FOUND ONE MORE SKUNK
Last week when Kate and Aaron were in G.J., I made a list of things they could do to help Clarissa and I. A big one on the list was to help me dig up the lawn and uncover the septic tank lid so the tank could be pumped. I try to do this at least every five years. We dug it up with the help of Curtis and Michael and Goodwin’s Septic Tank Service came and pumped the tank. I have two leach fields in the pasture and each spring when I burn or start the irrigation system, I switch the valve to alternate which leech field is used for that year.
The value is located next to the white fence at the front of the house in a four inch plastic pipe inserted about two feet in the ground. I have a special tool to reach to the bottom of the pipe and turn the valve to force the septic tank flow into the field not used the previous year. The opening to the pipe is usually covered by a lid but it had been knocked off so the pipe was open. I pushed up my sleeve and stuck my bare hand into the pipe past my elbow to clean out the debris which I knew would have fallen into the pipe over the last year so I could insert my valve tool into the hole. The first fist full I pulled up was leaves that kind of sealed the pipe. I re-entered the pipe with my hand and the next handful was very wet and gooey. I expected some wetness because the pipe was open and rain and snow could enter the pipe. This substance also was accompanied by a strong pungent odor. I continue to pull handfuls of material from the hole which included hair and decayed flesh so I could insert the tool.
The septic man came over to where I was working because of the smell. Aaron came over too but told his kids to stand back because of the odor. The septic pumper said, “WHAT’S A SKUNK!” Aaron added-“There is its head” pointing to a mass I had pulled out of the pipe and laid by the pipe. All I knew was the stink was bad and my face was a few inches from this sticky mass. There was no reason to stop however because my bare hand and arm had already been up and down the hole and it wasn’t going to get any worse so I cleaned out the hole the best I could. Aaron was scared I might get infection and the pumper hated the smell. Aaron dug a hole in the pasture about 50 feet away and buried the mass in it while shouting at his boys to stay away. I washed off my arm with the garden hose and was then directed into the house where I was advised by Clarissa to strip and shower while she washed all the clothes I was wearing immediately. The stain didn’t wash out of the sleeve on my 2009 Bolder Boulder shirt.
I went to the store-bought some plastic gloves and removed a little more from the hole so the tool attached to the valve and I got it turned. I didn’t get sick but occasionally I smell skunk. I don’t like skunks but I do have some feelings for the little skunk that climbed down the pipe and couldn’t get back out.
K.K.SUMMERS
4-2-2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
SKUNKS
SKUNKS
3-15-2010
My first experiences with skunks were in Monticello. As a child, I knew that Jack Nielson, our next door neighbor had a war with skunks. I knew Jack had a chicken house and that the skunks had a fondness for chicken eggs – they would dig holes under the chicken house walls to obtain access to the eggs. He would place the claw traps in their holes to catch them. He had a long wire hooked to the trap to pull the trapped skunk away from the dwelling houses without getting sprayed and then shoot it. I also knew that we were not to shoot a skunk near the cabin at Beaver Creek because is we only wounded the skunk it might crawl back under the cabin and either spread its scent or die, both options would result in making the cabin uninhabitable.
When we moved to the Redlands, I built a chicken house and raised my own eggs. Soon the skunks found they had a source for chicken eggs. I remember when I only had a couple of hens left that I went to the chicken house at night, turned on the light and put my hand into the laying nest to collect an egg when this skunk was already in the box checking for eggs. I don’t know who was scared the most but the skunk jumped out of the box and exited the chicken house in one direction and I fled out the door in the opposite direction. I was scared and felt very lucky that the skunk didn’t bite my hand. I decided I would out fox the skunk so I started to collect the eggs before dark when the skunk would make it’s visit but the skunk, after a couple of days without finding eggs countered by returning , killing the chickens and dragging them off. I never had chickens again-the skunk won.
We have had other incidents with skunks at our Redland’s home. Kenny was walking down E 7/8th Road to catch a ride for a Cub Scout activity when he got sprayed by a skunk. Clarissa cleaned him up the best she could and took him back to get on the bus. Other boys complained about the skunk smell but Kenny didn’t fess up that he had been sprayed. Last Fall, the Water boys were walking on the trail mowed through the trees and would see skunks but the skunks never sprayed.
My trouble with skunks started again when we got our cats, Lewis and Clark and fed them outside. The skunks discovered that there was cat food left overnight on the back porch in the cat dish and make a regular check each night for a treat. I came home one night and part way up the back steps discovered a very large and agitated skunk on the back porch. I didn’t want to have the skunk spray our back porch but the only unlocked door to get in the house was next to the upset skunk. The cats will jump off the porch but the skunk was too scared to jump. It’s only path was to come toward me and go down the steps to exit the porch but it didn’t want to come closer to me. I had to back off and leave the area and wait for the skunk to leave on its own so I could get into the house. We started to bring in the cat dish before dark and that helped a lot but the skunks would still check out the back porch. We left cat food in a closed plastic bottle for Wendy to feed the cats when we were gone and a skunk chewed through the plastic bottle to get to the food. Surprisingly our cats are not bothered by the skunks and visa-versa-they walked around each other and have no fear or fighting.
