The Simple Life

Life was simpler then, three miles from the nearest road, on the banks of the north fork, Feather River. Home was a rehabilitated miner’s cabin, inset into the hillside, with a plastic sheet over a roof of found boards. An old Franklin stove, found abandoned along side the river, was a source of heat and the cooking surface.

The bed was made of driftwood and old fire hose found upstream, topped with a down sleeping bag. A driftwood table, driftwood chairs and shelving at the rollup windows rounded out the décor.

Two walls were stone, covered in moss, and two walls were driftwood with large rollup windows. The floor was dirt with a large woven rag rug in the center.

A large pot of beans on the stove and some fish from the river kept the tummy happy. The solitude and oneness with nature kept the soul happy.

The hike in and out was rugged. In places the trail clung to the face of a cliff where one false move could be deadly. In other places you were in a position to be excellent cougar bait. Several times deer were found in the middle of the trail, victims of a large cougar that roamed the area. This discouraged frequent trips out to the van which was a good thing since trips out to the van meant trips to the bar.

Evenings were spent reading books by oil lamp, rolling Bugler cigarettes, watching for the skunk that would come and visit or just sitting outside in the dark listening to the river. At times one’s mind would play tricks and you would think you were hearing voices in the river as it echoed off the cliffs.

Days were spent exploring the hillsides and fishing for the next meal. Music was provided by my guitar. My dog, Pepper, was my constant companion and never complained about our living arrangements.

Once a month, a trip out to town would restock the dry beans and rice as well as a fresh supply of yeast and flour for bread. A chicken, some eggs, a slab of bacon, some fruit and veggies would provide a welcome change of diet for several days. Dried salami and a block of cheddar cheese would keep for at least a week.

Oh to be young and carefree again!

I'm Ready To Go!

What is Happiness?

by BB2
In our everyday lives we strive for happiness, but are we looking in the right places?
Do money and possessions make us happy? Or power? A big car or boat? How about a $120 a plate dinner? A 60" plasma TV set?

Think about it!

Somalia - a bowl of rice, Bangladesh - a thatched roof against the monsoon, Iraq - a restful night without the sounds of car bombs and gunshots, Palestine - a piece of land to call ones own, Chechnya - ones own government, Africa - an end to AIDS, South America - freedom from the drug lords, Iran - freedom of the fear of being nuked.

Happiness comes in many forms, but what is true happiness?

I believe it comes from within and is an acceptance of ones self and ones place in the world. It can't be bought or sold. All the rest may bring comfort but until one has self acceptance and self value true happiness is elusive.

Some of the happiest people I have met are those with the least.

Years ago one of my friends lost his house and everything he owned in a fire. I was amazed when he told me how good he felt, how it was the most liberating thing in his life. Though mystified at the time, over the years I have come to understand his perspective.

There is an old saying: I used to cry because I had no shoes until I met a man with no feet.

I used to cry because I had no gloves until I met a man with no arms!

I think he's happy - what about you?

.

Mocha

by Bluebear2

While fighting hard to take CONTROL over KAOS we all must step back at times and take a break to maintain our sanity, or what little of it that remains.

We need to:








listen to the roar of falling water














or the silence of a mountain top.














Sit and watch a sunset


















or a setting moon.


















Go for a cool morning walk














or swim in a cold mountain lake.













Enjoy the beauty of a flower,











or the laughter of a child.

Ponder the profound love between a child and her pet!

MOCHA

Mocha came into our home about 4 years ago. It was on one of those weekend trips to the feed store that my daughter spotted the guinea pig in the window.

She brought it home and instantly they fell in love. Mocha was treated to full reign of my daughters room. She rode on my daughters shoulder everywhere and sat in her lap on the swings at the playground.

She wanted nothing to do with another guinea pig when we felt she needed a buddy, but would cry when my daughter left the room.

I also enjoyed her company as she would sit on my desk while I was typing. She would add to my commenting at Bradblog, but I never quite learned her language, although she would say such profound things as zdqefr4 and /;lklouyt5.

