On The Fly

Podcast - Meet Methuselah . . . Yes, tonight is Halloween. You were expecting me in a costume as a 969-year-old man? Sorry, this Methuselah is much older. It was day two hiking the Eastern Sierras. Our 27th year wedding anniversary getaway. We had decided to explore the Sierras with Bishop, CA. as our home base. Examining our map, Lori mentioned, “Here’s something we should see. It's the four-mile Methuselah Walk of the ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest near Big Pine, CA.”  So we were up early the next morning, raring to go. With directions in hand. Make your way to Big Pine, CA. on Route 395. Turn onto Route 168. Then wind your way slowly up-down, with hairpin switchbacks, and spectacular views with elevation gains from 3,980 feet to over 10,000 feet to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Visitors Center. Heed this warning - the map that says, plan on at least a one hour drive once you leave Route 395 at Big Pine don’t doubt it, it’s slow going. My suggestion, plan ahead. The intrepid hik...

Podcast - Chatter . . . Just the other day - well, what seems like the other day, Lori brought home a pristine copy of  The Readers Digest  from December 1966 (35 cents). The cover is exactly as I remember it, a summary outline of the articles with the corresponding page numbers. This issue boasts 45 th  Year: Over 27 million copies bought monthly in 14 languages.  That was over 54 years ago! How she acquired this heirloom is interesting. The Paul Ecke family was featured in an article titled Crimson for Christmas . Paul Ecke III came across boxes of this particular issue that he distributed to employees of the Paul Ecke Ranch. The trifold cover page featured an ad from Ford, “Mustang 1967 . . . bred first to be first!” With the slogan, “Just in time for Christmas . . . the do-it-Yourself Escape Kit!” What’s interesting is the First Class Business Reply Postage Paid subscription card in the centerfold reads, “One new Digest gift subscription ONLY $2.” Yes, in 2020 yo...

In this episode - Possibility Thinking . . . Dateline - November 22, 1987. “Doctor Schuller, Lori, and I have decided to marry and I’m wondering what’s the “Possibility” of you performing our ceremony?” With a broad smile, Dr. Robert H. Schuller winked at me and said, “It’s a very good possibility , however, my schedule is rather busy, you will need to contact my secretary to make the arrangements.” So, the next day, Lori called. “What date are you considering?” She asked. “October 22nd, next year, possibly a morning ceremony.” “I’m afraid he’s out of town that day. The earliest he is available is 6:00 pm.” “That’s fine, we can work with that.” After confirmation with Dr. Schuller’s secretary, the following day, Lori called the events manager of weddings. “Who is your Pastor?” “Doctor Schuller.” With a professional demeanor, but obvious disbelief in her voice, “You do know Dr. Schuller does not perform wedding ceremonies anymore? Also, our time slots for weddings and receptions are...

In this episode - Misfits at Halloween . . . It’s autumn, and Halloween is approaching - how do you capture the experience, the smells, the rustling sounds of multicolored falling leaves, the quiet, peaceful feeling, the solitude of life in a small town? News flash, I’m here to tell you it’s not always as tranquil as sentimental storytellers like to depict it. Admittedly, like all agrarian communities, Cuba had its pranksters. Thankfully, though, in our small, rural farming community of the late 1960s and early 70s, I’m happy to report there was no teen violence, no gang shootings, and no serious vandalism. Well, ok, we did torment the local policeman, who we dubbed Barney Fife (I don’t remember his name). In the fall, most families would have harvested their gardens by Halloween, but inevitably, there would be leftovers. A group of us would hide behind Jim Welch’s garden fence on Main Street and hurl the leftover, soft, rotten tomatoes at Barney’s squad car as he patrolled the town. F...