Am I out of sync?

Ok, my niece wrote me that she was on her way (2 hours outside the city) to tell her son that his bio dad had passed away. She was unsure as to if and

when she should tell her other son.

Both boys were basically abandoned by this man years ago. He owed $100,000 in back child support and so chose to basically sell them to their

stepdad Ben who adopted them. The deal was, if they would write off the

debt, he would sign over the boys.

He was a really messed up person and was very immature in that it was

all about him. Several domestic incidents and years of his disfunctional parenting finally had my niece divorcing him. He has not been in touch

with any of them for 2 or 3 years.

I wrote my niece back and told her I didn't see the drama here, why not

just call Zach and let him and Reggie know. This man doesn't deserve

any kind of acknowledgement. Ben was their dad, he has been there

through all of their years growing up. Ed only showed up when he wanted

to harrass my niece or the boys. He was an abuser who physically and

mentally messed with Reggie's emotions all the time. Basically ignoring

Zach completely.

They have been divorced for over 20 years and their only contact has

been Ed's phone calls harrassing them about having to pay child support or not paying it.

I did tell her if she was sorry, I was sorry for her. Meaning that I felt bad

that she would still have any kind of guilt or feelings about this man.

So, am I an unfeeling hard hearted person? I don't know...maybe a realist.

Canyon DeChelly 2008

Jim,Judee,Jon,Carol,Garrett,Tom & Pam

All of us stayed in an indian campground. Quite primitive, Joe (the indian navaho)said it would have water available, but no electricity or dump stations.
We were not frightened, having RV's that were self contained and only
staying for 3 nights. So, we sent in our money and drove off to meet our
group of friends, some were strangers we hadn't met yet.
Our group arrived, the campground host camp out with his two groveling
mangy dog hosts and greeted us with open arms. The dogs were not mean, just smiling in greeting. We were all assigned spots between cedar trees
with dirt drives and antique picnic tables. The water was available, consisting of a 50 gallon plastic jug hung upside down in a cedar tree by
haying twine. So, we were careful with our own water supply.
At night the coyotes howled and the wind blew which in turn made our
camp host's makeshift waterpump screech all night.
Daylight arrived and we all went our separate ways touring the beautiful
Canyon De Chelly ; a crack in the earth's surface where the Anazazi built
homes along it's canyon walls and the people of the Navaho farmed corn
and vegetables along the wash.
We took a jeep tour down the canyon, learning about the life and times of
the Navajo and the discovery of the Canyon. It was beautiful and a magnificant place of legends and native indian beliefs. We were told how
the young Navajo do not learn their language and it is beginning to disapear among the nation.
The next day my friend Lori and I rode horses back down the canyon and
I learned I was not the rider I used to be. My butt bounced higher than the
horses head anytime we galloped and I am sure the look of shear disbelief
on my face as I bounced and jounced all over the saddle was proof of my
not having sat a horse in 20 years....you do have to learn to ride again.
Canyon De Chelly is a destination, camping in the free campground in the
valley of the Cottonwoods would be my suggestion if you should go.
Take money for buying jewelry and indian handcrafts, including fry bread.
Start early and watch for the ancient ones in the shadows...
Be patient and kind and don't wear your good clothes!