GRADUATION PARTY-ONLY 105 DEGREES.

Saturday, at 4:00 the counters were laden with food and snacks. Party time, and the weather has cooled to 105 degrees from 111 on Friday.

Laurie put the cake over a container of ice to keep  the frosting from melting. Air conditioning doesn't do much good with doors opening and closing, and movement in and out.

Guests begin arriving. Chairs and sitting places are skimpy because much of the furniture was sold.  The stairs do double duty.

Neighbor Bob, a young 87 loves to flirt, dance, and oil paint. We chatted for a couple of hours.

Kelly and Jeff, are teacher friends.

Many of the students  enjoyed party after party over graduation and weren't very hungry.

They made their way upstairs and congregated on air mattresses the family has been using for beds. Games and a big screen television kept them entertained.

Amber is home schooled and will attend college in Colorado. Her father is the boys scout leader, if I'm remembering correctly.

And you know those annoying little pop-ups you get on your screen?  Well this annoying little pop-up is grandson Theo, blocking a picture of Mason. Next time he gets the mighty hand of Thor.

I don't know the kids name's for the most part. Just that they are all polite and nice and thwart the current reputation of the unruly, spoiled-rotten teens.

Stewart's friend, Paul, has signed on to help with the move to California. Ken decided to pay the boys to load the vans and drive to Valley Springs, to earn money toward their college expenses. They normally have summer jobs, but leaving Vegas means less opportunity to make expenses.

There were a lot of fond farewells.

But most of the graduates will meet again as both Stewart and Mason are now students of University Nevada Reno where many of their friends are enrolled.

This is Dallas. What a beauty and intelligent too.

A good friend, and ex-sister-n-law to Kris, Julia Gold, I hadn't seen in about five years. We had such fun the last time we met. I hope it won't be as long until we next meet.

Enjoying friends I've only heard about before. Laurie and Ken have lived in this Nevada oven for 8 years and expect to see their friends on visits both ways. Friends and family, the best of treasures. Parties make good memories.

FATHER'S DAY

In the park, father’s were celebrating their special day by fishing.

A young daughter not quite sure she could see the point in it, stuck it out with her dad. It only takes one catch to make her a believer.

This dad told me he fishes with worms. He likes trout and trout like worms.  He called worms the “old-fashioned” bait.

Comparing this morning’s walk, with the one we took two days ago, was pretty amazing. Both sides of the river was lined with fishermen. Across from us, every 20  feet or so  sat a fisherman on a rock.

Catching  a rock is a problem.  He seemed unsure about how to get his hook unsnagged.  He needed the help of a dad or permission to get his shoes and pants wet.

How nice for a young boy to be  assisted by his “honorary grandfather.” The boy was excited and thrilled about  learning to fish.

These two anglers propped their poles in a V crotch so they didn’t have to hold them.  They looked a bit half-hearted about it. But, who am I to judge?

Now this guy is an entertainer. I think he entertained the fish right onto his line. He said, “Oh, if I’m gonna get my picture taken, I better take off my sunglasses.”  Which he did.

Within seconds he had his fish, and as I took more photos, he said:  “Okay, do I get royalties for my picture?  How about 60% for me and 40% for you since I did all the work?”  I told him absolutely a deal, because 60% of nothing is zero, just like 40% of nothing is zero.

He laughed and offered to give me his fish.  And, I would have taken it, too, but I had “clean out the refrigerator” soup and salad on the menu in  preparation for my returning home.  Jim has many talents but cooking isn’t one of them.

Enjoying the day was what it was all about, even if you are fishing with your sister who went back to camp for something. Dad was sleeping in.

“I’m waiting for my wife.  She is finishing a book she is reading. I come here every year.”

We enjoyed the stroll.  I had a fishing pole in the motor home and hadn’t used it in two years. Jim talked me into donating it to the VFW yard sale back in Ajo.  It has been hot but we are plugged in and have air conditioning.  My time has been spent organizing  stuff to go home. My Navajo horse blanket and Shaman Stick will have to wait for the motor home to make a stop in Murphys next year. And, I read two wonderful books over this week.  Sarah’s Quilt by Nancy Turner, which has been compared to Lonesome Dove. And A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Housseini who also wrote Kite Runner. This book is better. I hope fathers everywhere enjoyed their special day.