Definition of Opinion:  A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof.

Please be respectful to others with differing opinions. 

Earl Harris III

Michael Kelly, 

You are the "most cowboy" of cowboys that I've had the pleasure to read or hear about. I'm mostly a city slicker but with a love for the great outdoors. Your love of the western way of life comes through loud and clear. Keep those historical references and personal stories coming. I still don't trust horses, but at least I can live vicariously through your experiences. Thanks.

Earl Harris III

Classmates,,

Several months ago I began toying with the idea of visiting with a few “kindred spirits” whose contributions on this forum dovetailed with many of my own. I thought it might be nice to visit with them and their spouse or significant the next time my wife and I vacationed in Arizona. Of those I reached out to several responded, saying they, too, would enjoy getting together to share life stories, past and present and our hopes for the future.

I’m currently camping in the Valley of the Sun having towed my teardrop trailer and recumbent trike from my home in Eugene with a plan to spend the next four to six weeks enjoying some R&R at three of Maricopa County’s fantastic Regional Campgrounds, Cave Creek, McDowell Mountain and Lake Pleasant. My wife will be flying down to join me for a few days (she’s currently caretaking for her 98 year-old mother). 

In the past few days, I’ve been encouraged to see a change in the tone by many “keyboard warriors”. The positive hopes being expressed by many of you for better communications seems both heartfelt and heartwarming.

In Katie’s recent response to Jim’s opinion that he was liking what he was seeing on the forum of late, she offered the following: “Jim, I agree. This is fun. The problem, now I want to meet most of the people I've been sparing with.”

Taking a cue from Katie’s remarks, I have decided to expand my original invitation to meet to any and all participants on this forum who’d like to attend a get-together in the desert.
 

Perhaps we’d enjoy starting a conversation by sharing “proud moments” that Jim and Katie mentioned. There is no agenda or purpose other than to see if we can come together to learn more about our former classmates and what we have all been up to these past 58+ years! I see this as an opportunity to celebrate each other.

Please let me know if you, your spouse or significant would like to join in a relaxing setting for a bit fun conversation with Cindy and me. You could simply respond to my invite here on the Forum or, if you prefer, by contacting me by phone or text message at 541-525-5826. Let me know if there is anything I left unanswered in my invitation.

Here are the details:

Where:

McDowell Mountain Regional Park, Ironwood Semi-Developed Campground , Ramada B. Plenty of parking spaces are available. Note: The entrance to Ironwood is located near the end of park road. I'll send a map later with more detailed directions.

Park address: 16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr.
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268
(602) 506-2930 ext 3

Note: A day-use vehicle fee of $7 is required upon entering the park. Sorry, but I couldn’t get a reduced rate as they are out of coupon books!

When: 

Tuesday, January 23, 3:00 to 5:00 PM…or later? The park closes at 8 PM.

Other Information:

I have reserved a ramada at the Ironwood Campground as parking at campsites is severely limited. The ramada is an open air, but covered pavilion (in the event of too much sun…or rain showers), with restrooms adjacent. It is located across from campsite #13.

Finger foods, snacks, and sandwich fixings and drinks will be available, including a sampling of beer, wine, water, ice tea and soda. You are encouraged  to bring snacks or drinks to share. Note: It is my understanding that the consumption of “hard alcohol” beyond beer and wine is not permitted within the park.

It will likely become cooler as evening approaches, so bring a jacket or something to keep you warm! If you have a camping or folding chair, bring it, including a possible extra or two.

There is a fire ring, but I also have a portable gas unit should folks not want to deal with smoke.

I know that for some people attendance might not be possible due to a variety of reasons, including this short notice (only 5 days away!) and/or conflicts with the date, time and/or distance from your home. Just come if you can!

Regardless of the number who show, we will be there to welcome you. 

Regards,

Earl (and Cindy)

Frank Wiley

My first thing I'm most proud about is almost exactly like Jim's in that it was my Marine Corps Service.  I was with 3rd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment in Vietnam and we were doing helicopter assaults from the U.S.S. Tripoli (a convertedW.W. 2 aircraft carrier). The assaults amounted to flying in and cordoning off a village to search it for Viet Cong and weapon stashes.  It was amazing climbing up from below deck to the flight deck and seeing ten choppers warming up their engines preparing for take off and seeing 150 Marines in full combat gear.  I felt honored to be part of something like that.  My second is being elected president of my Rotary Club because back then I was the second youngest person in our club and almost all our members were retired from very successful careers.  

Mike Lorts

Earl,

I would like to offer our home to host a get together. We are somewhat central. Using the same date and time. 
Mike & Sylvia Lorts  3501 E Marlette Ave Paradise Valley 85253. Cross streets are Lincoln and Palo Cristi. 

Frank Wiley

Just watched the latest Space Launch.  It amazes me that Space X can bring the Rocket back, land it the way they do, and te-use it!!  Can you say Buck Rogers?

Mike Lorts

One thing that gives me pride is when I served as point person when our church built a Habitat for Humanity home in Guadalupe. Our little church had only 130 members and we raised the money and supplied the workers. The family, which would eventually become the owners helped every step of the way. Very rewarding!

