On the Road to Being a Fire Lookout

30 June, Day 2 at the LO.

There was one lick closer so this became known as Salt Lick #2

So it was the battery, I am still fogging a mirror.  Got up at 0700, have to be up in the Cab by 0900.  Called in on handheld as off duty for maintenance.  They use "Out of Service" if you are actually leaving the tower area for any reason and won't have the radio available.  "Off duty" means you are off the clock, but the radio is still on in case they need to call you to come on shift. So worked on cleaning up the Cab, worked on scrubbing up the FF (Fire Finder) and polishing the brass.  That took several applications after a winter of corroding.  But it looks respectable.  I'm probably more fussy than most having had to "polish brass" in the Navy for so many years. My first visitors up in the tower for the season were two gents who flew into Memaloose air strip, then walked the mile to get to the LO (Look Out).  As they arrived I spotted 12 Rocky Mountain Goats (RMG) including two kids on the next point over from the LO.  What a great way to start the season.  It's pretty inspirational to see this kind of big game in any quantity.  Later in the day a couple from Pomeroy, Washington were visiting and spotted a small band of five further over in a dirt area under a large evergreen tree.  Am thinking there must be some minerals leaching up in these two spots because there wasn't any grass where they appeared to be licking the ground.

Looking down to the Cabin - my home.

  Stayed in the tower cleaning until around 1500 then had run out of cleaning supplies, and my bag for trash was full so decided to go down and do some repairs and cleaning around the Cabin.  Since there are no facilities up there, we carry the trash out and down to the Cabin, then take it out in the car on our days off.  It's a lot nicer going back to the Cabin than coming up to the tower in the morning.

Daily lunch is carried up to the Cab along with all the day's liquid requirements and snacks.  I brought a little fresh fruit and veggies but can see it's not going to last long.  Need to get that refrigerator working.
Since the one deck board where you step up in the front was sticking up, and the one immediately in front of the back door of the cabin broke through on first step there that has become my priority to fix. There is a small closet in the Cabin with some old rusty nails in a paper bowl.  So managed to scrounge enough of them to nail down the boards.  Once I started found there were about ten of them which needed repairs.

Then it was inside and swept and mopped the floors -- three times.  First shot I boiled up water and flooded the place basically, then mopped it up and tossed out the grungy mud in the bucket.  The second round I'd brought clorox and a little spray bottle and mixed it about two-thirds clorox to one-third water and sprayed the floor until it was saturated.  Let that set and then mopped it up.  Finally just decided to do one more as a rinse.  The clorox fumes were terrible, but I had the door and windows open for a good cross ventilation so got most of the smell out prior to bed time.

Osbourne Fire Finder

Decided to wait until the next day to clean the frig and do the cupboards.  Found a map in the Cabin which I can use to study the geography surrounding the tower.  Although dispatch has a map of our area and azimuths on it from each tower when we call in smoke they want us to give the azimuth and estimated range, and then a legal and the physical name of the smoke.  The legal is the term used to identify the fire by Township, Range, Section and then the location with in the quarter of section.  The name which usually ends up being the fire name is like a peak, or drainage, or slope off a ridge by name.  There was supposed to be a panoramic set of photos for 360 degrees around the tower with the names of the prominent peaks, ridges, and drainages already named but it is missing.  So, my goal over the next few days will be to identify these by looking at the map and the geography and figure out which one is which.  Finally I assembled the weather station, but there was no pipe for it, so had to put that on the list for the crew to bring up and install.

The other item which is missing is the azimuth sync log.  It's a chart with lines from my tower to easily identifiable points around the tower (i.e. another LO, a relay tower, a sharp peak) and they have been plotted by a surveyor so they are accurate to degree and minute of arc.  We set this every morning first thing to make sure it is on the mark.  After I did the house got the manual out and studied the procedures, radio groups and frequencies, procedures to be used when there are thunder/lightning storms in the area, and how to identify the various clouds (clouds are not an issue for a former Navy pilot).  Found an error in one of the sections on lat/long for our air strip.  Kudos for Shaw on his first day. Outside to catch a shot of the sun going down.

My every night sunset.  Am thinking after fire season starts they will be even more brillant.

The lamps are so dim you can't do much with them.  Good thing Deb bought me a Kindle and I'm not trying to read a book by the thing.  I'd be blind by the end of the second week.  Anyway, sundown is about 2045, so that pretty much drives when I go to bed.  I can read the Kindle until I get sleepy. Brought the battery from the LO Smoke Detector down (there wasn't one in the CO Detector up there), but usually have the door open all day so not a factor, and still no propane bottles so not using a heater.  Of course tomorrow is the first of July.

