We have spent the last few days at the home of Glen, our son, and his family. We disconnected the trailer and using Barb’s SUV we were able to back it into their driveway. Then we parked Arcturus, our 34 foot Alpine, at the curb and let the sliders extend over the lawn in the parking strip. It just fit. Gary and his grandsons, Cody and Patrick spent part of Sunday rebuilding their two bicycles. We did a shifter transplant on Cody’s bike and I taught Cody how to true his wheel. Patrick’s bike had a broken front wheel skewer so that required a quick trip to the bicycle shop.
On Monday afternoon we both got to meet Patrick’s class mates. Patrick had arranged for me to bring my guitar and play for the class. I started out with “Hole in the Bottom of the Sea,” and Patrick’s special request “Hot Rod Lincoln.” They were such an enthusiastic group of fifth graders. Between every song a dozen hands would shoot in the air, and I fielded all kinds of questions. Some were about the song. One boy identified with the “Cadillac Sedan” that passed us by in the song because his family had a Cadillac. Along about the middle of the hour one student asked where I was when JFK was assassinated. Patrick’s teacher explained that one of their visitors had described where he was and the events of that day. That intrigued the class enough to do a research project on Kennedy. Ever since, she said, everyone gets this same question. I guess I passed all of the tests, I now have a fan club in Gilroy.
Tuesday evening, our long time friends, Henry and Judy Lahore, joined us with their 36 foot Teton Fifth Wheel. We left the street life in Gilroy and moved alongside the Uvas Reservoir, about 10 miles out of town. The area is nestled in beautiful wooded hills, part of the coast range between San Jose and Santa Cruz. I am looking out the windows over the reservoir at a flock of diving ducks and one white egret. The sun is just now pouring into the valley at 7:30 and there are wisps of fog drifting along the water. The sky is a clear blue color against the green hills and the far end of the valley shades to gray with a hint of purple from the color of the rising sun.
Right now our thoughts are turned ahead to a bicycle ride with our friends today and a Thanksgiving dinner with our family tomorrow. We hope that you are also enjoying a special family get-together. Happy Thanksgiving.