Earl Harris III

Mike,

That’s a splendid offer, Mike. I don’t know but I suspect that McDowell Mountain Regional Park might be a bit too much of an inconvenience for many. If it would mean more people could come, I’m all for it.

Your very gracious offer to host sounds like a fantastic alternative to us!

So, let’s plan on meeting at your place, then, using the same date and time that I suggested in my post. 

I'll bring the food and drinks I was planning to share, if that's okay. Please text or call if there is anything else I can do to help!

Thanks so very much!

Earl 

Bill RIHS

What I am proud about is getting my dad and i on an Honor Flight to DC and a video recorded interview and entered I tothe National Archives regarding his service in the army, BigRedOne, D-Day/Omaha beach survisor.

I can't make the gathering at the Lorts, prior comment. A gracious gesture on Mike and Silvia's part. As Katie said, it would be fun to meet the people we sparred with.

Bill RIHS

Mike Kelly, good for the Governor of Louisiana. All states should do the same. 

Mike Lorts

We will have wine, cheese and beer. I think if we make the hours 3-6 everyone could have dinner afterward. Please bring spouses and the only rule is no politics, no religion.

Frank Wiley

Katie, I remember that a while back you said you bought a home for Sherri.  I don't know if you've set up a "GoFundMe" for Sherri but I have a few dollars to contribute.  We are praying!!

Mike Lorts

Katie,

Oops, I didn't look at our calendar's. If it's acceptable could we change the date to Wednesday the 24th? Maybe Bill R could make that date.

I think we have the refreshments covered.

So excited to see old friends

Earl Harris III

 Mike,

Wednesday would work for both Cindy and me. Thanks to both you and Sylvia for taking this on. Cheers!

Mike Lorts

Come one, come all!! I hope everyone on this forum can make the cocktail hour on Jan. 24th. 

Bill RIHS

Mike Lorts, thanks for considering me. However, I have a  happy hour with my two cousins and a few friends that has been confirmed. Have fun you all, I will lift one for you all getting together. 🍺

Michael Kelly

I was asking myself what I was most proud of in response to Katies inquiry. The one thing that stands out moreso than other things is that I had the privilege to help a friend of mine, who lives in Phoenix now, but lived in California for quite a bit of time, to raise her Son. Without going into detail I helped raise him starting when he was 3 years old. That was a place where I could help, since his mother thought that she should be full time at raising him so I would just help by babysitting him when she was working, and that meant that he did a lot of sleeping and I didn't have to change diapers much, and so I didn't have to use too many clothespins on the nose when I took care of him. After he reached age 3 up until he was almost 6 I spent most of my Saturdays and Sundays with him because his mother worked at a very rigorous Job grooming dogs so she could make her house payments and other bills. From 3 until 6 he got to hang around with 2 other kids near his age, and with me and my Friend Jack, who i worked on Cars, Trucks, and Tractors with ih his garage while Sean got to hang out with dogs, horses, chickens, and other children and I would just make sure he did not wander off into the hills and desert areas around Acton, Ca. So Sean got a pretty well rounded Life as a boy growing up, he had interaction with other boys and girls his age and a little older, and he became a pretty good Horseman as a by=product. He has "Slow Hands" which is the term applied to a person understanding and practicing the discipline of using the Reins on a horse wihout being so heavy handed the horse gets no release from pressure and develops resistance over a long period of time because the horse gets no release which is the reward to the horse for correctly following the pressure from the reins in its mouth coming from the Bit. By the time Sean was a teenager he was working for professional Reiners, and other people in the Cave Creek---Scottsdale Area. Seans an adult now, with 3 children of his own. He calls me Uncle Mike and is a hard working Man.

EARL HARRIS  I noticed you said you are somewhat fearful of horses, that puts you about 50 % ahead of most men who have spent anytime around horses. Most men won't allow themselves to admit that to themselves or others and they and the horses suffer as a result. I am guilty of what I just described. Once I admitted it to myself my ability limited as it is, allowed itself to show up in how I learned about horses and my Fear of them left me. In my opinion, Women do better with horses than us Men do, because Women don't even attempt to out muscle a horse, they just love up on the horses and the horses, who are very getlie animals respond with affection. If you watch Women and Horses interact, you will see this. The girls feed them hay, and treats, rub their noses, and massage their faces and ears, and soon the horse has his or her muzzle right in the hip pocket of the Woman's jeans. Meanwhile, us Men either try to "Show the Horse Whose Boss" which can get you stepped on maybe, or just plain old ignored, or Men act so afraid of the horse, the horse says to itself, "What is Wrong, This Predator is acting fearful, Guess I need to take Flight also" and if your on the horse's back you might get dumped off. If you want to learn some about how to be with Horses, then John Lyons, who graduated in 66 from CHS, became "America's Most Trusted Horseman" and you can look up online and order some of his Books, Same goes for a man named Tom Dorrance, his brother Bill Dorrance, and their protege Ray Hunt. I have attended Clinics given by Ray Hunt, Buck Brannaman, which was the inspiration for the Movie "Horse Whisperer" with Robert Redford, not too much really about horses there and a lot of romantic mush. Bryan Neubert made a Video called "Wild Horse Handling": which to me is the best and quickest way to learn about how a professional can teach you how to handle a wild horse, right off the Nevada Range, and with gentle handling over a hour and a half, change the horse into a docile obedient mount without breaking the horse's Spirit. Bryan did this Video while actually taming and teaching the horse, inside a sixty foot in circumference Round Pen which he would set up at the Wild Horse Auctions set up by the BLM to Auction off Range Horses. Bryan for 350 dollars would gentle your brand new wild horse for you so that at the end ot an hour and a half more or less, you culd saddle up your horse and ride it there at the Auction  Then take it home and do the same. Chris Cox in Texas is also a very good Clinician. I've had the privilege of getting to know about horses from Mike Sheridan, who ran the Ranch as a Los Angelse County Sheriffs Deputy located at Castaic, Ca. for fifteen years, and was my Minister at Agua Dulce Christian Church, and his sons Matt Sheridan, Joel Sheridan, who all know a lot about gentling and riding horses. Horses are really very gentle, and loving animals and have their own personalities.

