The Pace has Feelings

      Okay, for once I go and find a comment from a younger member of my family, specifically one who is actually in Afghanistan and is coming home from a tour in September.  He comments that neither of the candidates running for President is talking about a decade old war.
       Well, that isn't all they are not talking about, but let it be that someone who is actually carrying out what is supposed to be the will of the people or if you like the whim of the Commander and Chief, which is actually the President, is speaking his mind and letting it be known that even though he is there doing the business of whomever, he questions that the discussion or debate on this issue is not being put in the public domain.
        It is not a matter of how he feels one way or another, because I am not in any way speaking for him, I am just saying with a war weary nation who is concerned about fairness and the economy and so many other things, that the political foray centers around picking out the faults of, or misleading the public into what they want the public to feel about not only themselves but the person they are competing with.  This is evidence that maybe, just maybe, the calling of public service is no longer about the general populace, but more so about two egocentric personalities afraid to speak what is truly in their hearts and minds, and give the people who make up the communities of this nation a chance at being able to decipher the message and the messenger.
          Just for a moment may the masses rise up and not occupy a physical space, but occupy the concepts that this country was based on and take the time to say I'm tired of this fill in the blank and I'm not going to put up with it any more.

Dad, Pat, Tabby and Black Oak

So we had made plans to scoot on over to Fairfield to see Dad and Pat, since they seemingly are headed up to Alaska on the 20th of August.  First though we stopped off and did the Tabby patrol, and took a few shots out the back porch of the Santa Rosa Plains. We had luckily canned during the week, so a few goodies were packed along with some Gorgeous Gladiolas in a humungous vase and off we went.  The sky along Highway 37 was a little either murky, cloudy or a combination of emotional fog and the endings of the Olympic Competitions.
        As we entered at the Guard Gate at Paradise Valley, for the first time we were granted an over sized visitor pass.  When you haven't seen someone for a long time, and changes occur, you never know what to expect.  I walked in carrying the vase, and Dad verbalized any number of times, come in, come in.  When Pat came out into the living room, she was amazed at the flower arrangement and the huge vase.  She pointed out her new chair, and Joyce preceded like Goldilocks, to sit down in the "Just Right" chair.  We got to see the clock on the wall strike an even number and gazed at the new Refrigerator.  From there we headed out for breakfast at the Black Oak Restaurant in Vacaville.
        Now like the Cracker Barrel or similar cultural landmarks this place had been around since 1960 and it's foyer was like similar joints was a Gift Shop.  The menu was filled with numerous items, and I didn't ask for a lunch menu, and they had specials written in multi-colored ink on a mirror.  The food as I had suspected was marginal, though Joyce seemed to really enjoy her Eggs Benedict.
         On the way home I took a few irrelevant shots of landmarks that we pass going and coming to give anyone viewing the collages, and has been along those particular snapshot roads a chance to reminisce.  You got to take your shots when you have the chance and while it wasn't material to write to Mom about, it did fill out a lot of news that we had not known or heard about and will keep to that old phrase, If I Told You, Then I'd Have To Kill You mode. It is with heartfelt thanks to wonderlust and getting out and kibitzing with family that makes these road trips not only well worth their weight in Gold, but also watching the meteorological and topographical evolution and changes in our environment that gives us the energy on a resting day to go out and grab the bull by the horns.
          Just take a giant Steven step outside your mind, and live the life of the Child in you when such occurrences enter into the fray of your human existence.  Live long, prosper often and take the High Road to any adventure your little heart desires....!!!????

Christopher Speaks

      Christopher gives perspective of what Rick seems to be doing with what seems to be his retirement....

Cori Speaks

     Here lies the last rights from Cori to Rick about whatever you view it to BE....