Ray Bledsoe

I realize this does not meet the criteria set forth, but I wanted those who have never visited the Canyon to get a feel for the depth of it.  The photo of the vultures on the cliff was taken from the Rim and in the upper top right of the photo (which got cropped off) you can see the Canyon Floor through the crevice in the side wall.  Also if you take a photo of a certain point in the Canyon at dawn and then again at noon (of the same exact spot) and again at dusk you will swear the photos are of three different locations due to the light.

Ray Bledsoe

David, we got caught by a freak snow storm one year while at the summit and they closed the road.  I guess you know they have a race every year from the point where the pavement ends up to the summit.

Steve Jetton

Ray, your post brought back fond memories of a week on the Colorado in October, 2007 rafting through the Canyon with my wife and daughter.

We'd spend a good part of the day on the water, some white water but almost disappointed (or not )that we didn't get dumped at least once.  Stop for lunch, mid day hiking, then setting up camp at night.  Last stop was Phantom Ranch at bottom of Bright Angel trail, which we hiked up to return to "civilization."

Must confess, we were a tour group, guided by pro's.  One of my smart aleck friends told it was "dude camping." 

Obviously, I am not doing justice to the spectacular scenery with these pics.

James (Jim) Rookus

From the cliffs of the west coast north of Santa Criuz, to the majestic beauty of Bryce Canyon and the relaxing atmosphere of Anna Marie Island on the East coast of Florida or the favorite breakfast at Cracker Barrel .... my favorite places are wherever I am with my sweetheart !!!

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

Boy Jim you're a real romantic!!!  I think that's wonderful and the guys in our class need to take heed!!!  I'm sure a lot of the guys and husbands of our classmates are romantic 💘!

Ray Bledsoe

Steve - Your post reminded me of my one and only (failed) White-Water experience, which I discovered is for young folks.  When I was 50 I tried the Gunnison, in the Black Canyon (North of Durango a ways) and after losing most of our gear had to get off.  It wasn't my first rafting trip but by far the roughest.  Thanks for sharing.  Sometimes I wish we had all stayed in Bloomington.

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Suzi:

Hope you're doing really well!   Love ya!

As for others in our class.........this is my philosophy.  We were all raised by different people, who were raised by different people....etc.

I think, after high school, the sum total of each person's life experiences adds to the flavor of their personality and knowledge that makes each one of us even more unique.  To think that any of us are romantic...is wonderful! 

I wasn't fortunate enough to find that in a life partner.  I hope everyone in our class was lucky enough to find romance in their life.

Linda

Ray Bledsoe

Please bear with me on this last one.  This was taken on the peak of the "Tooth of Time" at the Philmont National Boy Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico.  My team and I were taking part in an intensive two-week training for Camp Rangers.  Our instructor needed to be with us anytime we ventured into the Back Country.  For those of you who are familiar with the 'Boys Life' magazine, the second photo is of "Pedro" in the flesh.  The boy is the son of one of my team mates.  For those of you who are not familiar with Philmont, there are programs for family members of those taking a training course.

David Long

A long, long time ago, before I needed a bionic leg >

On one of our trips to Rome, we toured the Coliseum.

David Brock

Ray--Philmont is a great place--especially for outdoor training.  I have posted a number of pictures from Philmont, especially during our Covid Photo tour.  My wife enjoyed the time there more than I--I was there for school, and she was there enjoying spousal activities at the same time.

Ray Bledsoe

David - Philmont knows how to put on a program.  I have taken four over the years and each one was top notch and the family programs are first rate.  Which course did you go through?

David Brock

Ray-  The first was Outdoor Leader Skills.  Then District Committee, Roundtable Commissioner and another 1 or 2.  Sandra, my wife, went 2 or 3 times, and always enjoyed her time.  I met lots of other dedicated Scouters who I encountered at other events--Jamborees, NOAC and other regional activities.  The program has certainly changed over the last 60 years.

Ray Bledsoe

David - You are right on, the Program has certainly changed and I' m glad I was envolved when I did my stint.  I also had the Roundtable Commissioner and Outdoor Skills plus Wood Badge, Camp Ranger and TTT.  I still communicate with the guys in my Wood Badge Patrol.  Good to touch base with another Scouter.