Dennis Moran

Im most proud of: Meeting my wife and knowing she was the one.   having a family; two boys, one girl who were healthy and I could see what it would of been like to have brothers and sisters. Coaching little league baseball and desert hockey team.  Coaching told me that I should of been a school teacher and I loved interacting with boys and girls.   In coaching, I took participation and playing all positions as my goal.  Seeing kids learning that winning was nice but getting to play meant much more.

Dennis.

Frank Wiley

Thanks for the invitation to the "wine summit" but I will be in Colorado.  I'll be down the next week.  You all have fun!!  Mike K.--Pat Parelli is another very good trainer.  My Wife and I have been to his Ranch/School here a number of times and he always does a clinic.  His technique involves "no bit" in the mouth of the horse.  

Greg Watkins

DeWitt Bacon

Mike, your get-together sounds great. It would be nice to meet on a friendly basis and learn more about each other personally. Meeting each other on a non-political basis could ease some of the tensions created on this forum. I wish I could make it, but unfortunately, it's a two-day trip for me, and I can't afford it right now. I hope you all have a good time. I want to hear all about it. 

Greg Watkins

Jim Coats

Mike Lorts.  It's very nice of you and Sylvia to offer your home for the meet and greet.  Unfortunately, we will not be able to attend due to an upcoming memorial service for a close relative in Kansas.

Here's a thought that may just be beginning to hit too close to home:

Remember when you were little you could just rip off your diaper and run around naked and everyone thought it was so cute and funny?

Anyway, I need bail money and the judge made it very clear he was not amused.  

David Rainwater

Greg W. thanks for the suggestion of the Western museum in Cody.  We're actually going to be on the western edge of Wyoming (near Thayne) this summer to meet up with our kids and my sister, but probably won't have a chance this time to make it all the way to Cody (six or seven hours away) this time.

Michael Kelly

Coats  Re your 12523  I recommend always carrying a Smoke Tinted Raincoat. Right now Walmart is out of Stock on this, which always happens in an Election Year. I always try to lay in an extra supply so that when I visit the clients I can always give them one in case they ran out  If the Relatives Post the Bail, Ill give the raincoat to them because it creates an Aura of Goodwill between the relatives and my representation of the offender.LOL

I Dont know if any of you saw the Ceremony at Davos, Switzerland, where the Global Climate Summit is being held. A Woman from some place in the Amazon River Area dressed in Native Garb, did a kind of I guess Religion or Cult Ceremony and then went around to people seated in chairs on the Stage and coughted and spat on their Foreheads and mumbled some gibberish as a kind of spell or blessing or whatever. I believe that i would have been tempted to jump up and run to my Private Villa and WASH MY FACE AND FOREHEAD. But that's just me, I might have even been tempted to actually receive my first ever COVID 19 VACCINATION.

My take on this Davos thing, after seeing this, is that I believe I remember being at a Dice Rolling Table in a Casino somewhere this same Woman was going around from table to table and soliciting for payments of up to 3000 dollars a Blow for giving dice throwers (Gamblers) a Special Dispensation on their Dice for a better Role. Who knows, but my impression was that this was yet another Hustle and that the Brain Busters in Davos got seen Coming !!!

Michael Kelly

Well I feel better now. It is now news that a Communist Chinese Biologist, who crossed our open Northern Border, set up a Deadly Biological Weapons Lab in Reedley, California. Inside were thousands of genetically altered Rats that were being experimented upon by injecting their little bodies with Tuberculosis, Ebola Virus, the horrid list goes on. Mr. Whatever the Name Jiu, was engaged in his Lab work as an Enemy of the United States of America. Right Here In Californi, Can you Imagine Makes you want to write a John Lennnon Song. It took a local woman with sharp eyes to notice the water hose that was seen to run back into the building and furhishing an Underground Lab with water.