Ryan Update

Surgery this morning is reportedly successful. They took out one plate, cleaned the wounds, installed drains and a nerve block. Working to address the infection. He hopes to be out of the hospital in a couple of (tough) days. Hoping he has turned the corner with this situation. He is a trooper and his sister is all that and more. Many thanks to Wendy and Pete, Sayde, Gail, Craig & Denny, Norton, Dick and Rosie for wading right in with food, visits and massages. It's very tough not being there and we will be if the call comes. So proud of Ryan and Kate, both facing it all with such courage.

RV Living in Palm Springs California

Uncle Larry and Aunt Helene are just the most delightful folks. We pulled into town and Dalona and Gordie's 32 foot Sea Breeze LX (stands for luxury... this is no Winnebago!) motor home with sliders/pull outs in the bedroom (queen size bed with mirrors on 2 walls... just to make it look larger....) and the dining room was parked in the driveway. Larry used to recruit and train long haul truckers so when he passed me a 40 page book and told me there would be a test, I believed him. Connie was fascinated with Helene's stories, she having worked as Frank Sinatra's events planner for 16 years. We took the book and headed out to scout for an RV Park and stumbled right into the Happy Traveler RV Park off Mesquite Ave. It's walking distance to the downtown and to the canyons, in the shadows of some spectacular mountains and surrounded by palm trees. Sam and Lu love the life. And after 5 minutes, so did we...


Larry and I drove it the 5 miles from his driveway to the park on Saturday morning (at a dollar a mile!) and we set that puppy up. $32 a night for full hookup ( pad, picnic table, water, sewer, cable tv, internet access, trash pickup, electricity... who knew?). Larry backed the monster into the space like a champ and the park attendant, Carlos who have been preped by Connie, said "Uncle Larry knows what he's doing!" The facilitues include a clubhouse, pool table, shuffle board!!, lending library, laundry, showers, pool and hot tub. It's a 55 plus park so there's not the scenery at the pool there was on Destin Beach during spring break... except for Connie. Connie made friends with the manager (how does she do that?) and we got a prime location looking right at the canyons. We had lunch with Larry and Helene pool side and plan to have dinner with them later this week. We want to adopt them.


The last 2 days have been about learning to relax (that seems to be what this experience is all about...), attending to paperwork, funding HSA accounts, banking, tax filings, laundry, washing the dogs and laying by the pool.


I talked with Gordie in Alaska ( It was snowing...) and can't thank Dalona and Gordie enough for our indoctrination into RV living. Owe you big time buddy... The people are wonderful, laid back, enjoying the weather (80's, blue sky, light winds). We reviewed the park rules at the pool today. #1 is "FROWNS ARE NOT ALLOWED. If you have one, leave it at the curb near the park entrance. You may choose not to pick it up when you leave." Life is very good....

Scottsdale Salon and Make-Overs

John and Lynne are such long time friends. We slept, walked the golf course, BBQed, swam in the pool, sat beside an outdoor fire at night and Connie pulled out her scissors and gave haircuts all around. Lynne loved her "new do" and looks "FAB-OOOLOS". John got his bi-annual hair cut, too and looks "wicked shaahp".

We enjoyed the nesting doves and sparrows, the cardinal serenading us ( Big Red ), the bobcat and the pack rat, the Suerero Cactus ( Sheeba ), the hummingbird (Beezer) and the awesome view of Pinnacle Peak. Just for fun, I took a swim with my cell phone in my swimsuit pocket. ($50 later, I'm re-connected... oh well). Thick T-bone steaks, delicious curried chicken (5 alarm!!), champagne in antique stemware (Glen smashed one... BAD, BAD BOY), shrimp cocktail, asparagus on the grill, baked potatoes in the coals, homemade roasted pumpkin seeds... a veritable haute cuisine cornucopia... muchos, muchos gracias amigos.

