Good Times

If you noticed, I changed the picture above. It's me, and my good friend Julie Hutchins, back in the day. OK, I believe it was 1974, judging by that awesome haircut I have. They used to call us Mutt and Jeff, from the old cartoon. I'm 5'2 on a good day, and Julie checks in at 6', she's a California hippie chick and I was a dyed-in-the-wool cowchick, no holds barred. No matter, we just clicked and have stayed friends for many, many years.

Julie and I met when her Dad picked up his family and moved them from Anaheim, CA to little podunk Prescott, AZ. She was shell-shocked when I met her at church one weekend, still wondering what kind of hick town she was forced to endure through high school. We had just turned 16, and after Young Women's one night, a church group, I offered to take her home, but first of course we had to get a soda, cruise main street, etc. All I remember clearly is that someone slammed on their brakes in front of me at a traffic light, and I lit up the night with a blue streak of cussing- AZ style. She looked so shocked, and I was a little embarrassed, but that broke the ice. She realized I wasn't a 'perfect mormon' girl, and we both started talking about our lives. In no time we were hanging out most of the time.

I was in FFA, choir, 4-H, sports, and I was active in church, swearing not withstanding. She was, and is, an artist, and also hung out with the hippies in school, but welcomed me into their group too. Prescott is a pretty clicky town, so the kids around us were confused that a cowchick and a hippy could be such good friends. I don't know about Julz, but I took a lot of heat for our friendship from my cowboy buddies. I was voted FFA Sweetheart at the end of my junior year, Julie had so much fun with that! She loved to tease me about being the 'queen of Cowchicks'. We continued to attend church together, and wander back and forth between our different groups. Her friends accepted me quite easily, but mine were much more reserved towards her, but she didn't care.

Julie's parents kind of adopted me. I was 1/2 hour or more from town, depending on the weather and condition of the dirt road I lived on. On nights that I had play practice, or sports, choir, FFA, etc. I would often stay at Julie's. The picture above was taken at her place, and although that chair isn't there anymore, the house is essentially the same. Barbara and Gene were always so good to me, and Gene always had a joke for me.

There's just something so cool about old friends. They are an amazing gift, especially when they make you laugh, and keep you from taking yourself too seriously. I have a few of these marvelous women in my life, and love them all. Thanks guys, let's keep laughing!

Fall in Arizona

Well, it's another lovely week! I spent Sunday and Monday recovering from the trip to Phx last Saturday, and Tuesday I went to Prescott to visit Julie. She is working on another amazing mural there; James Dean on a Harley motorcycle. It's at a little deli named Chubs, right on Whiskey Row. If you're in town, check it out! I watched her paint for a bit, we had a great lunch at the Brewery, I took a nap and took the beautiful drive home.

Wednesday was a nice quiet day of rest. That morning Mom called, and I talked her into coming up so I could get her a birthday present. It's true, part of the present is getting her out of Maricopa! Anyhow, she told me she'd be coming up Thursday or Friday, but that evening she suddenly came through the door. She hoped I'd go to St. Johns with her to the courthouse. Well, how could I refuse my Mom? Thursday morning we left and wandered off to St. Johns. Mom is easy to drive with, she brings the motor home complete with beds and a bathroom, so when we get tired, we just stop! We reached St. Johns before the Assessor's office closed, got the maps we wanted, put a For Sale sign on her property and stopped for the night.

The fall colors are beautiful near Payson, although some of them are starting to fade. It was a great day for a little drive. There's a wonderful bakery at the market in Pine, so we stopped for bread and another nap. That's the only way we travel, is with lots of time. Yes I'm on disability, and I can't do nearly as much as I want to on any given day. My Mom understands what my limitations are, and she is happy to work with that. I love hanging out with her, and I'm so glad that we can have these little excursions together. David is glad to have someone go with her on her trips, he worries about her driving alone any more.

Today we went to the Hay Barn and she bought some baby chicks, and then I took her to Old Town Cottonwood. We stopped at Jim and Ellen's store there, and found her two cool metal yard sculptures- a roadrunner and a frog, for her birthday. David had to work all morning, but we spent the rest of the day at the house- pretty warm out there today, in the 90's. At least it wasn't 102, like in Phoenix! All in all a great week.