November 2020
**An Odd Thanksgiving**
This may be the oddest Thanksgiving I’ve ever lived through, with the exception of 1963. My friend Ammar was in town, and he made dinner at his house, but was anxious about sitting around the table together and eating it, so I picked it up and Marci and I ate it at our house. It was delicious. Recommendations were to be cautious about social gatherings, and so we did that. There has been so many times during this pandemic that I’ve wanted to shake a hand or hug someone, but I refrain, and when I slip, I feel guilty. By all accounts it is upticking, so we are being even more cautious. I miss my brother. He lives on the east coast. His job has him driving to locations sometimes for hours, and so it is a good time to talk. We were reminiscing about our childhood, and he reminded me how we would pour Pepsi in shot glasses, shoot it, and slam the glasses down. Then start acting drunk, slurring our speech, and saying I love you brother. That ought to give you a hint of the environment my mother eventually got us out of. We both have the “drink” gene, but I quit nearly 20 years ago. My brother still enjoys a beer, but he’s good. Our older brother, I don’t know what happened to him, but he finished with us years ago. He didn’t inherit the “drink” gene, but maybe he’s the one that needs it. I guess I am talking about this stuff because we don’t get to choose our family, or where we are born, but we do get to choose our friends. Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday season for me, and I though I feel that there is a little light at the end of the Covid tunnel we still have a ways to go. I can hardly wait to eat in a restaurant, go to the movies, visit my friends, and hug and kiss every one of them. I hope you and your family are safe and well, and the holidays are good to and for you. I can't thank you all enough for supporting my life in this desert.
**32 Years**
It was, Thanksgiving weekend, 32 years ago I came to Big Bend with my friend Clif Ladd that set the course for my life's work. This photograph, taken by Clif was the decisive moment. Partying with Aunt Roberta, Uncle Joe, John Suffaco, and Susan Bryant. I've told the story many times I don't feel the need to do it here, but to say there are times in your life, when a door of opportunity opens, and you make the decision to go through it or not. I was really scared, and at the same time felt so alive. For my work, it was the best decision I ever made in my life. To my young friends, as well my peers, I never saw this one coming, but I knew it when it was here.
Happy Full Moon. Get Outside.