We headed west to Palm Springs California and Lynne and John packed up for a ski trip to Utah. The drive across Rte 10 was somewhat foreboding under a layer of gray, noxious smog and driving through the heat blasted bad lands. Ugly. But as we approached the Coachella Valley the temperature increased, the smog dissipated and the mountains and canyons developed a unique beauty. No wonder the Hollywood crowd flock here... More on Palm Springs later...

Ryan is scheduled for surgery in the morning. Kate is his primary caregiver. Wendy, Pete, Craig, Denny and Sadye are all on board for backup. Thanks family. There are no words to express our gratitude. We are entirely conflicted being so far away at this time. Hoping and praying for a good outcome....

Return to Sedona

Oak Creek Canyon was too much for Lulu. She gacked before we hit the spectacular red rock of Sedona... but bounced back quickly. It is such an oxymoron that this 7th wonder of the world is inundated with commercialism and gift shops. We quickly exited the "strip" and headed for the nearest "Spiritual Vortex".

The hike up the mountain was short and filled with memories of the last time we climbed it with our kids. They were so excited... and so were we.


Connie was all pumped up and getting stronger every day. At the top we hung our medicine bags, gifted to us by Holly and Wayne, in order to soak up the spiritual powers that overpower this place.



We said prayers for our family, for Ryan's leg, Tina's struggles, Ben and Erin, Katie's scheduled work trip to the Ukraine and Azerbaijan... for "all our friends and relatives" as mom taught us to say. Connie took a picture of Kate's favorite flower and a butterfly flitted through the shot. Nannie was there with us at Skyview Lodge.


We bought some bread, cheese and fruit for a picnic off the Upper Red Rock Loop Road and listened to the silence. So serene...

Now on to enjoy the company and friendship of Lynne and John in Scottsdale. We're excited.

Acoma Pueblo

Holly encouraged us to check out the Acoma Pueblo just off Rte 40 west of Albuquerque. What a place... It is the oldest continuously inhabited community in North America, located on top of a mesa, surrounded by a huge desert, a great defensive location. Probably why the Spanish conquered it in 1610. The people still talk about it like it was yesterday.




We walked through the village, marveling at the architecture and the beautifully painted clay pots that were set out for the "tourist trade". The Acoma are a proud people and you must ask permission to take their picture. Several of the kids agreed...



The views are spectacular.



We enjoyed meeting some fellow travelers, Dan and Jennia are from Israel, left their home in the care of their 18 year old son and are driving around the USA just as awed and excited as we are. We agreed that the vast, empty expanses have a metaphysical impact. As they wrote on their blog," You can see (feel) nothing forever..." Great to meet you! See you down the road....

Good Bye Santa Fe

Dear Aunt Holly and Uncle Wayne,

Santa Fe hospitality is outstanding! We had a wonderful time. Thank you for all the pats and loves.

Your canine buddies,
Sam n; Lu

Chimayo - Good Friday

Wayne and Holly told us about a remarkable event that occurs every year during Holy Week. Here's the history if you're interested.

The remote and rustic town of Chimayo was settled in 1680 by the Spanish and, of course, the dirt street (still today) town centered around the chapel. In 1810 a miracle took place, a light bursting from the hillside where a crucifix was unearthed and despite being removed numerous times, always reappeared in the excavated hole. And so a small chapel was built on the site. The sacred earth is believed to have healing powers and each year during Holy Week tens of thousands make a pilgrimage to Chimayo and take away a bit of the sacred dirt. Pilgrims walk a few yards or hundreds of miles and the walk to the sacristy is hung with discarded crutches and pictures of before-and-after photos as evidence of healing.

It was 25 miles Northwest of Santa Fe to Chimayo and we drove up Rte 285 into the Native American territory/pueblo country. There was a steady stream of pilgrims walking toward the shrine. They were 99% Spanish and of every shape, manner and form. Families pushing baby carriages, bikers covered with tattoos wearing gang colors, people in wheelchairs, many people carrying crosses, some for great distances, old people shuffling, young people being carried, low riders, tricycles, people on horseback and one blue van with a Thule on top from Maine.