2330 -- CO Detector decides to go off.  Not sure why it doesn't happen in the afternoon, but must have some kind of electric eye facing the bed and then a time delay to go off about an hour after it senses last movement over there. Woke about 0315 needing to go out and use the porta-potty.  My son gave me an LED head lamp and I can see it is going to be a boon.  Opened the door, started to walk out on the deck and there was a cow elk feeding in the back yard.  Eased back into the house to grab the camera, but she bolted when I recracked the storm door to get the picture. Back to bed, but Dispatch comes on the radio in the morning at 0700 with a lengthy checkin, weather etc so that's pretty much my wake-up call.  It gives me an hour and a half to eat, make my lunch, pack my bag and be out the door at 0830.  Takes me about 15 minutes to walk up the hill and climb the LO.

1 July

So up in the tower by 0900, called in off duty for maintenance again.  Cleaning windows (I brought windex and a roll of towels).  Wow, what a nice view with clean glass.  Polished the FF again a couple times.  It's beginning to look much better.  Just need a decent map to go on it.

Looking NW to Washington State

South to Eagle Cap Wilderness -- Cabin in fore ground left

About 1000 started feeling nauseous, eyesight fading in and out, light headed.  Little pain the left arm, but chest okay.  Went and sat down on the shady side by the trap door where we get a nice breeze.  It began to disapate after a couple of hours.  I'd had breakfast and a pint of water before coming up to the tower.  But went ahead and ate one of my PB&Js when the symptoms started.  Kept drinking my water.  We had a fire drill on the far side of the valley about noon. Without binoculars I was SOL for trying to spot it.  The spotting scope goes to 36 power max and at the range is really grainy and the FOV is like micro sized, so trying to hold it and see anything meaningful is virtually impossible.  That's what happens when you buy cheap.  (Found out later the gent across the river from me who has been doing this several years bought his own pair of 20X50 Swarovskis for $3000.)  My boss's boss the FMO called to see if I'd been able to pick up the test fire.  Told him I had no binoculars and the "cheap" spotting scope was worthless.  A little blunt but have to call it like it is. Figure if I sugar coat it the arrival of the binoculars would only take a little longer since they would have no sense of urgency.  Anyway, the action kind of distracted me from my malady and I started feeling better.  Am thinking it's a little altitude sickness after a couple of days at 7000+ft.

No matter where you are, whether you have ESPN or not a Packer is always a Packer.
This is looking North towards Warnock Corral just over far ridgeline.

When I got down the FS cell needed charging, so went out and cranked up the car.  Thought I'd drive down to see the airstrip and surrounding territory while I charged the phone.  Joy oh joy, the alternator isn't showing charging.  Got out, popped the hood and bad news: the alternator belt is not on; good news: the belt didn't break.  I can loosen the bracket and slide it back on.  Thinking it was that last cattle guard which caught me by surprise and had a good bump to it.  Fortunately, I threw in my tool bag just before I left.  Well, the engine compartment is built for little oriental hands, not ham fists like I have with big fat thumbs.  However, after an hour of working on it, got it on and it squeaked initially until I reved it up after starting, but it was charging.  So off to the airfield, and cautiously approached that last cattle guard.  AND our work around for charging the FS cell is in place.

Two families were camped off to the side of the airfield landing area.  One had pulled a 28ft airstream up that one lane 16% grade road.  Wow, I'm impressed. Remembered I'd brought my little 7X25 binocs, and found them in the car.  Put them on the seat so I could take them up to the LO tomorrow.  Not much, but better than the naked eye.  AND, I'd let the FMO know I needed binocs so it should be short term. Fire crew is supposed to come-up tomorrow too and get the solar panel hooked up and the base radio hooked up, bring up the propane bottles, hook-up the solar panel on the Cabin, take the board off the front door and tell me the plan for the deck off the back door.  The AFMO told me they plan to completely redeck it.  I told him if they would bring up a saw, the lumber and new nails and a cats claw or crow bar I'd do it on my days off.

Well, today was just a little easier going up the hill to the tower than the first day, so hoping I'll keep improving.  Miss my lady, she flew off to Chicago to do her birthday with her sis.  I didn't even get her anything before I left town.  What a lousy hubby.  I'm thinking this is really inspiring and beautiful up here, and to have seen RMGs on the first day, and an elk in the back yard the second morning is incredible.  But 30 June to 15 October is three and a half months and 30 years ago I told myself no more "cruises".

One last view to share.  Looking to the NE I have a view of the Snake River from Sheep Creek where it runs into the Snake from the Seven Devils Mountain Range, back up river to Waterspout Rapids just below the confluence with Saddle Creek.  It's a little over a mile drop from my LO at Hat Point down to the Snake River.  A trail runs from the LO down to the river.

The Snake River in Hells Canyon from Hat Point Lookout

On the Road w/ The Feds

Went out to get the mail this afternoon, and as I'm sorting it out one popped out big and loud -- "The Feds Want You!"  Well, it said that in so many words.  Having made a typo on my State taxes I jumped when I read it then realized, "No that's State, not Feds."  Quickly scanned the address and realized it was neither for Deb nor me, but rather for our daughter.

Okay, she's grown, married, has a son but they are still your kid and so your heart screams, "What now?" Oh, it's a request for Jury Duty.  Shheeezzzz!!!!!  Alright, we're good, we're really good!  Thought maybe if I'd seen a request for jury duty previously I'd have realized what it was.  But, as neither one of us have ever been called to even register for jury duty, it wasn't something I'd seen previously.