In the last couple of weeks I have been invaded by skunks. Two skunks were hit and killed by cars on 20 Road just north and south of our mail box. When I came home last night in the dark, one skunk was traveling up our lane probably on its way to check our back porch but gave up and hid under the storage shed for my client files. I then approached the back porch. We have one of new energy efficient light bulbs that doesn’t put out much light but as I started up the stairs I could see a smaller skunk with two stripes down its back in its white fluffy hair. It acted very confused and didn’t know what to do and didn’t seem to be very smart. I yelled at it and gave it room to come back down the steps but is didn’t know what to do. Again, I didn’t want to scare it and get the back porch covered with
skunks scent. The front door was locked so I stood under our bedroom window and yelled loud for Clarissa to come and help me. My yelling didn’t raise Clarissa because she was on the other side of the house listening to TV but I did manage to get our neighbor’s dog upset and barking at me. I continue to call for Clarissa, the dog continued to bark until the neighbor women yelled at the dog to shut up and the skunk continue to eat out of the cat dish with no intent on leaving. I then went on the opposite side of the house and yelled under the window to the TV room to Clarissa. She got out of her chair, walked down the inside chairs and open the front door. We then checked the back porch and the skunk was still there eating and wouldn’t leave at our screaming. Clarissa wanted to open the door and scare the skunk away with the door or the broom but that was too risky. After a while the skunk left. I will now have to take in the cat dish before dark and get a bright light bulb outside. There has got to be more illumination outside so I can see those skunks. I HATE SKUNKS. I DON’T WANT THEM AROUND MY HOUSE.
3-15-2010
My first experiences with skunks were in Monticello. As a child, I knew that Jack Nielson, our next door neighbor had a war with skunks. I knew Jack had a chicken house and that the skunks had a fondness for chicken eggs – they would dig holes under the chicken house walls to obtain access to the eggs. He would place the claw traps in their holes to catch them. He had a long wire hooked to the trap to pull the trapped skunk away from the dwelling houses without getting sprayed and then shoot it. I also knew that we were not to shoot a skunk near the cabin at Beaver Creek because is we only wounded the skunk it might crawl back under the cabin and either spread its scent or die, both options would result in making the cabin uninhabitable.
When we moved to the Redlands, I built a chicken house and raised my own eggs. Soon the skunks found they had a source for chicken eggs. I remember when I only had a couple of hens left that I went to the chicken house at night, turned on the light and put my hand into the laying nest to collect an egg when this skunk was already in the box checking for eggs. I don’t know who was scared the most but the skunk jumped out of the box and exited the chicken house in one direction and I fled out the door in the opposite direction. I was scared and felt very lucky that the skunk didn’t bite my hand. I decided I would out fox the skunk so I started to collect the eggs before dark when the skunk would make it’s visit but the skunk, after a couple of days without finding eggs countered by returning , killing the chickens and dragging them off. I never had chickens again-the skunk won.
We have had other incidents with skunks at our Redland’s home. Kenny was walking down E 7/8th Road to catch a ride for a Cub Scout activity when he got sprayed by a skunk. Clarissa cleaned him up the best she could and took him back to get on the bus. Other boys complained about the skunk smell but Kenny didn’t fess up that he had been sprayed. Last Fall, the Water boys were walking on the trail mowed through the trees and would see skunks but the skunks never sprayed.
My trouble with skunks started again when we got our cats, Lewis and Clark and fed them outside. The skunks discovered that there was cat food left overnight on the back porch in the cat dish and make a regular check each night for a treat. I came home one night and part way up the back steps discovered a very large and agitated skunk on the back porch. I didn’t want to have the skunk spray our back porch but the only unlocked door to get in the house was next to the upset skunk. The cats will jump off the porch but the skunk was too scared to jump. It’s only path was to come toward me and go down the steps to exit the porch but it didn’t want to come closer to me. I had to back off and leave the area and wait for the skunk to leave on its own so I could get into the house. We started to bring in the cat dish before dark and that helped a lot but the skunks would still check out the back porch. We left cat food in a closed plastic bottle for Wendy to feed the cats when we were gone and a skunk chewed through the plastic bottle to get to the food. Surprisingly our cats are not bothered by the skunks and visa-versa-they walked around each other and have no fear or fighting.
In the last couple of weeks I have been invaded by skunks. Two skunks were hit and killed by cars on 20 Road just north and south of our mail box. When I came home last night in the dark, one skunk was traveling up our lane probably on its way to check our back porch but gave up and hid under the storage shed for my client files. I then approached the back porch. We have one of new energy efficient light bulbs that doesn’t put out much light but as I started up the stairs I could see a smaller skunk with two stripes down its back in its white fluffy hair. It acted very confused and didn’t know what to do and didn’t seem to be very smart. I yelled at it and gave it room to come back down the steps but is didn’t know what to do. Again, I didn’t want to scare it and get the back porch covered with
skunks scent. The front door was locked so I stood under our bedroom window and yelled loud for Clarissa to come and help me. My yelling didn’t raise Clarissa because she was on the other side of the house listening to TV but I did manage to get our neighbor’s dog upset and barking at me. I continue to call for Clarissa, the dog continued to bark until the neighbor women yelled at the dog to shut up and the skunk continue to eat out of the cat dish with no intent on leaving. I then went on the opposite side of the house and yelled under the window to the TV room to Clarissa. She got out of her chair, walked down the inside chairs and open the front door. We then checked the back porch and the skunk was still there eating and wouldn’t leave at our screaming. Clarissa wanted to open the door and scare the skunk away with the door or the broom but that was too risky. After a while the skunk left. I will now have to take in the cat dish before dark and get a bright light bulb outside. There has got to be more illumination outside so I can see those skunks. I HATE SKUNKS. I DON’T WANT THEM AROUND MY HOUSE.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
JOHN D. WHETTEN REMEMBRANCES
REMEMBRANCES OF JOHN D. WHETTEN
Congratulations on your 70th birthday. On this important milestone in your life, I take this opportunity to express my feelings and appreciation for you.