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Ray and David, this all sounds like an enormous commitment. I loved being in Cub Scouts, but when it came time for Boy Scouts, I don't think my parents could afford two uniforms and Marv and I dropped out of scouting. Of course, we found other activities that engaged us, but to hear how the two of you progressed through the ranks is very interesting. We've all found something meaningful in our passions, whether in art, business, education, parenting or whatever. This is a great time to share the results. Has anyone been writing their memoirs? It is a great way to capture so much we hold dear.

I'm just finishing writing my second book, "Time Without Dates: An Artist's Memoir". And guess what? Bloomington and BHS are a big part of the story. Some of you are actuallly mentioned in it.

David Long

Linda,

How is everything on the border? The various news casts are showing doom and gloom!  Praying for your safety!

David Long

Mel,

Our favorite oldest daughter has joined Storyworth.  Each few days I get a new question about my memories to answer.  At the end, all will be included in a book about me, to leave for the grandkids.  I'm behind in my answers but there are a lot of good and not so good memories of growing up w/o a mom around (she died of cancer when I was 6), and an uncaring stepmother (my dad remarried when I was 10) that was only interested in shuttling me off to aunts and uncles at every opportunity.

There is a lot of thought going into the writing, as I know there is in your writings.  

Maybe a way to get more interaction with the class would be for everyone interested to post a childhood memory, with associated photos if available.  I didn't think of this - Ray and David started it!

Linda Bristow (Elias)

David Long----Thank you for asking.  Should I ever post something you don't want to hear about....please tell me.

Currently, the U.S.A. and Mexican Border have 2500 Army & Marines (I believe) helping in all of the different cities.  Border Patrol gets overwhelmed at the large number of people.  I must put it in perspective by noting that El Paso is certainly not the only USA city on the border, in Texas, or out of Texas to be experiencing this issue.

What I see, and I work about 6 blocks from the border, are destitute, hungry people with families carrying only what they could to survive. The elderly pretty much have stayed at home.  Since they are putting their lives on the line, they try to follow our USA guidelines, but sometimes they do other things to survive, such as-trying to sell something, trying to help people with a task when they don't really need it (for tips), stealing, etc.

What is very unusual is to see people popping up from a manhole in the streets and several people popping out and running to get away.  This can happen night or day. 

The border has been granted 1500 more active military to come help on the border.  They are not here to defend but to aid the Border Patrol.

Because of where I live, I have always had bars on my windows and doors, much like we used to see how banks were built.  Should anyone get into my house.........well------I do sleep with a gun.  I assure you that they will not get out.  I take classes to practice shooting and keep up with the local law concerning my issue with having a gun.

Have a great day and be good to each other!

Love to all, Linda

Ray Bledsoe

Linda - How very sad.  The news said a lot of these folks have money to pay to get to other destinations in the U.S but there isn't a mechinisim in place to get them there?

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Ray:  Just because some people have some money, doesn't mean that they have much.  Other people they know in the US have sent Telegrams with $ to them.  Some are able to hold onto a few dollars even though the smugglers and banditos (called coy-o-tes) have tried to steal everything they have.  It is an extremely serious situation.  Often the reports about them are stereotypical of what was told to a few reporters.  But, what they say isn't representative of all the rest.

Their efforts to be able to pass into the US, to accept work that most Americans don't want to do, is a GodSend to them to be able to eat, etc.  While traveling, sleeping, eating, cleaning their own immediate area and looking for a restroom---their family waiting can be robbed, beaten, molested by incest or rape, and much more.  The horror in their lives, to enter the US, will be remembered by their generations to come.  History will prove this out.  Now picture this:  that all of this effort was worth it to get out of their own country and oppression.

These people will appreciate being here more than most natural born Americans.   However, this is a time in the lives of Americans to fear if jobs will be taken from them, if the 'intruders' are bringing sickness, are they going to live near them, will they learn English, will criminal behavior take over, etc.  There is great fear in the minds of people on both sides.   Yet, children (who I believe have an international right to exist) have to eat, be clean, and try to be healthy, to become educated in a second language.  They are the family's 2nd generational hope for the future of their family.

It is difficult to me to watch the struggle.  I just pray!

