Many times when I've come out of some horrible experience that shook me to my toes and rattled my cage, I've said, "I needed that. I don't think I could've learned the lesson any other way." So, from my recent accident, I've learned many things I should've known years ago, but didn't take the time to learn. Compassion. I've seen people struggle in wheelchairs and limp in pain but didn't understand the difficulty it would be to be bound and dependent. Moving from the wheelchair to the bed, reclin…

This time is like no other. No longer business as usual. As Christians, what is God asking from us? To trust Him for what He's doing no matter how wild it may seem. Line up with God, not the noise and confusion we hear. The Lord has acted in the heavens. Time and events have been locked in and the course is set. Those who have God's ear and listen are privileged to see and will be settled in faith. Before I experienced my recent car accident. I pondered on these words: "No longer pray or write f…

This image was a watercolor class project at Wyndham Resort in 2005. The subject was traced on the watercolor paper. The students brushed in clean water for a wet surface, using the dry paper (the middle rocks) as a boundary. They dropped yellow paint into the water, which spread down to the rocks and stopped. They did the same with the foreground. They were not to paint the tree trunks but leave them alone with the original yellow underpainting. Paint the background and between the trees. These…

"Call my kids." I yelled to the EMS. "Tell them what happened." Everything went blurry. I was told later the EMTs were following right behind my Sweet Al and me and one of them gave me CPR. All I remember was blacking out and our vehicle plunging down 55 feet before hitting a 4-foot-by-4-foot red rock that stopped the fall. Our kids arrived on the scene quickly and spoke with the police and the insurance company. They followed through with everything from that moment on. My Sweet Al and I were f…

Writing on this subject might be jumping the gun, looking down a barrel before the season starts, but it won't be long until the hunters are back in town. With fancy hunting gear, hopes and dreams, they come for the thrill of the hunt. Pagosa is a hunters' town. Go to Walmart and sit in the parking lot. Everyone is in camouflage except a few of us. Husbands, wives, children and even their service dogs come to the store in camo. Even though my Sweet Al can't limp up those mountains or chase down …

I said to my Sweet Al, "I have an idea for the next article. Who would get married over 80?" Set in your ways. Find a new wife, change your address, insurance and doctors. Keep your kids happy, and hers, and learn how to shar things? Our writers' group is giving one of our members a wedding celebration for his upcoming marriage. He is over 80. He became reacquainted with a lady he knew 30 years ago. They just clicked. had a lot in common and enjoy each other's company. He is in love. They had mo…