I distinctly remember the first time I met you at BYU. We had both returned to school for our first semester after our missions. We had two afternoon Political Science classes back to back and I was walking to the second class when you caught up to me on the sidewalk, introduced yourself to me and we started to talk. I also started to catch a ride home with you to lower campus after the second class-I lived next to lower campus and you had a math class there which you had to take as a requirement to take other classes necessary to apply to an MBA program. We soon discovered we had a lot in common and our friendship grew and developed. We both applied to graduate school at the University of California at Berkeley, both were accepted and we became roommates at Berkeley. We shared so much together. While we have not seen a lot of each other since our Berkeley days, our relationship is based on the quality of our experiences together and not the quantity of time spentp together. A partial list of those experiences include:
1. Our first meeting.
2. Talks as we drove together to lower campus.
3. Study group sessions at the law library in the Smoot building.
4. Listening to news reports on your VW radio on the assassination of Pres. Kennedy.
5. Sharing of spiritual experiences and trying to find a wife.
6. Meeting your family and being loved by them.
7. Graduating at the same time and helping you during our last finals when you and your whole family were so sick.
8. Trip to Berkeley to find an apartment.
9. Being roommates at Berkeley and observing how many TV dinners you can eat after you have eaten dinner.
10. Home Teaching together.
11. Attending your institute class.
12. Double dating together.
13. Great date in San Francisco at the Hungry I.
14. Engagement announcement party together at Bishop Jensen’s home.
15. Attendance at each other’s wedding reception.
16. Trips to the wine country and boating on the Russian River.
17. Touring San Francisco and following Princess Grace Kelly around.
18. Trip to Show Low, Arizona and spending the weekend with you.
19. Your call to me when you were being operated for cancer the next day.
20. Dinners in the Bay Area when we visited there.
21. Telephone calls.
22. Showing you around Grand Junction and seeing where you lived and went to school.
23. Trip to Martin’s Cove and walking Rocky Ridge-a very special experience together.
24. Sharing your writing products and having your missionary books available for me to give to missionaries in my stake when I interview them for their missions.
It is ironic that I moved to the community where you grew up. The Whetten name is still remembered here. I wanted to be a lawyer is a city close to my parents. You wanted to work for Clorox, get trained and then be president of a large corporation. Each of us has accomplished our goal and were happy. Our relationship is based on mutual love, not competition. You were happy in what I accomplished and I was happy in what you accomplished.
Thanks for your love, friendship and support. You certainly have been an important part of my life. I thank God I have a friend such as you. I am a better person because of you.
Your eternal brother,
Kelly Summers
Congratulations on your 70th birthday. On this important milestone in your life, I take this opportunity to express my feelings and appreciation for you.
I distinctly remember the first time I met you at BYU. We had both returned to school for our first semester after our missions. We had two afternoon Political Science classes back to back and I was walking to the second class when you caught up to me on the sidewalk, introduced yourself to me and we started to talk. I also started to catch a ride home with you to lower campus after the second class-I lived next to lower campus and you had a math class there which you had to take as a requirement to take other classes necessary to apply to an MBA program. We soon discovered we had a lot in common and our friendship grew and developed. We both applied to graduate school at the University of California at Berkeley, both were accepted and we became roommates at Berkeley. We shared so much together. While we have not seen a lot of each other since our Berkeley days, our relationship is based on the quality of our experiences together and not the quantity of time spentp together. A partial list of those experiences include:
1. Our first meeting.
2. Talks as we drove together to lower campus.
3. Study group sessions at the law library in the Smoot building.
4. Listening to news reports on your VW radio on the assassination of Pres. Kennedy.
5. Sharing of spiritual experiences and trying to find a wife.
6. Meeting your family and being loved by them.
7. Graduating at the same time and helping you during our last finals when you and your whole family were so sick.
8. Trip to Berkeley to find an apartment.
9. Being roommates at Berkeley and observing how many TV dinners you can eat after you have eaten dinner.
10. Home Teaching together.
11. Attending your institute class.
12. Double dating together.
13. Great date in San Francisco at the Hungry I.
14. Engagement announcement party together at Bishop Jensen’s home.
15. Attendance at each other’s wedding reception.
16. Trips to the wine country and boating on the Russian River.
17. Touring San Francisco and following Princess Grace Kelly around.
18. Trip to Show Low, Arizona and spending the weekend with you.
19. Your call to me when you were being operated for cancer the next day.
20. Dinners in the Bay Area when we visited there.
21. Telephone calls.
22. Showing you around Grand Junction and seeing where you lived and went to school.
23. Trip to Martin’s Cove and walking Rocky Ridge-a very special experience together.
24. Sharing your writing products and having your missionary books available for me to give to missionaries in my stake when I interview them for their missions.
It is ironic that I moved to the community where you grew up. The Whetten name is still remembered here. I wanted to be a lawyer is a city close to my parents. You wanted to work for Clorox, get trained and then be president of a large corporation. Each of us has accomplished our goal and were happy. Our relationship is based on mutual love, not competition. You were happy in what I accomplished and I was happy in what you accomplished.
Thanks for your love, friendship and support. You certainly have been an important part of my life. I thank God I have a friend such as you. I am a better person because of you.
