Joyous July 2013

July 2013 will always be special in our memories. Tops, of course, was our family reunion in Alaska.  Then, a week after we returned from that trip, Grandpa and I were on the road again. This time we were in our own car and going to Ashland, Oregon for my 60th High School Class reunion.  We dreaded the drive through the desert from Salt Lake, to Wendover, to Winnemucca and across more desert to southern Oregon before coming into the beautiful Cascade Mountains. However, we found the desert had a beauty of its own.  We also had downloaded several novels onto my new phone and could listen to them as we drove along. (We are getting much better at using our phones)

The high school reunion in Ashland was wonderful.  We had four days of fun and food with long-time friends.  Everyone liked the reunion book I put together, which was a relief.  We had a chance to look around Ashland and went to see the house Grandpa Garold's parents, Jo and Bill, designed and built.  It has been beautifully restored.  We were invited in to see the house and were shown a "history" of the house, which just happens to have been written by Grandpa Garold several years ago. Here is the house:

 

 

Best of all was the final day of the reunion with a brunch on Sunday morning at the home of one of our classmates, Ray Ashcraft.  He designed and constructed a beautiful home in the hills above Medford, a neighboring town.  It looks like a mountain lodge, and has a broad view of Rogue River Valley from the deck.  He also paints, does wood carving and has played guitar professionally.  Some of the women made a wonderful brunch, we talked, listened to Ray play the guitar, ate and had a great time. 

Here I am listening to Ray play.  You can get an idea of what his house looks like.

Here is a part of the selections for the brunch.

And here is a picture of some of the group.  We are on the big deck I told you about.
 
The message of July 2013:  The greatest treasures one can have on this earth is a good family and great friends.  We can only say "our cup runneth over"!
 
Now we are in August, and before the month is out many of you will be back in school. Three will be high school seniors--Mia, Gwen and Chelsea.  I hope you are forming friendships that will last for 60 years. 

Thanks again for coming to Alaska.  Thanks for being such great people.  Grandpa and I love you all very, very much.