up on things like laundry and grocery shopping. We’re glad to leave the hot desert and go on to Bonelli St. Park in San Dimas, CA. It’s near Gus so we have reservations for a week. The temperatures have been in the 70’s. I sure hope that holds.

We’re taking our time this morning as we only have about 100 miles to go. We are going to fill up with propane here before we leave. We already went for a walk with the dogs and let them play in the dog park for a while. They have been unbelievably good travelers. The hardest thing for all of us has been adjusting to the 2 hour time change. Every clock in this rig has a different time on it and the TV shows we watch come on 2 hrs earlier.

I’m watching out the window as the other campers are also getting ready to leave. RV travelers are generally really nice people. It’s fun to talk to them about where they’ve been and where they’re going. Many are traveling with dogs who for the most part, are friendly too.

We’ve been to Bonelli several times and we love it, even though we’ll pay the most there of any campground. We’ll fill up with gas before we leave Barstow and being in CA, that will cost a pretty penny as well.

Well, we’re off!!! We’re really enjoying this trip.

We had a wonderful time in Laramie and Gillette! We got to see one grandson, Mason Jr, graduate from the University of Wyoming and one from Campbell County High School in Gillette, WY.

While in Gillette, our son, Mason took us to Buffalo where he’s building a house to sell. It was a beautiful ride and a beautiful house. We’re so proud of him. He also cooked us dinner 3 nights in a row. It was so much fun spending time with the family. Mason’s wife, Amy, is super special!

We headed out Thursday morning and made it as far as Rawlins, WY before it started to sleet and got really cold. We stopped and got groceries and gassed up and then spent the night at a KOA. We got started at 8:00 this morning so we’re making up for lost time. Oh, I forgot to mention we got our levelers fixed while in Gillette, so that’s good.

We have so enjoyed our trip so far. Now on to CA for Gus’s 95th birthday.

I’m 74 years old and I don’t know where We’re going to sleep tonight. Every morning when I wake up in the RV, I ask myself where will we be when we go to bed tonight. Sometimes we have planned RV parks like when we get to specific destinations, but like today, we don’t know where we will be when it’s time to stop for the night.

We stayed last night in a park in Perry, OK. We got a pretty early start this morning leaving by 8:00. We have a little over 700 miles to go in 4 days. That’s quite a ways for us. With walking the dogs, stopping for lunch and gas, etc. We usually drive around 250 miles a day.

Yesterday was a good one. The weather was great and the RV seems to be purring right along. I had a very nice Mother’s Day. I heard from all 4 of the kids which was pretty special. Stay tuned. Who knows what today will bring.

We left Texas a week ago yesterday for a much anticipated RV trip. Our first stop…Tuscaloosa, Alabama for our granddaughter, Liv’s college graduation. I can’t tell you how exciting it was to see her get her diploma. We also got to see son, Craig, DIL April, and granddaughter, Charlie.

Our next big occasion is our grandson, Mason’s college graduation in Laramie, WY.

We left Tuscaloosa and got as far as Oxford, MS before Kip became aware of a problem with the brakes. He checked the brake fluid and it was low, so we stopped at a truck stop and bought some. The brakes worked okay for a short period of time, but then he noticed they were soft again, so we stopped for the night at a campground in Oxford. We ended up staying three nights there, but we were fortunate to find a mechanic that comes to you. He was able to fix the leak in the brake line, but he told us we had to flush out all of the brake fluid we had put in because it was the wrong kind and it could cause severe damage to our brake system.

We drove to Memphis the next day and took it to a Ford truck place where they flushed it all out. We had the RV in the shop the entire day so we spent the day in the car with our 2 dogs. We did spend 2 hours at a beautiful dog park so they got to run around without a leash.

We spent the night in Memphis at a beautiful RV park right next to the Mississippi River. Today, we’re on the road again and it’s a beautiful day.

RVing is fun, but you have to be able to roll with the punches because the unexpected will always happen.

Those 70ish Girls…Old-timer’s disease

The New Puppy – Valerie Halla

Did you ever feel down, depressed and lonely? Did you think: what’s the use? Why do I get up and go through the same old routines each day? Do I need stronger vitamins or meds? Or maybe everything in your life is copacetic and mellow. Either way or even in between those two stages or conditions of your life, what can make it better and more meaningful is a puppy. Trust me. It’s simple. It works.

Sure there will be challenges, with wet floors in various stages of yellow and gifts left in random places that smell like poo, and which actually are poo. But it will keep you busy with caring for another living creature, one who eventually will give you slobbery kisses and will look longingly into your eyes not caring if you are depressed or angry or just lost your job. Unconditional puppy love is the best. Puppies don’t talk back and don’t put you down. They want you, need you, depend on you and pay you back with their love.

I’m recommending a puppy for all ailments.

I’m recommending a puppy if your lover deserts you.

I’m recommending a puppy if your car breaks down.

If you cannot afford a puppy, borrow one, foster one, go to a shelter and visit one.

I had to put down my wonderful Ninny a week ago. It was extremely difficult. But I had adopted a mutt puppy three weeks before. It’s saved me even though I still cry and miss my 14 year old dog, my best friend. It has softened the blow. It’s a saving gift.

I hope this helps you. It has helped me greatly.

Simple solutions are often the best ones.

Jim Anderson, ’63

Jeff Sanderson was recognized on his April 20th, 83rd birthday in 1999 with a reprint in the Coyote of the picture of one of his teams. I think it is fitting that we honor him again on what would be his 106th birthday with a 3rd printing. These are but a few of the “Boys of Summer” that he coached in baseball and in life.

Karen Kinsley Tedrow ’63

I remember a first day for a new English teacher. Some of the students thought it would be fun to put “FIZZIES” (Google it) in our mouths and then foam in a variety of colors would pour forth as she started the class.

She did not find it amusing! Brother Mike says we all remember things differently so I’m wondering if anyone else has the same memory?

Jim Anderson ’63

This may well be the final MHS, JCHS Memory from this location. I sustained a concussion in a traffic accident three weeks ago and have been advised to reduce my mental and physical activities and let my brain lie fallow for a period of time to speed healing.

*Note from Mary*

Thank you Jim. You have done an outstanding job of collecting memories from graduates. I have really enjoyed reading them, especially those you contributed.

I know we all wish you the best for a speedy recovery. Take good care of yourself.

See you all this Summer for the All School Reunion!

By Lav and MG Many, many years ago, Ruth came from Sweden to our little town of Murdo to marry Carl Nyquist. Maybe Ruth’s maiden name was Carlson as that was her spinster sister, Edith’s last name. Ruth brought Edith with her. They were very close sisters. Lav and I might not get all the […]

Those 70ish girls…Ruth and Edith..Gathering reminiscing

https://maryfrancismcninch.com/2024/05/09/those-70ish-girls-great-aunt-grace-family-is-everything/

https://maryfrancismcninch.com/2021/04/03/murdo-girl-i-was-on-his-mind/