Chaos Theory

People.
People important to you,
people unimportant to you cross your life,
touch it, and move on.

There are people who leave you,
and you breathe a sigh of relief
and wonder why you ever came into contact with them.

Then there are people who leave you,
and you breathe a sigh of remorse
and wonder why they had to go and leave such a gaping hole.

Children leave parents, friends leave friends.
Acquaintances move on.
People change homes.
People grow apart.
Enemies hate and move on.
Friends love and move on.

You think back of the many people who have moved in and out of your life with faint memory.
You look at those present and wonder.

I believe in God's master plan in our life.
He moves people in and out of each other's lives,
and each leaves his mark on the other.

You find that you are made up of these bits and pieces
of all who have ever touched your life.
You are more because of them,
and would be less if they had not touched you.

Pray that you accept these bits and pieces in humility and wonder,
and never question,
and never regret.

~Anonymous

Coyote (upper-left) and Animals (upper-right)
by Malcolm Furlow

My Girls and The Boys

Ashley, Aiden, Layton, & Courtney

Because It Is There

I am still amazed at the wonder of mountains, their majestic, rugged, and simple beauty captures my attention especially when there is a fresh dusting of snow over their peaks. What is more compelling is my desire to climb them, to walk on them and to meet them on their own terms. Mountain and weather converge on the climber, navigating its contours provides a thrilling challenge. I hear the mountain call out to me, "come and enjoy my beauty and freedom;" on my way around crevasses, up icy slopes, buttress, ridge, with the summit in sight, I am overcome with exhilaration amidst the cold thin air, wind, jagged edges, and weak muscles.

Maybe, mountains are like fairy-tales, where my imagination can run free in their heights, the opportunity to reach out of myself, to explore a world unknown. Maybe it is among these stone giants, in this place of solitude that I discover more about who I am, in reality, against the backdrop of this uncompromising monolith. I feel so small and alone standing here on the summit, holding my axe, peering out to the valley below, the cold against my face, and the sound of the snow crunching beneath my feet.

There is a quiet peace that surrounds me here.
Here above the clouds I feel heaven within my reach, if only for a moment.
Maybe that is why I keep coming back.

Top Picture provided by Alpine Ascents
Left: Sagarmatha (Nepalese), Chomolungma (Tibetan), for Mt. Everest 8,850m
Right: Ama Dablam 6,865m

Christmas in Texas 2006

Lindale, TX
Top: Aiden and Ashley
Middle: Josh and Aiden
Bottom: Layton

Passing it Down

Greek Fisherman's Cap (1978)
Left: Sheldon, Mineral Wells, Tx (1990)
Right: Joshua, Arlington, Tx (1981)

MJF All-Star Drums 1972

Monterey Jazz Festival-1972
All-Star Festival Winners

This article appeared on the front page of the Richmond Independent in Richmond, California on June of 1972. Recently, while searching through my late father's personal affects, I found this article which I have not seen since it was published. The trophy that I am holding, Festival Best-Percussion, is now in my sons possession.

The Sword Fights are Coming!

Layton is now an offical Big Boy!