Now, having said that, am thinking maybe I should just erase this and leave the "sleeping dog be" but that's not in my nature.   Besides, I'm at the point of working on my Bucket List, and Jury Duty is one of those things I've never done but wanted to do.  NO!  I'm not insane, but I am a product of the Quality/Six Sigma era and I believe I'd do a very credible job on a jury.  For sure, the prosecution would need to without a doubt prove the individual guilty.  So, if you are looking to go to court make sure they summon Mags!

Riding On the Wind

I've been asked about the picture of the "brown" raptor on my blog profile.  That is actually a Golden Eagle and his name -- One-eyed Jack. Jack was an incredible creature who brought knowledge, love, reality and awe to thousands of school children and adults alike.  Jack was already at The Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey when I first started volunteering there in 2005.

He had been chasing prey and hit a barbed wire fence damaging his right eye.  Because of the seriousness of the injury, Jack lost that eye entirely during his rehabilitation.  Resultantly, he could not be released to the wild again, and so he was made to be an Education Bird and we at the Birds of Prey Center in Boise were fortunate enough to be offered the opportunity to have him be a part of our family of educators.

Jack was a magnificent creature, and in spite of his injury always demonstrated the beauty, the courage and the distinctive uniqueness of being a wild creature that allowed us to view just a little bit of who he was, what he was and his importance to mankind.

As a volunteer at the Velma Morrison Interpretive Center, one can serve in many capacities.  As is my normal approach to every job I take I "wanted it all." So I began in January of that year working in the Gift Shop as a cashier and greeter of our guests.  But, my long term goal was to "work with the birds" in what ever capacity was available.  To be eligible, you had to have two years or two hundred hours of volunteer time.  Then you went through considerable training to "handle" the birds and that began with some of the smaller, oft shown raptors at the center. One went from Gift Shop, to Docent (Tour Guide), to chamber cleaner, to feeder -- what ever was needed to accrue those valuable 200 hours.  At four and a half hours per shift, it was a lot of shifts, but by early winter I'd done it all and was there.

One thing the raptors love is being outside.  So on non-windy days we often take them out to perch in the court yard in the sunshine.  The picture above was taken one November afternoon when I was given the opportunity to "bird sit" Jack on the perch in the yard.  It's really special as you get to observe the raptors so closely.  They miss nothing, catching every ground squirrel or rabbit that scampers across the grass, or notice the flick of a wing of a house finch or dove flying over.  Often, free wild raptors floating on the air currents above the Center soar over and always notice we have an educational bird out.  This is an intruder in their territory, so both Jack and I were ever watchful and alert to make sure they did not decide to take any aggressive action towards this "other" raptor in their area.

While Jack was fed by many of us and we assisted in his care such as coping, his handler was Trish, our Raptor Specialist.  He and Trish had a bond most of us will never know.  They were a couple in as much as you can say that about a human and a wild creature.  But he knew Trish, he trusted Trish, and when he traveled throughout the region as an ambassador to the Center it was Trish who took him on the road. For several years they delivered the conservation message to school children and adults alike.

On the day Jack was in the courtyard I took several pictures of him.  It wasn't until a year or two later when I was sorting through my files to save the pictures onto a new external drive that I noticed something about one of Jack's pictures.  I was enlarging the photos, cropping some, and renaming them when I picked up a sparkle in Jack's one good eye on one shot.  After Jack passed away from exposure to the West Nile Virus I enlarged that picture, printed it and gave it to Trish.

I thought about it yesterday on TBT -- Throw Back Thursday.  This is how I will always remember Jack -- the sparkle, the golden feathers on the back of his neck, the six and a half ft. wingspan, the rock hard, muscular nine and a half lbs body.  He truly was a magnificent creature.

 

Golden Eagle Facts:
Average Life Span in the wild: 30 years.  Longevity may double in captivity.
Dive at as much as 150 mph
Weight: Males around ten lbs, females about one-third larger.
Wingspan: Males around six and a half ft., females to seven and a half ft.
Clutch: one to four eggs, both incubate them
Gestation: 40-45 days average.
Talon Grasp:  Estimated between 300 and 900 psi between front and back talon.
Videos show Goldens taking down wild goats, deer, foxes as well as smaller animals.

On the Road to Summer

This week we hit 80F.  It's supposed to drop down again into the seventies and even high sixties for a few days, but we've passed through the gates of spring into summer. Road up to Birds of Prey on Friday and it was about 61F when I left the house in my jeans, short sleeved T and my vest.  Wearing the "pot" of course as the full face is a bit warm on the ride home when it's 80.

Funny, would never have dreamed of riding off in the winter at 61F dressed like that.  Guess it's the perception of warmth with the sun shining on you that makes it so tolerable.  I'm far beyond ready.

