THE DUST WILL WAIT

Snake River, July 25

Curly mop watching the leopard pace, through the viewing window - Portland Zoo The summer has become an adventure. With Grandchildren. I've been blessed with the opportunity to visit them all, and have some visit me. For over a week I had my 12-year old Red-headed girl, 7-year old Goober, and 5-year old Curlymop . Wednesday night I kissed two of them goodbye and sent them flying away home on a jet out of Portland International Airport . Curlymop is safe at home with her mommy in Portland. Yesterday I headed home and was accompanied by Karmyn and her children . The Caboose and Jammin ' rode with her and my passenger (and her 4 plus hours of jibber jabber) was Buttercup. In the car: Buttercup: (constant talking) Grandma: What did you say honey? Buttercup: I wasn't talking to you grandma, I was talking to myself. Grandma: Ooooh . I have another date with Curlymop in early Augu...

My late father-in-law joined the Navy in June of 1943. World War II was raging and the young man knew his country needed him. He was three months short of his 18th birthday when his mom reluctantly signed the parental consent. Fortunately, he kept his promise to her and came home in one piece. Like most of the veterans from the Greatest Generation, Dad had not been one to share the events of his war service. Nor had he discussed his feelings and thoughts in our presence. I will never forget that day when he let down his guard. * * * * It was July of 1999 and I invited my husbands extended family to celebrate the 4th of July with us at a barbecue in our back yard. "Dad" was in the 28th year of his fourth marriage. He'd been a father to his step-daughter and step-son ... something he'd not been allowed to do with his own two children. I called him several weeks before the eve...

My neighbor bill brought this piece of art over to our house last week. He sees me toting my camera everywhere - so he asked me to snap a picture of this masterpiece before it went away. Looking at the close up above, one might never guess the medium on which it was created. Apparently there was dust on the seat of a child's old metal chair that sits on his back porch. Then it rained. I think it was a mosquito larvae that wriggled itself until it died - or possibly survived long enough to mature. What do you think?