Your eternal brother,
Kelly Summers
Monday, January 18, 2010
SAN JUAN RECORD ARTICLES
January 18, 2010
Dear Gary,
After reading “Living and dying; but still thankful” in the San Juan Record, I needed to tell you again how much I enjoy your articles in the paper. Your views about living in Monticello are my opinions also. Yes, Monticello is isolated, cold and windy but it’s the people that make the difference. The receptionist at my office was bored so she volunteered to type up the dictation of my history of growing up in Monticello. I described the terrible car accident near Green River that killed Mrs. Redd and Bob Barton and seriously hurt seven others, the Boy Scout wreck that killed young men and their leaders near Blanding, the Lariat Café disaster, the numerous car accidents that wiped out teenage friends, the cancer deaths and the fasts to end the droughts. She said it depressed her that I had such a sad life growing up in Monticello but I assured her it was a glorious experience to live in Monticello because of the people. There is nothing like a small community that laughs, mourns, cries, fasts and prays together regardless of their religious faith and just cares and loves each other.
I particularly was impressed with “Mile posts in life” and the article about “Hands”- all great writing. I look forward to reading future articles.
I’ve lived in Grand Junction for 42 years, far more than I have lived in Monticello. In fact, I don’t know a lot of people in Monticello anymore as my acquaintances and those I grew up with are dying off. I live in Grand Junction but Monticello is my home. When it is my time to leave this earthly existence, my body will be placed in the Monticello Cemetery among the people I loved in my youth and watched over by the Horsehead.
Thanks again for your powerful writings,
Kelly Summers
Box 203
Grand Junction, CO 81502
Dear Gary,
After reading “Living and dying; but still thankful” in the San Juan Record, I needed to tell you again how much I enjoy your articles in the paper. Your views about living in Monticello are my opinions also. Yes, Monticello is isolated, cold and windy but it’s the people that make the difference. The receptionist at my office was bored so she volunteered to type up the dictation of my history of growing up in Monticello. I described the terrible car accident near Green River that killed Mrs. Redd and Bob Barton and seriously hurt seven others, the Boy Scout wreck that killed young men and their leaders near Blanding, the Lariat Café disaster, the numerous car accidents that wiped out teenage friends, the cancer deaths and the fasts to end the droughts. She said it depressed her that I had such a sad life growing up in Monticello but I assured her it was a glorious experience to live in Monticello because of the people. There is nothing like a small community that laughs, mourns, cries, fasts and prays together regardless of their religious faith and just cares and loves each other.
I particularly was impressed with “Mile posts in life” and the article about “Hands”- all great writing. I look forward to reading future articles.
I’ve lived in Grand Junction for 42 years, far more than I have lived in Monticello. In fact, I don’t know a lot of people in Monticello anymore as my acquaintances and those I grew up with are dying off. I live in Grand Junction but Monticello is my home. When it is my time to leave this earthly existence, my body will be placed in the Monticello Cemetery among the people I loved in my youth and watched over by the Horsehead.
Thanks again for your powerful writings,
Kelly Summers
Box 203
Grand Junction, CO 81502
Sunday, January 17, 2010
DEWEY BRIDGE
DEWEY BRIDGE
JIM STILES
% SAN JUAN RECORD
Thanks for your article “Remembering Dewey Bridge” in the recent San Juan Record. It brought back such fond memories that I have of Professor Valley and Dewey Bridge.
I grew up in Monticello-my Dad, Ken Summers, ran cattle and sheep in Dry Valley, Big Indian and Hart Point in the winter and trailed his livestock to the Colorado mountain summer ranges at Stoner Creek. Rico, Ground Hog and the Glade. About 64 years ago, my father took me to the rim on Hart Point overlooking Indian Creek, the Six-Shooters and what would become the Needles District of Canyonland National Park and said, “ This is God’s country.” I believed him then and I still believe him now. I went to law school in 1965 to the University of California at Berkeley with the intent to live in California but in less than a year I concluded there were too many people in California and this cowboy had better come on home to the Four Corners area.
My wife and I moved to Grand Junction in 1968 to practice law and raise our family and since that time became acquainted with Dewey Bridge, Professor Valley, Castle Valley, Onion Creek, the LaSal Loop and the river road from Moab to Cisco. It has been a great experience. My children mourn the loss of the Dewey Bridge. The six of them have special memories of traveling the river road when there were few culverts and no bridges across the creeks. The roads were dirt. We would stop our van in the middle of the road where a creek crossed and let the kids step out of side of the van directly into the creek water and wade up and down the creek in their bare feet. We didn’t pull off the side of the road because we knew no traffic would be on the river road.
The highlight of this alternate route from Grand Junction to Monticello to visit family was always Dewey Bridge. The kids and I would get out of the van at the bridge and pick up rocks. While my wife would drive the van across the bridge, my kids and I would walk across the bridge and throw rocks in the river at the same time we were hoping the bridge would hold up one more time. Our family remembrance includes actually running out of gas on the bridge. We had forgotten to get gas before we left Grand Junction and found ourselves stuck on the bridge blocking the road with no way to get the van off the bridge to allow traffic to proceed. Lucky for us, there was only one place to buy gas between Mack , Colorado and Moab, Utah and what was at the Dewey Bridge from the elderly gentleman that had his little station there and “God’s Bulletin Board.” The station was closed but we located the owner at his home below the hill and got five gallons of gas from him. The cost was about $5.00 but I gave him $20.00 because I was so appreciative he had gas for me and my family.
I love to talk to D. L. Taylor, who is the 5th generation of Taylors at the Fisher Towers Ranch at the head of Onion Creek. He talks about the difficulty of getting his cows to cross the bridge twice a year and how he hoped the bridge would not collapse under the weight of his cows. He shared with me how his great great grandfather was operating a ferry on the river before the bridge was built when two cowboys got him up at night and paid to cross the river on the Taylor ferry. They said they were “rambling” and needed to cross right away. It was later determined one of the cowboys was Butch Cassidy who had just robbed his first bank in Telluride and was escaping to probably Robber’s Roost or some other location in Utah. My kids and I were disappointed when the creeks were bridged and the new bride was built to replace the old suspension bridge.