Of course you can tell it's still early.  The vehicle drivers have not transitioned to "more bikes on the road" and to be aware and watch for them.  So I'm very inspired to be 150%+ defensive in my driving still.  Not bad though, only two drivers tried to run me over/off the road--and that's with having replaced the lights with high intensity LED all the way around.  Still, with all that light, it's very difficult to see when your head is where the lights don't shine!  Hence, why I also replaced the stock horn with a small but very loud air horn.

So blasted the gent, and at the next light he stopped about three car lengths back from me for the red light.  Don't know whether he thought I was an evil biker who would damage his car if he got up too close to me or if he was possibly just a tiny little bit embarrassed by not looking.  While I'd love to believe the latter am going to put odds on the former.

Brighter lights, louder horn, louder pipes -- only thing left is being extra extra defensive.  That my friend is the saving grace.

Now to begin working on the biker tan!!!!!

Traveling the Lenten Path - I

Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent.  Forty days to the Celebration of the risen Lord.  Forty days to improve my life and be better than I am right now.  Years ago Lent was about "giving something up."  Then somewhere around the mid to late sixties a Priest got the idea it's about being better, not just about sacrifice.  If we make a sacrifice that actually improves who we are then it's doubly beneficial.  So, I started trying to do something that required a little extra effort, but in the process helped someone else--more visits to old folks, taking communion to the home bound and sick, working on volunteer projects that benefited someone.

This year we are fortunate to have another new daughter-in-law.  She's positive, she's perky, she's always smiling, and she chose to be married to our youngest.  All good factors in a person.  She posted a blog before Lent that said she was going to focus on the four P's:  Prayer; Productivity; Personal and being Positive.  Our son added Physical into the gamut and so after stealing what I thought was a pretty "positive" idea, am trying to focus each day on one of the five P's.  Just keep in mind, plagiarism is one of the greatest forms of flattery.

Wednesday, 13 February -- Ash Wednesday I chose to start with Prayer because it seemed most appropriate given the season.  Now in my mind and beliefs, I've always felt prayer should be private as the Bible tells us.  Matthew 6:6 - "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."  To me prayer is a very personal event.  Therefore, I'll not tell you what my prayers were, but simply ask you believe I did pray.  I will also tell you part of those prayers have already been answered, so what a great way to start Lent. Remember, Faith is not believing God can, it's knowing that He will!  I have the benefit after so many years of seeing it happen.

Thursday, 14 February -- Productivity.  Since retiring there are days of productivity, but there are also days of just, flat 'goofing off' because I can.  God only gives us so many days on this earth.  I say somewhat tongue in cheek that I am going to live to be 107 years old.  I think it's mostly to irritate the kids, but then who knows, it's easier to live longer when you have a goal in mind.  My maternal grandfather lived to be 94, and my own dad lived to be 83, so who knows.  But, back to productivity.  I feel it is important one goofs off a little once in awhile because it's good for the spirit and well being.  But, even with that I know I can be more productive than I've been. And, productivity contributes to purpose.  It will add years by keeping me more alert, have a sense of accomplishment, feelings of contributing to the family, maybe even the community, and in some small way mankind.

Thursday I chose to work on our genealogy tree--something I hope to pass to the family.  This winter I'd gotten considerably behind.  There were nearly 1000 family members with documentation on their lives out there.  Some only had one document, others 15 to 20 or more. I managed to get the list down to 958 people.  Several were single documents, a couple in the teen to twenties, some as recently as the 1940 Census, some as far back as England and the 1600's.  I up loaded several photos (gravestones, pictures of documents, and old family photos).  When I finished, it felt really great. Maybe I'm weird, well not just maybe, I am weird.  However, when you find several documents, and you start comparing all the dates, and names, and events, and suddenly have solid proof it's the same individual it's like finding a gold nugget in that old slag pile, one the miners missed years and years ago.

In addition, I managed a phone call or two on some accounts coming due, and managed to work some savings (as big as $100 on one).  Sometimes all you have to do is take a few minutes, call, and ask for a discount or break.  I got a couple of the small household chores done, finished drying the darks and folding them and started the whites.  Made a salad for dinner to compliment the heart shaped pepperoni pizza Deb stopped and picked up.  Got my email box down from 47 to only three.  Got all the receipts for the motorcycle replacement parts filed, and read through the manual on installation of a couple of the parts.  Even managed to give Deb's cat Lola a few strokes.

Friday, 15 February -- Today is Physical.  Wasn't sure if it should be called Physical or Personal since it's both, but decided personal would be more emotional health, happiness and 'only' for me.  So, working on all the exercises the folks at the Idaho Spine and Sport gave me to do after the motorcycle accident, and those the doctor gave me to do after twisting my ankle this last week.  In the process of completing PT, I'm realizing I've been given an opportunity to increase my mobility that I never got after my hip surgery twenty years ago.  It's kind of like a new life, a refreshing new opportunity opening up things I'll be able to do and accomplish from a physical standpoint.

Of course that idea in and of itself gives my wife great concerns, but I've just got to pace myself and understand there are a few limitations for a 70 year old guy that weren't there fifty or fifty-five years ago.  I promise not to go back out on the roof again -- til next year when I'm in better shape and have better balance.

