Out and About

We're getting down to the wire with our 50th-year reunion, just eight days away.  I've been having fun posting photos on our Facebook site of schools we attended, of classmates from yesteryear and of activities that received note way back when.

Yesterday I decided it was time to snap a shot of the building where we all attended high school.  It's now a middle school, ready for this next year's opening bell.  The district has done a beautiful job with the grounds.

Of particular note, though, for our class, is that we used part of our funds in 1965 for that row of trees and some others in front of the school.  Some of them may have been replaced, and one of the big trees is missing from the row.

What a feeling of pride, though, to know that something we planned as young adults has remained behind in a beautiful way for all to enjoy. 

When I think of all the happenings and accomplishments in the lives of our classmates which occurred during the growth of those trees, it's pretty amazing. 

While classmates scattered a multitude of different directions, taking on whatever life had to hand out, those trees stayed put, doing their job of growing and growing and adding their own form of beauty to the landscape. 

Pretty neat. 

In other news, it seems we've enjoyed a gradual coming-out party since the long awaited cool down from that beastly summer heat.  I've spent more time outside at night in the last couple of days than I have all summer.  

I have really enjoyed taking leisurely strolls around the yard and down the road, with my camera, of course. 

The photos below, until you get to Annie's Kyoto shots, reflect last night's wanderings, including the horses enjoying their evening treat of corn stalks from our garden and from that of Tom and Joanne's (thanks Tharps). 

That deer was once again at the apple tree, and Gary Finney had turned a couple of his horses out in his front pasture for an evening meal.

He was out and about in his dune buggy, picking up one grandson Logan (who's one of Willie's Cedar Post stars this year) for a project.  The other grandson and son John weren't far behind.

After visiting with Logan (who had his camera in hand too) and Gary, I saw two runners coming down the road.  Tina Wood and Steve Miller had done the loop from her house off from Center Valley Road, through the Wood fields and the Woodside Road. 

They stopped and visited briefly and then headed on their way. 

Twas a very pleasant evening, and I'm glad we have more of the same kind of weather ahead. 

Out and about in Kyoto meant a lot of walking for Annie yesterday.  By 11 a.m., she had clocked more than 5 miles.  I'm sure she had 10 by the time her walking tour ended. 

Looks like it was a beautiful day in the Japanese city, and she definitely saw some beautiful sites, along with a reminder about the basics, as shown in the bottom photo.  

She says people in Kyoto are tired of visitors not knowing how to use the facilities, so they post the visuals with strict instructions. 

Probably a good idea for anyone lacking the toilet protocol associated with No. 1 and No. 2 and especially for all others using the facility afterward who have to deal with the results. 

Annie visits Hiroshima on her tomorrow which starts this afternoon in Pacific Daylight time. Should be a pretty interesting and educational day for her.