Linda

David Brock

Mel and Ray,  My total rime in the BSA was more than 50 years when I gave it up.  I guess the final straw was that St. Louis Council merged/acquired Trails West Council (Mero East) and their program (gigantic) did not allow for any deviation in their established policies and programs.  

Over my time, I spent time in Cub Scouting, Boy Scouts and various leadership positions.  Many times, even 60 years ago, there were ways to save money on uniforms and equipment--drop-outs, garage sales, Good Will/resale shops.  This takes effort and the ability to swallow one's pride on occasion.  I was fortunate to complete my Eagle rank as a yoouth.  Over time, I was recognized with many awards (both earned and granted).  I was a Wood Badge Buffalo (NC541), and that was a rigorous, intense training for a middle age person with all of the work and family responsibilities.  I received the Silver Beaver, Founders Award (Order of the Arrow),  and the Vigil Honor (OA), and the God & Country (Religious award for adults).  Less than 3 % of active leaders receive these awards.

There were many memories and time involved in these programs.  The big purpose that kept me involved was to train and work with leaders to provide programs/activities to help boys develop into the leaders of tomorrow.  I had a training team that evoved and survived for about 20 years.

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

Picture of my kindergarten class.  My first friend is sitting next to me....Susan Ford.  We met when we were three years old.    We sat on the curb and talked because we couldn't cross the street.  

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

OMG. There is so much to respond to here. First, I want to thank Linda for her first-hand account on what is happening at the border and her doorstep. More important to me is the compassion she expressed for the people risking their lives to be in the USA. Without making this political, may I say that not any one of us can imagine the risks and sacrifices those people trying to find a better way of life are taking.

And then there is the scouting history of David and Ray. I'm not envious but proud that you have both been so involved in making life better for kids. Thank you for sharing these stories.

Now for Suzi. I was waiting with great anticipaton to see the photos you posted with Susan Ford, but alas, they were not there. Can you try again to post them? I love the part about the two of you sitting on the curb.

David Long

On a Lighter Note to my fellow Raiders:

MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU!

ARE YOU GOING TO CELEBRATE? 

IT IS DO OR NOT DO, THERE IS NO MAYBE.

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Mel:  I must say that regarding people coming across our border, there is and will always be some people who are not honest, or kind, or here for the right reasons.  We have people coming from country's all over the world in hopes of our port of entry being easier to enter than other ports of entry on our border.  There will be crooks and worse who need to get sorted out with time.  If they have a record of ill-gotten gains or theft, murder, etc. in their own country, our computer systems are trying to sort them out and get rid of them.

After studying Immigration Law from the 1800's to now, I think the biggest difference between immigration in the late 1800's through 1960's have one major difference to today's port of entry here.   The difference is that they came mostly on ships and the amount of people on those ships were expected at Ellis Island.

Now, we never know how many are showing up at our border.  Living in El Paso for over 60 years, we've always had illegals entering by wading across the water and hopping over the 'Tortilla Curtain' that was a 3 1/2 to 4 foot chain-link fence.  Of course there were always some who cut through that fence and the fence had to be repaired daily.  But, we had a steady 'light-flow' of people coming in legally, also.

I have always found some lovely things about living here too.  It isn't just doom and gloom.  I love to see the man, with a homemade wooden cart and wooden wheels, who brings down his goat herd to drink out of the Rio Grande each morning  about 8:30 to 9:00 and again around 4:00 to 4:30 pm.  He represents the poor who work hard to create their own destiny.  He takes such great care of those goats so that he can sell their milk and make special cheeses for sale.   It supports his whole family. But, to me he looks like an image of someone from over 100 years ago doing the same thing.  He wears a large straw sombrero to shield himself from the sun.  He usually wears white clothing in the summer.

Then, there was the man that I saw for over 20 years on a bicycle heading toward the New Mexico/ Mexico border on Executive Center that crosses I-10.    Every night by 5 pm he came across Executive Center walking toward the houses in my area, but every morning he was on a bicycle with a bag that looked like a pillow case.  Nightly he stole a bicyle and robbed houses as he could and carried his loot back  to sell on the other side of the border.

Thanks for reading what I have to say!

Linda