I marvel at this part of God’s creation. I drive to the top of Castle Valley to the Loop Road and realize the LaSal Mountains above me are over 12,000 feet in elevation and I am looking down at the Colorado River at about 4000 feet in elevation for a total elevation of over 8000 feet in height. One of the special days in my life was being on the side of the LaSal Mountain in October to ride my bike on the Kokopelli Trail when the sun came up and bathed the Arches, the top of Porcupine Ridge and the LaSal Mountains covered with snow with the aspen trees with their yellow leaves and the oak brush with red and yellow leaves that appeared to be on fire as the morning sun struck them. A couple of years ago I traveled to the top of Castle Valley after the huge fire there and couldn’t recognize the place-it took like a moon scene-everything just burned gray.
I also have visited Onion Creek many times. One morning returning to Grand Junction I took the side trip up Onion Creek and realized that all the architects in the world couldn’t have produced such beauty as what God had made in the narrows section of the creek. I love the solitude of how isolated Onion Creek use to be and mourned when I visited there on a long weekend and found that every possible place one could pull off was occupied by a camper. I didn’t like the new sign being placed on the highway identifying the road to Onion Creek. How things have changed when I came down Onion Creek to find that a symphony from out of state was preparing to have a concert at the base of the narrows.
When I grew up in Monticello, outsiders considered the Four Corners the end of the earth-hell-desolation and worthless. I didn’t agree with them-my Dad told me it was God’s country and I loved it. Now, everyone wants to come, thousands admire it’s beauty and outsiders are loving the place to death. As I drive up the river from Moab, instead of seeing what was left of the “fort” from a John Wayne movie, I see an upscale resort. The old Dewey Bridge seems to weep as it cables hang down from the suspension wires with no road deck remaining. While I can’t turn back the clock, I am grateful I knew Dewey Bridge, Onion Creek and Professor Valley before it was “discovered” by outsiders.
Kelly Summers
Box 203
Grand Jct. CO 81502
JIM STILES
% SAN JUAN RECORD
Thanks for your article “Remembering Dewey Bridge” in the recent San Juan Record. It brought back such fond memories that I have of Professor Valley and Dewey Bridge.
I grew up in Monticello-my Dad, Ken Summers, ran cattle and sheep in Dry Valley, Big Indian and Hart Point in the winter and trailed his livestock to the Colorado mountain summer ranges at Stoner Creek. Rico, Ground Hog and the Glade. About 64 years ago, my father took me to the rim on Hart Point overlooking Indian Creek, the Six-Shooters and what would become the Needles District of Canyonland National Park and said, “ This is God’s country.” I believed him then and I still believe him now. I went to law school in 1965 to the University of California at Berkeley with the intent to live in California but in less than a year I concluded there were too many people in California and this cowboy had better come on home to the Four Corners area.
My wife and I moved to Grand Junction in 1968 to practice law and raise our family and since that time became acquainted with Dewey Bridge, Professor Valley, Castle Valley, Onion Creek, the LaSal Loop and the river road from Moab to Cisco. It has been a great experience. My children mourn the loss of the Dewey Bridge. The six of them have special memories of traveling the river road when there were few culverts and no bridges across the creeks. The roads were dirt. We would stop our van in the middle of the road where a creek crossed and let the kids step out of side of the van directly into the creek water and wade up and down the creek in their bare feet. We didn’t pull off the side of the road because we knew no traffic would be on the river road.
The highlight of this alternate route from Grand Junction to Monticello to visit family was always Dewey Bridge. The kids and I would get out of the van at the bridge and pick up rocks. While my wife would drive the van across the bridge, my kids and I would walk across the bridge and throw rocks in the river at the same time we were hoping the bridge would hold up one more time. Our family remembrance includes actually running out of gas on the bridge. We had forgotten to get gas before we left Grand Junction and found ourselves stuck on the bridge blocking the road with no way to get the van off the bridge to allow traffic to proceed. Lucky for us, there was only one place to buy gas between Mack , Colorado and Moab, Utah and what was at the Dewey Bridge from the elderly gentleman that had his little station there and “God’s Bulletin Board.” The station was closed but we located the owner at his home below the hill and got five gallons of gas from him. The cost was about $5.00 but I gave him $20.00 because I was so appreciative he had gas for me and my family.
I love to talk to D. L. Taylor, who is the 5th generation of Taylors at the Fisher Towers Ranch at the head of Onion Creek. He talks about the difficulty of getting his cows to cross the bridge twice a year and how he hoped the bridge would not collapse under the weight of his cows. He shared with me how his great great grandfather was operating a ferry on the river before the bridge was built when two cowboys got him up at night and paid to cross the river on the Taylor ferry. They said they were “rambling” and needed to cross right away. It was later determined one of the cowboys was Butch Cassidy who had just robbed his first bank in Telluride and was escaping to probably Robber’s Roost or some other location in Utah. My kids and I were disappointed when the creeks were bridged and the new bride was built to replace the old suspension bridge.
I marvel at this part of God’s creation. I drive to the top of Castle Valley to the Loop Road and realize the LaSal Mountains above me are over 12,000 feet in elevation and I am looking down at the Colorado River at about 4000 feet in elevation for a total elevation of over 8000 feet in height. One of the special days in my life was being on the side of the LaSal Mountain in October to ride my bike on the Kokopelli Trail when the sun came up and bathed the Arches, the top of Porcupine Ridge and the LaSal Mountains covered with snow with the aspen trees with their yellow leaves and the oak brush with red and yellow leaves that appeared to be on fire as the morning sun struck them. A couple of years ago I traveled to the top of Castle Valley after the huge fire there and couldn’t recognize the place-it took like a moon scene-everything just burned gray.