Saturday, 16 February -- Today is Positive Saturday.  It's also our son's birthday.  We are going to meet him and take him to dinner, and we've been blessed to be able to get a gift for him that we hope will have a very positive impact on his life. Matthew is a very creative person, and has had his eye on one of Deb's used cameras for awhile now.  It's time he had one of his own, and it only seems fair he gets a new one. He spends so much time out of doors our hope is this will offer him an opportunity to open up his creativity and record some the the beauty he sees on a daily basis.

So there is the first week of the kick-off to Lent.  Tomorrow -- Personal.  Need to think about that one just a little. I know there is a new bottle of old Scotch in the cupboard from our latest grandson's birth.  It's not supposed to be healthy to drink alone, but then how else do you make it personal.  I'll just keep it to one, one tall one!!!!!

On the Road to the Library

Parents always hope they've made a positive impression on their children.  So you work to be a good example, in spite of yourself.  Then you stop once in awhile and ask what else you might do to be a more positive and memorable person in their eyes. 

On a rare occasion the reinforcement comes, and you are not only surprised, but completely amazed.  That's good isn't it?  Well, it depends on whether their expectations of who and what you are meets your hopes or exceeds your hopes!

So on the latest tickler, I realized I'd obviously done too well in making our youngest son thinking I was a much better math teacher than I might possibly be today. The next few weeks will tell. 

Yesterday morning I received a text message from our son telling me his wife was taking Pre-Calc and Math Analysis and was having a little problem understanding some of the concepts.  He'd told her his dad was likely better at helping her than he was, so wanted to know if I could arrange to have a little time next week to help?

Well, you just don't tell your kids no when they ask for assistance, right????? 

Now let's talk reality.  In my younger day I was a math whiz.  I got straight A's in every math class I took.  While stationed in Puerto Rico I had some spare time after the clean-up of Hurricane Hugo was finished so signed up to teach evening college classes on base.  The college asked me to teach math which I did.  Additionally, our neighbor's wife and daughter were taking Analytical Mathematics and so I ended up doing tutoring for them for a few weeks as well. Enjoyed both and it went well!

Subsequently, on our return to the States, I signed up to design and teach classes for Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, a Catholic College.  I spent a little over five years doing classes in their evening adult Masters Program.  Krieg was in elementary school at that time so he would remember his dad as a college instructor.

So, those of you who are intuitively observant have now tied two events in time together:  teaching and tutoring math "after" Hurricane Hugo, and Krieg was in elementary school.  That would be September of 1989 and September of 1995.  No matter how you look at it and do the "math" that would be either seventeen or twenty-three years ago. 

So here we are with a seventy year old mind, being asked to do something that at the most recent was seventeen years ago (teaching) and the oldest was twenty three years ago (tutoring).  How on earth does an elementary kid recall you used to do these things at all, let alone well?????

So, tonight, I went online to the Boise Public Library, and did a search for Pre-Calc books in the system.  I didn't find the exact one I wanted (Precalculus with Limits), but I did find another and found they also have one of the Scham's series on Pre-Calc.  Will pick them up tomorrow on the way back from the Idaho State Historical Society Archives (that's a whole other story) and begin "my" refresher before next week. 

Wish me luck getting up to speed after 17/23 years.  Just hope I don't destroy those expectations.

So who's Anal?????

I could probably have just put a name up here and that would have been the shortest blog ever.  But that is no fun, and if anyone ever does read my blogs, it would be such a grave disappointment that I didn't ramble on for several paragraphs before getting to my point.  That is not who I am.  Just ask my oldest daughter why we call those things on the ends of our legs "feet". 

Two people in our household have always been accused of being anal.  One is our daughter, and the other is of course me!!!!!  (Let's ramble.)  One year Deb and Erin were putting in Hosta plants around large trees we'd planted.  She gave Erin six to plant around one tree.  Deb planted hers, then went around to the other side of the house to see how Erin was doing.  Erin had a tape measure and was just finishing up.  They were evenly spaced, very symetric, and exactly the same distance in from the outer edge of the spaded up dirt perimeter.  Deb needed one more for her side so grabbed one.  Erin of course was very frustrated because now she had to start remeasuring.  "For crying out loud Erin, just put them in the ground!"  This was the one "non-anal" person giving us who are the run around. 

(Back to the story), so today, as we are sitting drinking our third cup of coffee on a lazy Saturday morning, wondering what projects we have (can't just sit on the deck enjoying the cool morning and great coffee) she hands me three typed pages of notes and says, "Would you go over this and see what we can do today?"  Says I, "We can sit and read the morning paper and enjoy our coffee!"  Oops, already said that wasn't an option didn't I. 

We have a month and three days until the wedding.  However, twelve days of that we will be on the road.  So, my non-anal wife has outlined every weekend, and some of the days in between with what we need to do prior to the wedding.  That really was only the first two pages, the third was the meals and food for while family is here and for the rehearsal dinner, including which bowls each would be in.  When I'd finished reading it, she asked, "What do you think?"  My reply?  "So who is anal in this family?"  Response, "I'm not anal, I'm just organized!"