It always amazed me how such a small animal could give so much trust and yearning for a human being 100 times her size. And how much love my daughter could give to this little animal.

If only us older humans could all do the same.

Mocha died last night. She had been ill for a couple of days. Our house is a little more empty now, but the lessons she has taught will remain.

Rest in peace Mocha, you were one remarkable pig.


all photos BB2 except Mocha - by daughter (Click on photos to enlarge.)

In Remembrance of John F. Kennedy.

By Bluebear2

Winter Patriot and Agent 99 have posted a fine article in remembrance of John Fitzgerald Kennedy today on the 43^rd anniversary of his assassination. Be sure to read it here.

The day President Kennedy was shot I was a sophomore in high school. Choir class had just started when the intercom came on with the news coverage from the scene. Everyone in the room became instantly silent as we listened. Soon the tears started to flow.

What were we going to do now?
Our great leader was gone and how could we go on?

The rest of the classes that day were discussions of the event, although I no longer remember much of what was discussed.

I remember seeing Jackie crawling over the back seat and trunk of the limo to retrieve a portion of his brain and thinking of what it would be like to pick up a piece of brain from someone you loved.

(I've always wondered, if he was shot from behind, how did a portion of his brain end up on the trunk?)

I remember watching the funeral procession and seeing John John saluting as the carriage went by and thought about what a tragedy it must be for him, what it must be like to see your father in a flag-draped box.

I remember seeing Lyndon Johnson being sworn in as president and wondering how that goofy looking guy was going to save us.

I remember a feeling of huge loss which lasted for a long time - even now when I think about it and read the fine words Winter Patriot and Agent 99 have brought to us today. Link

Home Away from Home

So another weekend spent in the Home Away from Home. Our favorite little pull along trailer a 1974 Apache hard side pop-up.
This weekend was our annual Family Camp with all the relatives, a tradition dating back nearly 20 years. In the past we have met in places as far flung as Truckee, Morrow Bay and Gualala, although lately we have settled down to one place in the foothills North East of Sacramento.
We would prefer the middle of the forest somewhere away from everything, but the rest all want hookups for their motorhomes etc.

It was a peaceful weekend for the most part sitting around chatting playing guitar. One bummer scene when one of the younger couples decided to air their dirty laundry after having too many beers, which kind of put a damper on things the rest of the day.

I enjoyed hiking at night under the light of the full moon and watching the deer graze amongst the campsites.

My brother-in-law made the mistake of telling me what a good job Bush was doing - he found out real quick that he had bitten off way more than he could chew. After explaining to him about PNAC, buildings collapsing, seized pentagon surveillance films from surrounding businesses, Bush's admittance a week or so ago about no WMDs in Iraq and no Sadam connection to 9/11 he waved the white flag and asked that we agree to disagree.
He will be receiving a long list of links for him to research!

Beyond that it was a pleasant relaxing time with no incidents like Memorial Day 2005 when our Home Away from Home nearly ended up at the bottom of a creek below a small cliff - but that's another story!

Thanks Steve For Everything You've Done

In memory of Steve Irwin, a great protector of the wild environment in Australia.

A hyper, fun to watch guy who always seemed to be full of excitement while bringing us knowledge and appreciation of wildlife.

Thanks, Steve, for bringing many hours of learning and entertainment to my children.

I am saddened that you are gone, you will be greatly missed!

So, is it a Diary?

Lots of little stories to write about!

So, is it political?

Hmm - we'll have to wait and see!

Now I have a Blog!

Now that I have a Blog the question is where will it take me?

Should it be serious?

Should it be silly?

Politics?

Current events?

Scholarly?

A diary?

These are the questions I will have to ponder in the next few hours , or do I just start somewhere and let it flow?

Until then I'll leave you with this:




















Spring Flow - Lake Clementine Dam

Photo: Bluebear2