Goodbye Sister - Betty

Bob and Betty Lewis

 Ken's oldest sister Betty passed away this spring.  She will be missed.  Ken always knew that as long as his sister Betty was alive he had a connection with his family.  She had been fighting her arteries and was a death's door around Thanksgiving 2008.  We had decided that we would go to Oregon again in 2009 because of her health.  She had left her 2nd husband, Doc and moved back to Wallowa to be near her children and grandchildren.  Low and behold we got a letter from her in the early spring inviting us to her wedding to Bob Lewis on July 4th.  Whoa!  She had her health somewhat in control, was in the lives of her children and grandchildren again and ready to start a new life.

Betty and Roy Shelton

She married Roy Shelton early in life; had three children and was Roy's caregiver for many years.  Roy had Chrohns Disease which eventually killed him.  She later married Doc Botti and they Full timed for 7 years.  This was bittersweet for Betty.  He really didn't like her kids/gkids (the feeling was mutual) but she did get to travel for a lot of years. They finally settled in Baker, Oregon and he finally told her he really didn't like her brother Shorty.  Bottom line: she left.  That was the final straw.
  Moving to Wallowa she became reacquainted with Bob Lewis.

Betty and Bob on their Wedding Day

The Bob Lewis Family

Betty with Carmen and her two Gdaughters

We shall miss you Betty!

Carlson Bad Caverns

From Roswell we drove down to Carlsbad. We weren't sure if we wanted to take the tour but decided we needed to look anyway.  Once there we found out there was a "shortcut" we could take.  Ken decided he wanted to go so off for the elevator we went.  It was a two camera trip.  Ken took the Olympus (small) and I took the Canon (big).  I was a little apprehensive about claustrophobia but once down there I was okay.  We began our walk.  What an awesome experience.  It is HUGE.

The number and variety of formations is mind-boggling.

I KNOW there are scientific names for all these - but we just called them cool.

This little green man reminded me of an African tribal mask.

On my.  Hmmm.  The LAST ride up in the elevator is 4:30.  Oh that's okay we have plenty of time.  (Famous last words.)

I tried to use the available light as much as possible.  This pic shows the wide expanse - so NO closed in feeling.

Smile Ken - we only have another 1/2 mile to go.

This one is actually a HUGE cavern.  There are little people on the other side.  Hmm - that's a long ways away.  Wonder if we'll make it?

That's me leading the pack out.  We are still on the "shortcut".  Sure glad we didn't take the "longcut".  We only have about a 1/2 hour until the last elevator leaves the bottom.  Ken is going slower and slower and s l o w e r.  I'm thinking about a small panic - will they come get him in a wheelchair if need be???
MY inquiring mind is beginning to want an answer to this question.  Surely the end is just up here.

I'm sure it's just around this corner.

OK - I'm still in the lead and we are really climbing.  Are you coming Ken?

Cool huh?  I'm sure it's not far now Ken.  We have plenty of time........... (yeah like 15 minutes.......)

All right.  You made it.  We have 5 minutes and it right over there.  Nice tour.  Next time we'll......oh ok......there won't BE a next time for you huh??

 And on the way out I saw this cactus ready to bloom. 

Rozwell or Roswell?

And ONCE AGAIN I am driving in the SNOW the first day heading north(ish)!!  Not again.  We headed to Roswell for the New Mexico Elks Convention then on to Colorado to visit Gson Erick/Vanessa and ggbaby Hayden.  Just out of Carizozo it began to snow.  Rats!! I told Ken this was two times and we were staying in southern NM until May in 2011!  Write it in cement and let it dry.  He did get a couple of good pictures (of the snow :(  )

This is looking down into Carizozo.  The roads really didn't get slick and the snow was just spitting; but nonetheless we do not need to do this again.

So we drove to Roswell (no z I found out); found the Elk Lodge; got a parking spot and settled in. 
The next morning I woke early and was startled to see a jack rabbit running along the fence.  Two of them actually back and forth and back and forth.  Over and over and over.  I finally realized they couldn't find their way across the fence.  If only they would have kept going.  The fence just - ended.

Roswell has a nice Lodge with 12 RV spaces.  Ken went to the meetings I went exploring.

First I found the alien McDonald's.  They have made an art of aliens.  Whatever pays the bills I guess. 

These were on a tree.  Don't know what they are.  After all I've lived in the northwest in desert type country.  We didn't have trees like this (At least I don't think we do.)

The Visitors Center was in the Events Center Complex. Once again everything is aliens.  Here I am with Bert - the alien.

Then I was scared by Clyde and Henrietta the aliens.

It's not an alien but it is weird art.  A mosquito I think. 

A piece of the Berlin Wall.

A nice tribute to history in the middle of town.  Main street of town is about 5 miles long.  Roswell is a large town with two of a lot of chain stores.

Meanwhile I met Ken for dinner at the Lodge.  A scrumptious meal and I loved the vests the servers wore.

Oh my - what do we have here?  Alien tracks.....follow the yellow  NO the green road.

The box on the top of the pole intrigued me.  A surveillance camera?  I zoomed in - no a bird house.  :)

Another alien store.

Roswell has a zoo.  A nice zoo.  It is small but we enjoyed wandering around and seeing what all they did have.  Nice place - and very kid friendly.

The have nice Historical markers on the appropriate houses.  Pretty cool.  Roswell would be worth a longer visit when we both could explore a little.