So why is it my daughter and I are anal, and my wife is organized?????

Have to admit (can't believe I'm putting this in print) this list is so complete there should be a zero-anxiety factor between now and then -- unless of course we miss achieving a to-do on the list at the right time.  Not sure what will happen then.  But, still I've got to love her.  When I think back to my days as a carrier pilot, and how we tried to plan for every eventuality of a flight, I should be the last one complaining about her an......  sorry, about her organization.  But, can I now count three in the family?????

On the Sea!

On May 4, 1945, the USS Morrison, DD560, a U.S. Navy destroyer was on duty at Radar Picket Station No. 1 just off Okinawa. Early that morning, she was hit by four Japanese kamikaze aircraft. The ship sank so quickly only one crew member from below decks is documented as having escaped and survived. One hundred fifty-five other Navy men lost their lives. One of those men who was listed as MIA (Missing In Action) was Frederick Arthur Raycraft, WT3, USNR. Petty Officer Third Class Raycraft was born in 1917 to the George William Raycraft family of Bend, Oregon. He was the eighth of nine children born to George and Florence Raycraft. His younger brother Charles died and was interred in Bend in 2003.  Petty Officer Raycraft's name is on a Memorial in Honolulu, Hawaii. 

We've had a couple of tupperware buckets full of old pictures around the house for more years than I want to say.  Actually, it's since my dad passed away in 1994.  One bucket was pictures my mom had saved from her mother and father's collection when they passed away.  The other one was from mom and dad's closet and friends and family they had. I've been working on scanning in these photos, cleaning them up, trying to see who is who and putting captions on them.  I got all of my grandparent's albums scanned and loaded onto the family website in September 2010. 

This past week, Deb sat me down and handed me the bucket from my folk's closet.  So, first I sorted them by family groups, with the hope that after they have been scanned in I can take them to the family picnic this July and return them to the appropriate families to be distributed.  Keep in mind some of these photos go back nearly one hundred years. One of the photos was a U.S. Navy Petty Officer Third Class.  On the back of the photo, written in pencil was the following, "Fred Raycraft, missing in action Christmas 1945."  Not a lot to go on.  I won't bore you with the details of the search, but after some digging, I was able to determine Water Tender Third Class (WT3) Frederick Arthur Raycraft, from Bend, Oregon was aboard the USS Morrison DD-560 and was one of the one-hundred fifty-five sailors lost that day. 

Fred was born to George William and Florence O. Raycraft in 1917, the eighth of nine children.  They lived on Kingston Street in Bend, and a couple of the family members worked for Shevlin-Hixson Company there.  I was able to find out the parents and the youngest brother's funerals were conducted by Niswonger Reynolds Funeral Home in Bend.  It's still there.  I've mailed a copy of the story along with Fred's photo to Pastor Jim Carmichael with the funeral home and asked him to try to get the photo back to family members.  It's the least one can do for someone who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.  Fred, it's sixty-six years after the fact, but I salute you. Thank you for your sacrifice to this country, and those of us who live here.  VR.

It's Not Always Just About Us.

Next Monday I'll be getting on the road to ride the bike over to Wilder, Idaho.  Not a long trip mileage wise, but a long trip in that it will bring together a family, and photos of their ancestors from ninty-three years ago. 

On October 10th, 2010 we uploaded 105 photos we had scanned in from my maternal grandmother's family photos and put them into an album on our Family Tree Website. One of the photos was captioned, "1918 in Almira, Washington." On the back of that photo my grandmother had identified the fourth gent in from the left as Wellborn. The corner was torn off the picture, so we didn't have a first name. Doing a little research on a website called Find A Grave, we eventually found a grave in the Almira, Washington Cemetery belonging to a John Leonard Welborn. It showed DOB as 17 Sep 1885 and DOD as 30 Sep 1935, but that was it. Continuing to search, we then found a cemetery transcription on Interment.net. There, John Leonard Welborn with same dates of birth and death had the following additional information: "WWI, Co F Inf"


So back to the photo album--there were several photos of WWI Army members from Company F out of Camp Lewis (what subsequently became Fort Lewis and is now Lewis McChord). We knew John wasn't a family member, but apparently he and several of the other people from some of the camping pictures in the album were friends of my grandmother's family and friends. We then began a search online to see if we could find anyone researching John Leonard Welborn or who had him in their family tree. We found a public tree with John in it. I used Ancestry.com to send a message to the gent maintaining the tree to find out if this was a relative of his. The tree owner, of Reno, Nevada wrote back to let us know John Leonard Welborn was a brother to his grandmother--his grand uncle.

