Reconnecting with friends

     We've been here a few days, and the major news is the forest fires.  Lake George, a legendary fly-fishing area in/near Pike National Forest is about forty miles straight west of here on the other side of the Rampart Range.  Its fire has grown to 450 acres and has caused the evacuation of 150 homes.  The smoke can be seen behind the mountains in a picture taken looking west from Phil and Laura Catalfamo's deck.  Phil was my Alaskan office mate 49 years ago.

     The Air Force Academy is in the center of the picture, and Pikes Peak is just out of view to the left.  We visited the Catalfamos this afternoon to watch the final throes of the US Open.  When the match was over, we had pizza and salad.  This afternoon we are scheduled to attend a barbecue at the home of Jim and Joette Dill.  I was his faculty advisor at USAFA forty (!) years ago.  Tuesday we will be going to a quaint restaurant a bit north of here with the Catalfamos, and on Wednesday we'll meet classmate Buzz and Brita Glenn at one of Ted Turner's buffalo themed restaurants.  This week does not bode well for our waistlines.
     The next picture shows the Academy in a little more detail with the craggy "Eagle's Nest" immediately behind the cadet area.  The Academy is at 7000 feet, and that peak is at 9300.  Four decades ago Cindy, Mark and I would pack food, water, and sleeping bags; walk out the back door of our house and a few hours later would be standing on the top of that peak.  The next morning we would watch the sun come up over Kansas over a hundred miles to the east.

I suspect that picture brings back pleasant memories for all of us.  Speaking of memories, today Durelle and I will have been married 52 years.