We drove in the bumper to bumper traffic to within a couple miles to Chimayo, parked and joined the throng, an unique experience. Humble, faith filled people who found nothing remarkable about walking 25 miles through the desert to scoop holy dirt out of a hole. The dogs quickly tired in the heat and we ended up carrying them for much of the day, but, yet again, it was a blessing as we spent the day talking with people and interacting with kids who wanted to pet them. Unlikely that the gringos would have enjoyed much interaction otherwise.

Connie was invited to write some prayerful intentions on a cross that had been carried from California. We joined the long line and entered the shrine 2 hours later. Christianity so different from our experience and upbringing.

So Connie has a bag of Holy, healing earth for anyone who might want some. Just let us know if you'd like some and we'll drop some in the mail. Speaking of mail, we do have an address and Ryan and Kate make sure we receive it:

Connie & Glen Foss

243 State Street Apt 2L

Portland, ME 04101

Happy Easter all.

Santa Fe folks...

Wayne and Holly showed us around the old city of Santa Fe. Wayne's office is downtown and Holly is very involved in the art community (and Santa Fe is all about pottery, painting, sculpture, woodwork, etc... ) so we got a great introduction. After dinner ( ever had elk? ) we walked around the square and joined (briefly) a Stop the Violence protest march by a group of Tibetan Buddhists carrying lanterns and chanting. Gentle people.

The next day Connie and I went back to the square to visit the Native American craft market. The jewelry and carvings were laid out on blankets under a long porch. While Connie admired their work, I walked the dogs which guarantees plenty of conversation, especially with the kids.

Connie especially enjoyed speaking with a woman selling jewelry named Mattie. When they first spoke, she held our dogs and listened to Connie tell of how they were "healing dogs". They have spent plenty of time with Connie in hospitals, nursing homes and with hospice clients and have always been a joy, being stroked, cuddled, bringing smiles and brief relief to those suffering.

After lunch Connie went back to Mattie to purchase some beautiful turquoise earrings she especially liked and Mattie said," I didn't think you would come back. I wanted to tell you that my back hurts me all the time, but since I held your dogs, it has not hurt. They are powerful healing dogs." Connie shared how healing they had been for us with the loss of our son and Mattie began to cry. She said "My 14 year old son died from a bone tumor on his leg." I will forever have the image in my head of Connie and Mattie on the streets of Santa Fe, crying, hugging little white dogs, speaking a language without words that only mothers who have lost children can understand.

Buddhists, Native Americans, Anglos... we are all the same... children of God.

Wayne and Holly

We arrived at Wayne and Holly's in time for drinks, dinner (Wayne cooked... he's good!) and sunset. Their home sits on a hill overlooking Los Alamos... about 50 miles away... and a 360 degree view of the Santa Fe valley. Spectacular view. And so is the adobe style home with Wayne and Holly's tasteful Southwestern art decor. So much to see.

More to come on Santa Fe. It's magical.

the road to Santa Fe.

For a couple Mainers used to being surrounded by trees, it is somewhat mind bending to experience the hundreds of miles of huge ,open, empty expanse. We had heard the expression "big sky". Now we know...

We drove up Route 285 through Vance where we stopped on Robert and Liama's advice at Penny's Diner. Old school silver sided, tube design structure. We sat at the counter and the 2 girls serving were very businesslike and uncommunicative. The cook had more grease in his hair than on his grill. I ordered a couple tacos, rice and beans which were very good. The waitress with the purple glitter in her hair began washing dishes in the sink directly in front of us, not making eye contact. That wasn't going to last...