As we've scanned in all the photos and have them in digital format on the hard drive and also backed up on another drive, we offered him the original copies of all the photos with the soldiers/gents in uniform in them. To say the least, he was very pleased and will make sure they get to the appropriate family members. It turns out he and his wife are headed to Eastern Washington to visit next week. I will meet them in Wilder, Idaho as they travel north and be able to personally hand him these photos. What a great feeling it is to know that we've had these photos in our family for ninty-three years and they are finally getting returned to family members of the individual. So, while building the tree, and learning about our own family is really an inspiration and great experience, it's deeply gratifying to know that it isn't just about us. Sometimes we are able to help others discover their roots as well. Life is truly GREAT when that occurs.

To One of this Nation's Heros

In January 2001 I drove 1775 miles from Neenah, Wisconsin to take a new job in Nampa, Idaho.  Shortly after arriving, found out I had a couple of new Quality Engineers hired by the company.  One was a salty olde dog, former Navy, gruff on the outside, but I was soon to learn with a heart of Gold on the inside, and a man to be admired.  From that day Ed LePard has had a significant impact on my life as a true friend. In the sixties, Ed was a member of a Seal Team in Vietnam.  Clearly most of his work for his country, if not all will never be told, but he eventually returned to the states after taking a claymore mine in the face while on a patrol.  After weeks in the hospital, and considerable face reconstruction, he came out of it and was determined to continue making a go at life and contributing to this nation.  Unfortunately, he and his wife split up, but he over came the challenge of a divorce.  Taking his Navy education money, he went back to school and became an engineer.  He subsequently learned he had cancer, and as with his time and tragedy in Vietnam, rolled with the punches, fought back and overcame his cancer.  The great news is while in the hospital in Bethesda he bought a lottery ticket on a whim and hit the lottery.  After establishing education funds for his grandkids he went back to work and continued to become a successful quality engineer in the electronic field.  During that time, Ed applied for and received several patents, adding to the benefit of the electronics industry, and contributing to society in yet another way beside his service in the military.  When I was fortunate enough to meet Ed, we were working together on a team of individuals trying to save a failing electronics company.  We actually had the bottom line turned into the black for about three months when the tragedy of 9/11 struck.  The economy tanked, the electronics industry dried up, and subsequently we were both out of a job.  Once again, Ed didn't let it get him down.  He moved to Montana for awhile with the hopes of opening a fishing lodge. Unfortunately, the environmental folks wouldn't approve building on the location, or the business and so Ed moved on.  By then, he was old enough to consider just taking retirement.  He moved back to Pennsylvania with his Old English Sheep dog Heidi and the two of them set up house together in Carlisle.  Not long after that Ed called and let me know Heidi had cancer and they had amputated one leg.  With just three legs she didn't get around well, but Ed would take her for rides in the new Dodge Ram truck he bought just before leaving Idaho. Ed and his family weren't close, and I tried on numerous occassions to talk him into returning to Idaho where we could just be a couple of olde retired guys hanging out together.  But, his daughter and grandson were in that area and he had hopes of reestablishing family ties someday.  In the fall of 2008 Ed had a stroke and once again was challenged beyond what the vast majority of any of us ever are.  But, in the same old manner, he fought back, got out of the hospital, moved to a nursing home, and subsequently managed to get enough mobility that they allowed him to return home.  Being alone, it was clearly tough, there wasn't anyone there to pick-up a dropped dish, or help with his shoes and socks in the morning, but Ed faced it and won.  Then he had another stroke and went back into the hospital.  I was able to take a 5000 mile bike trip in the summer of 2009.  Saw lots of family and friends along the way, but my trip ended up at Ed's house.  I was only there for three nights, but I went to the hospital every day, and we were able to share lies, swap stories, and talk Navy.  It was some of the best three days of my life.  Just seeing the smile on his face and watching his eyes light up because it was someone new to talk to was the greatest reward of all.  In addition to the Navy, another love we shared was for a good scotch.  And of course, I drank his scotch.  The doctor wouldn't let him have any alcohol. But, he made sure I'd found where he kept it so I could have some when I went back to the house at night. Now on my budget a good scotch is on occasion a Johnny Walker Green Label.  However, after winning the lottery, Ed said the one thing he promised himself was he'd drink nothing but the best scotches.  His everyday, around the house sipping whiskey was Johnny Walker White Label.  I love Ed for who he was, but gotta say, it was no bad deal being offered White Label anytime I went to visit him.  Of course, good scotch is only half the fortune.  The other half was seeing the relics from wars gone by Ed had collected and displayed in his home along with numerous stories he had to share from his personal experiences.  How I loved just sitting sipping his 'good stuff' and hearing his 'great stories.'  I remember when he called me just before Thanksgiving that same year and told me he was doing the holidays with his daughter and grandson.  It is impossible for me to describe the joy I heard in his voice as he told me about looking forward to sharing time with his family.  I don't have any idea what happened or why he and his family were estranged, but I do know how much it meant for him to get back with them for that holiday.  After the visit his call was just as filled with the excitement of having seen his grand. I was so happy for him and hoped it would increase in frequency, but it didn't seem to happen. Ed was very fortunate to have a good friend and neighbor, Bill Piekos who looked in on him, helped get him groceries, picked him up on weekends and took him out for drives, and often invited Ed to the house for holidays.  People like that are precious few, and worth so much.  Without family, Bill became like family to Ed.  I'm just glad Bill was there for Ed and cared enough about another human being to look in on and after him as much as he did. On January 6th, Bill wrote to say Ed had gone into the hospital again, and tho he was stable was likely going to be there some time.   I called the hospital a couple days later, but the nurse said Ed was unable to talk.  On January 11th, Bill emailed again to let me know they were taking Ed off the ventilator and stopping all medicines except for morphine to manage the pain.  Bill called Ed's daughter to see if she wanted to be with him at the end, but time was not ample enough for her to get there in time.  That evening Ed passed at 2025 Eastern time--only Bill was there with him. So not to take from the tragic shooting in Arizona, but we had politicians lining up to go down there and make speeches and talk about how sad it is, and it truly was.  But it's also sad that here we had a Navy veteran who but for the love and kindness of Bill Piekos would have died alone, after everything he's done for this country, both as a military member and a civilian. I guess there's just no political advantage in recognizing this one lone sailor.  But Ed isn't alone, there are a number of soldiers, marines and sailors giving their lives every day for this nation, and half the time, in half the cities throughout this country no one even knows who they are or from whence they came. Where are our values?  How can we accept all the freedoms and privileges we have because of these people, but then leave them to die by themselves, unacknowledged?  What happened to what's really important?  It seems the only thing the majority values anymore are votes, and what someone else can do for them.  Ed, I know the members of your Seal Team haven't forgotten you!  When I called your Team member Dennis, he made sure word was passed to several other team members.  Ed you are part of a very elite brotherhood, and do not go alone and unrecognized from them.  To every member of those Seal Teams, thank you for what you do, that we never hear or know about. Thank you for the family you have among yourselves.  And Ed, thank you for letting me be your friend, and share in your life just a little bit.  VR, Mags