I also have visited Onion Creek many times. One morning returning to Grand Junction I took the side trip up Onion Creek and realized that all the architects in the world couldn’t have produced such beauty as what God had made in the narrows section of the creek. I love the solitude of how isolated Onion Creek use to be and mourned when I visited there on a long weekend and found that every possible place one could pull off was occupied by a camper. I didn’t like the new sign being placed on the highway identifying the road to Onion Creek. How things have changed when I came down Onion Creek to find that a symphony from out of state was preparing to have a concert at the base of the narrows.
When I grew up in Monticello, outsiders considered the Four Corners the end of the earth-hell-desolation and worthless. I didn’t agree with them-my Dad told me it was God’s country and I loved it. Now, everyone wants to come, thousands admire it’s beauty and outsiders are loving the place to death. As I drive up the river from Moab, instead of seeing what was left of the “fort” from a John Wayne movie, I see an upscale resort. The old Dewey Bridge seems to weep as it cables hang down from the suspension wires with no road deck remaining. While I can’t turn back the clock, I am grateful I knew Dewey Bridge, Onion Creek and Professor Valley before it was “discovered” by outsiders.
Kelly Summers
Box 203
Grand Jct. CO 81502
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
CHRISTMAS 2009
12-28-09 CHRISTMAS 2009
This was one of my best Christmases. While everyone was not present on Christmas Eve at our home, it was one of the meaningful Christmas events I have experienced. Kenny, Jo and their family left for Kansas on Dec. 21 to celebrate Christmas with the Elliotts-it was the first time in many years they had all been together. Kate, Aaron and their family came over from Parker on Christmas Day. Kenny and Jo returned to G. J. after Christmas so our grandchildren did have some time to play together.
The highlight however was Christmas Eve. After our fondue dinner, a family tradition, we read the Christmas story from Matthew, Luke and 3 Nephi together with the scriptures about Christ’s tender mercies. Then each family member gave one or two incidents in their life where they had been blessed with Christ’s tender mercies. What a blessing. What a testimony to hear the adult children bear witness of how they had felt Christ’s mercies in the lives. I was so grateful to know that each of my children and Gabi had a testimony and had felt Christ’s love and concern for them individually. I realized how blessed I am to have such wonderful family members.
Things have sure changed in my life, I remember as a kid we would get up at 4:00 a.m. to look at our presents Now, with only adults at home for this Christmas, everyone slept in on Christmas morning. Curtis and Michael Waters called us at 7:14 a.m. to share their excitement of what they received for Christmas. All in our family finally arose and we had our Christmas breakfast. Then we opened up our presents with Kim passing them out.
Other items of interest this past week:
1. I talked to all three sisters this week. It is sure satisfying to feel their love and support. I truly have been blessed to have them in my life.
2. I have started on my “Spiritual Book of Remembrance” or my small plates. I called the new book, “Christ’s Tender Mercies to Kenneth Kelly Summers.” I already have started putting things in my book.
3. I found an old file in my file cabinet called “Remembrances.” I had forgotten what was in the file. I was so excited to find in a big envelope many precious things from my mission like my “Ministerial Certificate” and letter s from people I had taught. When I went on a mission, the missionaries were given a certificate signed by the First Presidency stating the bearer was a missionary for the church and a “duly ordained minister of the gospel.” This certificate got me discounts at some clothing stores and was very useful in getting myself out of traffic tickets. I was stopped 9 times by policeman on my mission but never received a ticket-I was given the “ministerial courtesy.” I was touched by the letters I had received from people I had taught who joined the church or their families. These are truly “tender mercies “to me.
4. We all went to a movie matinee. We saw “Invictus” with Morgan Freeman playing Nelson Mandela about how he used the mostly Afrikaner Soccer team to unite the blacks and the whites of South Africa after he was elected. Counting the movie my kids took me to in Denver at Thanksgiving staring Sandra Bullock in “Blind ?” I went to two movies during the year-that is one over my usual l quota of no more than one movie per year. It has been years since I went to a movie on my own-I only go when my children pressure me into attending with them. They went to two more movies at Christmastime that I didn’t attend. It’s not that I don’t like movies-I love them but instead of paying to see them, I wait till they come out on TV and watch them for free. I guess I never have gotten over when as a kid in Monticello it was 25 cents to see a movie if you were under 12 and 50 cents as an adult. I changed our cable package in October and November to include the sports channels that cover the Mountain West Conference so I could watch BYU football. It was only an extra $16.00 per month- a great buy-cheaper than a single ticket to a game. But about 20 movie channels came with the package and I started watching movies all the time. I soon realized I was wasting my life away watching movies so the Monday after the Utah-BYU game I returned to my old plan with the cable company. I can’t watch BYU basketball but I don’t watch movies all the time either.
5. Kenny and Jo’s boys loved the snow and the deer. Drew and Ian went sledding at Windgate School and loved it. They also tried to have Gabi’s dog “Louie” pull them on the sled. It was so cold and while the boys had winter coats they purchased in California, they were not really Colorado winter coats. They found out however when they went to Kansas that it was even colder there because of the wind.
6. I am amazed at the price of items I purchase. Food is definitely more expensive but clothes and electronics are cheaper than they were ten years ago. I can buy a shirt or cotton pants for less than I paid five years ago. Most of this is caused by globalization-our products are not produced in the USA anymore but in third world countries with cheap labor. Our country doesn’t produce anything, it just buys. I don’t know how much longer this can continue.
