Fast Cars, Fast Women...Outdated!

Fast Cars, Fast Women... Outdated!

My Sweet Al and I made a quick trip to Albuquerque. The closer we got, the faster the cars were going down the highway. We made the comment, “We’ll be glad to get back home to Pagosa.”

Maybe its like Dorothy said after the tornado, “Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas any more.”

I went to the Apple Store in Albuquerque, asked about getting more reception, other than Wi-Fi. I was told I didn’t have the band on my I-Pad. She said, “Your little baby will only work at Wi-Fi places like coffee shops. If you want to get reception in the car and other places you must buy the I-Pad 4 with the band.”

I said to her, “My I-Pad 4 is brand new, I got it for Christmas, and now you’re saying it’s outdated?”

She came back with a simple answer to my dilemma. You can trade it in for a new one. It’s only $195.00 more, and we will give you $200.00 for your old one.

I told her, “My son paid over $600.00 for this one six months ago. That means you want me to pay you $595.00 for a new version. No, I guess I’ll just have to live with this one.”

I held my I-Pad with great pride, since it was a gift from our son.  It didn’t have a scratch on it and I was actually learning how to use it. Anyway, I felt good about it until I visited the Apple Store. I walked away deflated. How could something be outdated in six months? Welcome to the world of technology. I had a feeling I was not in Kansas any more.

We arrived at Al’s brother’s house Sunday evening. David had just come back from vacationing in Mexico. Al wanted to watch NASCAR on the fast track. David wanted to tell me all about the fast women in Mexico.

He poured himself a glass of wine and began. “I needed a vacation. I’ve been working hard. I flew into Tucson, rented a car and drove four and half hours into Mexico. I checked into this new resort hotel. The next morning, about 10:30, I went to the pool and ordered a Marguerita.

I sit down at a table next to the pool. One of the young women came to the table and asked, “How are you doing?”

I said, “Now that you’re here, I’m doing fine.”

She smiled and lifted her top and said, “Now how are you doing?”

I said, “Better.”

The guys hanging around the pool came up to me and said, “She won’t lift her top for us. What are you telling her?”

“Nothing.”

My Sweet Al is watching fast cars going around and I’m listening to David about fast women in Mexico. I said to him. “Given you will be 78 years old this June, you should be settling down. I know you don’t want an old woman, but pick a fifty year old.”

“Never.”

“Why? Is it just looks that’s different between a thirty and fifty year old?” I was thinking of my new out-of-date I-Pad. They’re the same thing, but different in age with one new feature.

He said, “I don’t know. Fifty-year-olds bore me.”

I said to him, “Maybe the young ones are fun, they haven’t lived life. The older ones have been around, they’ve been hurt, and they’ve seen a lot more. The older ones are probably distrusting and calloused because of how they’ve been treated.”

“Probably that’s it. I know that the women are rabid today.”

“Rabid? God help us all.” I remembered a scripture in Job. (Job 33:22,23) It says a man’s soul draws near to the Pit, but there is a messenger for him. He’s a mediator, to show man His uprightness. God will deliver him from going down to the Pit.”

But does man want to be deliver from going to the Pit? I don’t think so. He’s busily skipping down the Yellow Brick Road looking for the Emerald City.

Final Brushstroke! My question is this? Will they hear? Will they turn around? Are they having too much fun? The fictional land of OZ and the Emerald City looks brighter and greener at the end of the famous yellow brick road. I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas any more. Time is short. Is anyone listening?

Graduation - Time to get a Job!

Usually you don’t think of a graduation ceremony exciting, funny, delightful, prayerful, heartfelt and entertaining. That’s how it was for the Graduation Class of 2013.

As I listened to the speaker Sean Downing challenge the seniors of 2013, I knew I had to write this article. At the beginning when he was introduced until he ended his speech, every one was spellbound by his deliverance.  He began with the thought of giving. He said the world teaches how to get, he asked them to be givers. He challenged the kids as they start a new life to be a heroic gift to the world.

He reminded the audience of how he was a humble recipient of the generosity of the people of Pagosa. They gave to his family during his daughter’s illness. He reminded the students that a community has been a part of raising them and influencing them. Because of the Pagosa’s generosity, they are better for it.

The seniors were introduced. Over half of them started together as kindergartners. I enjoyed the creativity of the video presentation, which was produced by the seniors.  As a small town, there are many opportunities that a big town can’t give them. I think it’s “Heart”.

Darcy DeGuise sang to the seniors “The Hardest Part of Love.” She had tears in her voice, and the tears in the senior’s eyes reflected their bond. I listened to her relate to the kids at one of the parties and I could see the love she has for them, and they for her.

At the end, Isaiah Thompson was asked to close the ceremony. He mentioned he couldn’t say a benediction because they couldn’t pray in school. He added, “God forbid they couldn’t pray in school.” God was there in our hearts. Isaiah closed with a wish for the seniors, which was a benediction.  It brought a laugh, but we all know, throughout the year, these children have been prayed for over and over. They couldn’t have made it without endless prayers for them.

Can they keep prayer out of school? How foolish they are to think they can. We carry the Lord in our hearts and a prayer constantly on our lips. That ceremony was bathed in prayer.

We attended the party for our grandson and listened to the people talk about the graduation ceremony. I don’t ever remember hearing people talk about a graduation ceremony with so much passion before.

It was a day of party hopping. That’s how it is on graduation day in Pagosa. The seniors go from one party to another, hanging out, eating a little here and a little there. That’s a tradition in Pagosa.

I was amused that one of the boys brought his skateboard in the procession. I thought it was a clever idea. I wondered what declaration he was making. As the speaker said, this day was a day of weird emotions for the seniors. They are still young children going out into the world of adults. He cares for his very sick mother and will not be the child much longer. We pray for him!

The day also brought family and friends together. We talked to old friends, and we were all reminded how the years have flown by. It was only yesterday we watched our children graduate. Now we were watching together our grandchildren do the same.

There were so many wonderful things said to the seniors about leaving their homes, beginning a new life, and making a difference. Oh and awes, picture taking, proud parents, made it almost sacred. My daughter said, “I’m not sad, only excited to see what he will achieve. Knowing our grandson, it will be have to be something where he can be bold and loud!

My Sweet Al leaned over to me and said, it all sounds good, but Monday morning they have to look for a job.”

I said, “Today is not the day to tell them.”

Final Brushstroke! All in the day in our small town, Pagosa springs. Congratulations to the seniors of 2013. We are most proud of you.