Hills and Dales and Rin Tin Tin

There is nothing as invigorating as an early morning hike. Probably should have done one yesterday. Instead, we got off about mid-morning after long chats over several cups of coffee. The Sierras and other ranges were still beautiful as we climbed some minor foothills to get a panorama view of the Carson Valley.

We had a purpose for this particular hike. My brother-in-law built and positioned a bench dedicated to his father at the top of a hill. Recently, his mother also passed. She was a wonderful person, a great mother, and an ideal mother-in-law. He had a new brass plaque engraved and we hiked up to the top of the hill to add it to the bench. It was a quiet and perfect moment.

In the afternoon we drove out to Fort Churchill. The flies beat us to this historic site. After a few minutes of insects buzzing around my eyes, I was eager to get inside the small museum to escape the pesky pests. I can only imagine how crazy-making it must have been when there were hundreds of cavalry horses around. The life of a frontier soldier was not easy.

The fort is now a ruin, but still an interesting side trip. It was situated to protect the Carson Trail, which was used by the Pony Express and pioneers on their way to California. The fort looked nothing like the one in Rin Tin Tin, my favorite television show as a child. Instead of a log stockade, the white adobe buildings were not protected by a wall. The purpose of the fort was not to be an oasis of safety as much as a central point to send out patrols.

Next, the Reno gun show. 

What to give for Father’s Day?

How about travel—to another place and time

Books are great gifts. For a few dollars, they provide hours of entertainment that can be enjoyed anywhere. A good book sheds life’s tensions as it transports the reader to another place and time. Of course, I’m biased. I write books and hope you’ll pick one of mine as a Father’s Day gift. But even if you don’t, all books bring unique pleasure. 

Here’s a tip on how to give a really appreciated gift. Think about the interests of your father or grandfather. If you give a book that matches their hobby or genre preference, then it will show that you have put thought into the gift to make it personal.

What about books in this age of e-Readers? First, a Kindle or other e-Reader is a great gift in itself. If your father already owns an e-Reader, you can gift a specific book. Actually the recipient is not restricted to the selected title because the amount of money can be used to buy anything. I buy so many books for my Kindle that I personally appreciate it when my kids send me an Amazon gift card. Since they live across the country, it saves them money because shipping has gotten expensive. To many it may seem impersonal, but except for writing, reading is my greatest pastime. Besides, I’ll get the personal touch from the phone call.