7. On Sunday I attended 5th and 8th wards. I completed the 4th quarter by attending every ward sacrament meeting at least once. Next year I am going to visit each ward priesthood meeting at least one in addition to attending each ward sacrament meeting every quarter. My visiting family gave me a good Christmas present by showing up to sacrament meeting on time.
8. My kids believed I needed help in the wardrobe department so most of my presents at Christmas were clothes. It’s true that everyone of my casual cotton pants were frayed at the bottom but the rest of the pants looked okay. My kids also thought I shouldn’t wear Bolder Boulder shirts everyday so I received lots of cotton pants and cotton casual shirts. I have worn all the shirts and some of pants.
9. We had a big snow storm about the 9th of December and the snow has stayed on the ground ever since that time and it is cold, cold cold. I didn’t walk this week because it was so cold and the roads were icy. I have my rules and unless it gets up to at least 20 degrees, I don’t walk.
10. Gabi is sure a good cook. He fixes the family special meals when we are together. They are always very tasty.
K. K. Summers
This was one of my best Christmases. While everyone was not present on Christmas Eve at our home, it was one of the meaningful Christmas events I have experienced. Kenny, Jo and their family left for Kansas on Dec. 21 to celebrate Christmas with the Elliotts-it was the first time in many years they had all been together. Kate, Aaron and their family came over from Parker on Christmas Day. Kenny and Jo returned to G. J. after Christmas so our grandchildren did have some time to play together.
The highlight however was Christmas Eve. After our fondue dinner, a family tradition, we read the Christmas story from Matthew, Luke and 3 Nephi together with the scriptures about Christ’s tender mercies. Then each family member gave one or two incidents in their life where they had been blessed with Christ’s tender mercies. What a blessing. What a testimony to hear the adult children bear witness of how they had felt Christ’s mercies in the lives. I was so grateful to know that each of my children and Gabi had a testimony and had felt Christ’s love and concern for them individually. I realized how blessed I am to have such wonderful family members.
Things have sure changed in my life, I remember as a kid we would get up at 4:00 a.m. to look at our presents Now, with only adults at home for this Christmas, everyone slept in on Christmas morning. Curtis and Michael Waters called us at 7:14 a.m. to share their excitement of what they received for Christmas. All in our family finally arose and we had our Christmas breakfast. Then we opened up our presents with Kim passing them out.
Other items of interest this past week:
1. I talked to all three sisters this week. It is sure satisfying to feel their love and support. I truly have been blessed to have them in my life.
2. I have started on my “Spiritual Book of Remembrance” or my small plates. I called the new book, “Christ’s Tender Mercies to Kenneth Kelly Summers.” I already have started putting things in my book.
3. I found an old file in my file cabinet called “Remembrances.” I had forgotten what was in the file. I was so excited to find in a big envelope many precious things from my mission like my “Ministerial Certificate” and letter s from people I had taught. When I went on a mission, the missionaries were given a certificate signed by the First Presidency stating the bearer was a missionary for the church and a “duly ordained minister of the gospel.” This certificate got me discounts at some clothing stores and was very useful in getting myself out of traffic tickets. I was stopped 9 times by policeman on my mission but never received a ticket-I was given the “ministerial courtesy.” I was touched by the letters I had received from people I had taught who joined the church or their families. These are truly “tender mercies “to me.
4. We all went to a movie matinee. We saw “Invictus” with Morgan Freeman playing Nelson Mandela about how he used the mostly Afrikaner Soccer team to unite the blacks and the whites of South Africa after he was elected. Counting the movie my kids took me to in Denver at Thanksgiving staring Sandra Bullock in “Blind ?” I went to two movies during the year-that is one over my usual l quota of no more than one movie per year. It has been years since I went to a movie on my own-I only go when my children pressure me into attending with them. They went to two more movies at Christmastime that I didn’t attend. It’s not that I don’t like movies-I love them but instead of paying to see them, I wait till they come out on TV and watch them for free. I guess I never have gotten over when as a kid in Monticello it was 25 cents to see a movie if you were under 12 and 50 cents as an adult. I changed our cable package in October and November to include the sports channels that cover the Mountain West Conference so I could watch BYU football. It was only an extra $16.00 per month- a great buy-cheaper than a single ticket to a game. But about 20 movie channels came with the package and I started watching movies all the time. I soon realized I was wasting my life away watching movies so the Monday after the Utah-BYU game I returned to my old plan with the cable company. I can’t watch BYU basketball but I don’t watch movies all the time either.
5. Kenny and Jo’s boys loved the snow and the deer. Drew and Ian went sledding at Windgate School and loved it. They also tried to have Gabi’s dog “Louie” pull them on the sled. It was so cold and while the boys had winter coats they purchased in California, they were not really Colorado winter coats. They found out however when they went to Kansas that it was even colder there because of the wind.
6. I am amazed at the price of items I purchase. Food is definitely more expensive but clothes and electronics are cheaper than they were ten years ago. I can buy a shirt or cotton pants for less than I paid five years ago. Most of this is caused by globalization-our products are not produced in the USA anymore but in third world countries with cheap labor. Our country doesn’t produce anything, it just buys. I don’t know how much longer this can continue.
7. On Sunday I attended 5th and 8th wards. I completed the 4th quarter by attending every ward sacrament meeting at least once. Next year I am going to visit each ward priesthood meeting at least one in addition to attending each ward sacrament meeting every quarter. My visiting family gave me a good Christmas present by showing up to sacrament meeting on time.
