Family and Cliff Dwellings

I just got a phone call from my daughter-in-law, Mary, saying that she and my son are coming down with what seems to be the flu. They won't be here tomorrow for Sunday dinner. The grandsons aren't feeling well either. That means that for Sunday dinner we'll be 4 folks short. If the grandsons aren't running fever I may pick them up for the afternoon so their parents can rest. Bummer that they are sick.

Speaking of my daughter-in-law, Mary. She is one in a million and I couldn't love her more if she was my own daughter. Since my sons are from my first marriage she has the same last name that I had for years. Not only that but we have the same first AND second name. For almost 8 years our names were identical. We really enjoyed confusing folks when we were shopping together. It was a real conversation starter. We have the same ideas and no problem is so great that we can't solve it together. Lucky, lucky me.

Something about the weather - or maybe it's my mood - has me thinking about a particular work-related trip (Before I retired I was in travel status a lot of my work time). It was a two week trip to Colorado Springs at about this time of year. The aspens were quaking golden, the air was crisp and clear, and the Great Divide. . . .well, I haven't adequate words to describe it. Right outside Colorado Springs driving towards Pike's Peak off to the right are some ancient cliff dwellings. During my travel I saw cliff dwellings in various places but somehow those captured me. They didn't appear to have any real significance; they were just there - a testament to a time and people long forgotten. Do you ever stare at places long forgotten and wonder about the people. Were they happy? Were they alone or with family and friends? Did they have the necessities of life? Would they be my friends if they were here now?

Enough of my rambling. I'm off to bed and hopefully to dream-land. My best to my new found friends. Thank you for visiting.