"Are you Penny?, I asked.
She looked shocked that someone has spoken to her."What?"she said.
"The sign says Penny's Diner. Are you Penny?" I repeated.
"No" she muttered think the conversation was over and who was this weird guy anyways.
I chewed another bite of taco and after a few moments asked "Where's Penny?"
She made eye contact then. It wasn't hostile, but on the Moh's hardness scale ( remember from Earth Science? Talc is 1 and Diamonds are 10 and everything in between?) she was about an 8.75. "She's dead..." She held my gaze probably thinking 'well that should shut you up...'
I put my taco back in my plate and wiped my mouth with my napkin before I asked "Did the food kill her...?"
The faintest glimmer of a smile rushed across her face like the shadows from the clouds we had been watching race across the desert and she went back to washing dishes.
Connie was so upset with me that she spent the next 5 minutes complimenting her hair and her jewelry and her shoes... I laughed all the way to Encino.

Who has more fun than people...

Update

Ryan has been working on this project for several years and is excited that they now have a prototype molded in plastic. Next step is to cut a mold for a 4 foot by 8 foot museum quality wall mounted globe with backlighting. We're pleased and proud of his accomplishments.

On another front, he has run into some complications with his leg. The wound is not healing. Infection is beginning. A fourth surgery is scheduled soon to remove the plate (which is preventing healing), clean out the wound and install a vac dressing to drain and promote healing. Ryan had hoped to be in PT by now. If you want to check in with him, he can be emailed at rfus007@gmail.com.

Kate flew to NYC to see her good friend Vanessa over Easter. Getting ready for a business trip to the Ukraine and Azerbaijan. Wow... She plays soccer in two leagues. Recently got her eye blackened by a 6'4" young man. Hope she sends us a picture to post...

They went out to dinner the other nights, Ryan on crutches and Kate with a black eye and people assumed they were a couple. So, playing right along Kate told them she had thrown him down the stairs after he had punched her. Ya gotta laugh... or you'd cry... You're the best Kate & Ry. We love you.

White Sands National Monument

Robert and Laima (and Declan Dog ) took us to White Sands National Monument. We had no idea, had never imagined that such a magical place existed. It is a huge expanse of crystal white sand, a desert in a valley surrounded by mountains. Spectacular...

We drove through the mountains to Alamagorda and past the White Sands Missle Base to the entrance. We now understand what sand blindness is, like snow blindness but with wicked sunburn and dried out lips. The plant life is beautiful and incredibly tough to withstand this environment.

The sunset was something extraordinary as we drove back to Roswell to a Mexican feast just down the block from Robert and Liama's home. They are remarkable people and we are so fortunate to have them as friends. The old addage is "Friends come and friends go..." but it is so nice when old friendships survive and grow despite the passsage of time and the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" as Shakespeare was want to say... Great people. Thanks for the time we spent together.

Outside the White Sands welcome center we met some special people. Janice and Jerry from South Dakota. Jerry is 79, a Vietnam Vet, Harley rider, double knee replacement, cancer survivor, wise old dude. So enjoyed our conversation. It is so all about the people...

Images from the cave

We met a nice guy in the cave who was using a digital SLR camera and a tripod to take these extraordinary pictures. Randall Paulson, thank you for sharing!

Palm Sunday in Carlsbad Caverns

The elevators descended 750 feet and the doors opened onto what has been called the 8th wonder of the world. Pictures cannot do justice to the magnificence of this gigantic cave. We waked the 1.5 mile loop through the "Big Room" under the Chihuauan Desert of the Guadalupe Mountains. Stalagmite and stalactites, crystal formations, bottomless pits and high domed ceilings. It was difficult to get our minds around the beauty.


We drove up Route 285 in New Mexico through Artesia to Roswell to visit with Robert and Laima. Roswell is the site of the reported crash of a UFO in 1942 and reports of UFO sighting have continued ever since. The local McDonald's is shaped like a flying saucer. Robert, a PhD in Psychology, and Laima, a former teacher, retired here in 2007 and Robert continues to publish and do research with people who have experienced UFO sightings and abductions, The entire community is emersed in these phenomenon ranging from the ridiculous (the coffee shop is named the Coverup Cafe... conspiracy theories abound) to the profound ( the site of the first above ground nuclear explosion took place just down the road...). We have had such interesting discussions over cocktails. So nice to see them again...