Life is Good -- For Some of Us, Much Better!!!!!

Deb and I flew to Chicago this past weekend to visit with family, share a birthday celebration with her sister, see our nephews and nieces perform in school events and piano receitals, and just share some love.  Mission Accomplished! 

We raced through airports--gate to gate, Deb on her gimpy leg, rolling around on her "doh dart" and me limping along behind with my olde back.  What a pair!  But, we kept up and made most connections and were often given first choice on boarding, so we certainly couldn't complain, and Deb had room for her BIG BOOT too.  As we showed up for our final leg into Boise, we got our passes and went to sit down by the gate.  Deb had made a pit stop, and I found an open chair by a young man so asked if it was taken.  In his Texas/Oklahoma drawl he said, "No sir!"  Here was a young man in his early twenties, short hair, well trimmed, short beard running in a neat narrow row around his chin and back up.  I've rarely had anyone address me as "Sir" since my Navy days, so was immediately impressed.

As I waited for Deb to show, and he and I chatted, I learned this young man had flown into Denver from Oklahoma, his first time ever in an airplane.  He sat a little slouched down in the chair and his speech was just a hint slow.  As we talked I learned he had been a passenger in a pickup that was T-Boned in September of his Senior year in high school.  His neck was broken, C-4 completely pulverized and missing.  The doctors fused above and below that, but told him he'd never walk again.  Though home-bound in a bed and subsequently in a wheelchair, he continued to work on his studies, along with his PT/OT.  This young man ended up his year with the highest academic average of his class, but unfortunately was not selected as Valdictorian since he'd not been in school for the majority of the year.  However, instead of complaining about this, he looked at me and with a huge smile said, "You know sir, I walked across that stage and received my diploma!"  There was no doubt it was one of the proudest moments of his life!

He was excited.  He was going to see his 'friend' in Idaho Falls, and have an 'early' Thanksgiving -- he needed to be back to his job as Lead for "Room Management" at the Casino in his home town since Thanksgiving was a busy time for them.  Multiple times he referred to me as sir, and I could tell it was a normal function of how he addressed older people.  He truly meant it out of respect.  I listened as he said how concerned he was that his friend had driven all the way from Idaho Falls and then would have to drive back again.  Yet, I saw the excitement in his eyes of the coming week. 

Deb and I then boarded.  When we arrived in Boise, we were making our way towards the main terminal and baggage when he passed us -- his left arm hung stifly at his side, his left leg rigid, swung forward awkwardly with each step, almost as if he were going to fall, and then it would catch him.  He had a huge smile on his face, he was almost there.  With Deb's cart, we took the elevator and when we arrived in the baggage claim, there he stood with an attractive young lady--someone else who saw not the stiff arm, not the nearly dead left leg, but the young man inside who inspite of life handing him a huge challenge didn't say, "Why me?", didn't blame the world for his disability, but instead showed how positive and full of love he really was.  Deb's foot and my back seemed pretty trivial at that moment.

I'm not sure why some of us are so much more fortunate, when others carry so much bigger a burden, but I truthfully hope and pray, that I can be as positive as he is, that I can respect others as he does, that I can say I'm responsible for who I am.  Life is Very Good, and for some of us (whether we always realize it or not) it's Much, Much Better!!!!!