Merry Christmas

This past week Ariel was here Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday. We kept pretty busy with crafts the first
day, but on Tuesday and Wednesday she spent much of
her time on the computer playing an interactive computer
game.

Vernon came over for Christmas eve supper and left the
next morning for Dove Creek to pick up his motorcycle
and camping gear to spend a week in the Canyon country
of Utah.

Viki and Ed are in Costa Rica. Liza is NH visiting
friends and Keegan is in Germany camping in the
snow...brrrrrr

We spent Christmas morning at the Cowleys' in Erie.
It was an enjoyable morning, relaxed and entertained
by Ariel.

In talking with Betty Wilson last week she asked I
pass on to Robyn that the picnic table she gave to
ASP at NCAR was maintained every year by the NCAR
maintenance guys (as a favor to Betty whom everyone
adored). But, when she announced her retirement the
guys fixed it up and said that was the last time.
They then delivered it to her home in Boulder. When
she moved to New Castle, CO the picnic table moved, too.
Recently, while two of her kids were visiting they
suggested that perhaps it was time....Without the
NCAR maintenance it was in really sad shape so it
was hauled off to the dump. I bet Robyn never
dreamed the table would last approximately 40 years
it lasted!

Today, Robert and I drove up to Gold Hill and around the
environs. Robert hadn't been up there since the fire. I
had been up there with Alyssum, but Robert and I drove
more of the back roads today. The devastation on Sunshine
Canyon is really awful, but the little town of Sunshine
seems to have survived, for the most part. The schoolhouse
looks fine and the very fancy firehouse looks fine, too.

Ariel will be spending most of the coming week with us.
I am looking forward to that.

On a sad note, Dick Robinson died Christmas night. He has
been very ill for some time and was moved home to "die"
as soon as they could get back to their home after the
fire. He'll be missed. Thelma recently had another
accident with her car. It was in the yard and she
backed into their little cabin and off the drive. I
gather she wasn't hurt, but the car and building
sustained damage. In any case, she decided that was
enough. She hung up her car keys and has started
using the Climb to get to town. The Climb schedule
is such that I assume she must take a cab to get
home or stay in town all day. I'm not sure what she'll
do now Dick is gone. I expect she isn't sure either.
Fortunately, she has family who live in town so she
won't be totally alone