8. My kids believed I needed help in the wardrobe department so most of my presents at Christmas were clothes. It’s true that everyone of my casual cotton pants were frayed at the bottom but the rest of the pants looked okay. My kids also thought I shouldn’t wear Bolder Boulder shirts everyday so I received lots of cotton pants and cotton casual shirts. I have worn all the shirts and some of pants.
9. We had a big snow storm about the 9th of December and the snow has stayed on the ground ever since that time and it is cold, cold cold. I didn’t walk this week because it was so cold and the roads were icy. I have my rules and unless it gets up to at least 20 degrees, I don’t walk.
10. Gabi is sure a good cook. He fixes the family special meals when we are together. They are always very tasty.
K. K. Summers
Saturday, January 2, 2010
CLOSING POST OFFICE BOX 398
December 31, 2009
CLOSING OUT POST OFFICE BOX 398, GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO 81502
Today, December 31, 2009 I closed out Post Office Box 398, Grand Junction, Colorado 81502. This was an important milestone in my life and the life of many other attorneys who used that post office box when they practiced law in Grand Junction.
I had this task posted in my calendar for today but my mind was occupied by other events. Kenny, Jo and their children left for California by nine in the morning and Kim, Connie and Carol left at the same time to return to Denver. I spoke at the LaRue Olson funeral who was one the church pioneers in Western Colorado. I couldn’t get Jim Golden’s key because he was in the hospital with gall bladder troubles so I took my key and Joan’s key to the post office. That is when my mind started to concentrate on just what I was doing and how significant this closure was to me.
On December 31, 2007, the law firm of Golden, Mumby, Summers, Livingston and Kane consisting of Jim Golden, Keith Mumby, Rich Livingston, Bill Kane, Alan Hassler and myself was dissolved. Our lease was up at the Wells Fargo Bank fourth floor where we had resided since May 1, 1979-28 years. Jim Golden was about 76 and had been seriously hurt- receiving a brain concussion while riding his bike in the east tunnel on the Colorado National Monument. He set up an office downtown in a building he owned and did some legal work under the name of James Golden, LLC with Joan, our former office manager doing some work for him in the evenings. Keith Mumby, about a year younger than Jim, was only working a day or two a week and continued his semi retirement by sharing an office with Rich Livingston near Horizon Drive. I needed to retire because of my Parkinson’s disease and set up an office in my den at home where Teresa, my secretary worked part time until May of 2008 when all my cases were completed and my files closed and stored in the new storage unit constructed next to my home. I kept one phone number we had at the firm’s office, 970-242-0197, which I had published in the telephone book so that clients could find me to get information from my files. Bill Kane joined the Traylor law firm and Alan Hassler opened up his own office on North Avenue.
Everything fell in order when the firm was dissolved. It was agreed that the firm post office box would be maintained until clients became acquainted with whatever address their lawyer was using for mail. I agreed to be the “mailman” and check the box regularly and distribute the mail to each attorney. At first, I checked the box everyday but with the passage of time I was only distributing mail once a week. By the end of 2009, about the only mail coming to the box were flyers, catalogues and solicitations so it was decided when the box rent became due January 1, 2010, not to renew. I already had opened in 2007 a new box for me and my business interests so my mail was coming to that box.
Our firm started in about 1935. Keith Mumby has a card printed in 1938 what shows at that date the firm used P. O. Box 398 so this box has been used by the firm at least since that time. The firm was located on Main Street, and then in the 1950s moved to 200 North 6th Street across from courthouse so there were at least three different locations for the firm but the same post office box during all this time. I joined the firm in 1968 so I was with the same firm almost 40 years.
I took my keys to the window at the post office and told a clerk that I knew I was there to close Box 398 and from his expression and the tone of his voice it was like, “You can’t close this box-the law firm has had this box forever.” This box number was first used in the old post office building on Rood Ave. which now is the Federal Building and the firm continued to use the same numbered box in the “new” post office when it was opened in 1965. The clerk was so astonished at my request he called over another clerk to share this startling news.
Closing the box and then cancelling my business phone number and having any calls to the business line transferred to my home phone until my name disappears from the phone books closes an important chapter in my life and is the final act of my retirement. I feel like the final nail has been nailed in the coffin. No longer will I make trips to the post office on a regular basis to check the firm mail. No longer will I visit other offices to distribute mail. I particularly will miss my visits with Joan, Rich and Keith at their office near the airport and get a nibble of dark chocolate from the bar Joan keeps in the frig for me. I do not miss the pressure of practicing law but I do miss my partners, staff and clients.
I have been blessed most abundantly by the Lord, my partners and staff. My partners have all been very honest, honorable and outstanding men. They have all been good lawyers. They have been my friends. I have had dedicated and loyal secretaries, receptionists and bookkeepers. The practice of law has been very good to me and allowed me to support my family and work in the church. I remember that night in the summer of 1963 at our Beaver Creek cow camp cabin when I discussed with my dad what occupation I should pursue and decided to become a lawyer. I think how fortunate I was to obtain admission to the University of California at Berkeley, meet Clarissa and get a great legal education. I think how blessed I was to find employment with Golden and Mumby the first trip to Grand Junction, our first choice of where to live. Many doors opened for me in the legal profession here. I particularly am grateful I could use my legal talents to acquire church properties, especially Ragged Mountain. I have had a chance to serve in the Kingdom Of God in Western Colorado and believe God brought me here to do His work. I believe God has been in control in my life and I will be eternally indebted to Him for my blessings. Every blessing, privilege and opportunity I have had is because of Him.
K. K. SUMMERS
Thursday, December 31, 2009
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