On the first full day of Autumn 2024, about six hours after taking the included photos of Nymph, Dream, Emerald & Sprague Lakes, RMNP (Rocky Mountain National Park) experienced snow from the meandering river valleys to the tundra of the Never Summer Range. Moraines and alpine meadows were already tinged in hues of aspen yellow and orange. The snow added a clean brisk freshness to this never never land of happy thoughts and gratitude. There is concurrence with the the Ken Burns documentary claim that the National Parks are 'America's best idea'. 

Fall family visits to this happy place are almost as predictable as the auditory bugling of the bull elks. Yet each fall, there's something new to experience and be thankful for in RMNP. Our YMCA cabin, Tonkawa, was located across the field from the Administration building.  Tonkawa was adjacent to 122 year old Cedar Cabin, one of the original cabins of the Wind River Resort. One evening a large herd of elk, with one large bull male, settled down not too far from our front porch. Dr. Watson, and particularly the Lone Ranger, were so excited. We wondered how does that bull elk ever rest his head? Perhaps it is a never-rest. 

America's four year presidential campaign is in full bugle as well. The contenders bugle, and their partisan harems fall in line. Republicans and Democrats are promising everything, including "joy" if we only more fervently hate the opposition. In reality the pandered political happy thoughts are probably more similar to the promised indulgences (and possible horrors) of Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch or a Sean (P Diddy) Combs party.  It is hard to understand how fomenting hate is a path to a happy place. 

As followup to last months' headline commentary on "Relevance", LyNette and I did stop by Dana College on our way back from a recent Midwest trip. It has been fifty years since I graduated. A Homecoming weekend reunion was so timing convenient that a stop seemed preordained.  Although the absence of new students made for a desolate campus landscape, it was good to be at Dana again and see around 15 of my 1974 classmates.  If the overgrowth of ivy, bushes and trees is any indication of our hearts clinging to the old school, there is a lot of clinging.  It is frequently asked (privately) at such reunions "where did all these old geezers come from?" It can be shared that my classmates seemed young, like I still feel in my heart.  For that nice feeling the trip back to Dana was a rich  blessing.

The photo is at the center of campus with Rasmussen Hall in the background.