On to L.A. with Major Stop in Arizona

After four months of shuttling between Lincoln and Olathe, we began making final preparations for the next leg of our journey. We had planned all along on a major family get-together for Thanksgiving, and Marilyn's early home-going did not interrupt it. Andrea, Rod, Reagan and Ryan came to Lincoln on the day before, and settled into the AmericInn motel in south Lincoln. (They loved it and we highly recommend it.) We spent Thanksgiving Day with Randy, Kayleigh, Shanna and kids at their home. Great food, games and football! The next day the Huskers closed out their season with the annual "war" with Colorado. Rod and Roger were present as they defeated the Buffs in the closing minutes with an NU record 57-yard field goal and a Suh interception-touchdown that sealed the deal. Fantastic finish!!

We had a very rewarding stay in Lincoln during a trying family time. Many thanks to our good friends Janet and Fred, who once again allowed us to stay on their property for a prolonged period.

On Saturday the 29th we started our journey. We traveled diagonally across Kansas, through Liberal to the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles. We visited the Petroglyph National Monument in New Mexico, and the Petrified Forest National Park in northern Arizona. We arrived in Mesa, AZ on Thursday, to begin teaching at the Arizona School of Health Sciences. For the second year the staff has invited me to return and instruct physician assistant students in the art and science of medicine, with particular emphasis on genitourinary and neurological disease. I arrived in time for the Christmas party (any excuse for a kilt!)

Just a few of my phenomenal PA's-in-training! They'll be great medical providers in the future!

Meg's parents made the flight to Mesa and stayed for the same two weeks, giving her great opportunities to spend some personal time with them while I was in class. There wasn't much time for us to play while there, but we took time on the one weekend to search out some geocaches and to show Roger's colleague Laura and her husband Alden the basics and get them started on this fun hobby. They helped us reach our #800 milestone cache.

We said our goodbye's to Mesa on Saturday the 20th and headed west. An easy drive put us at Joshua Tree National Park. We parked outside in BLM land (free); there had been a lot of snow and the campgrounds inside were not totally cleared.Our home-on-wheels! The next morning we finished the drive to LA. This is the view of the California mountains from the highway. We are parked at the Sea Breeze Naval RV campground at Seal Beach. We plan to be in this area for the next two months. It's beautiful here; we are so blessed! We wish you were here, but wherever you are may you have the most wonderful Christmas ever!

This Fall in Lincoln and Olathe

We've spent this autumn shuttling between Lincoln, Nebraska and Olathe, Kansas, having so many family and friends in both. Our church in Lincoln, Christ's Place, is a focus of refreshing worship and praise. We really enjoy getting back here to the fellowship we helped start over thirty years ago. It's a welcoming church home in Lincoln, if you're looking for one.



We are always searching for new opportunities to interact with our grandchildren, and this trip we discovered Union Station in Kansas City: containing a science "exploratorium", perfect for little 5 and 7 year old hands! It includes a planetarium, as well. Our grandkids spotted this portrait there, presumably of President and Mrs. Lincoln, though the resemblance to family is uncanny! Note to Parents and Grandparents: join your local museum with a "family membership." (We joined the University of Nebraska State Musum.) Most of these memberships reciprocate with hundreds of museums and exhibits all over the US, and include 2 adults and 2 or more children. Real money saver!)




Near Olathe, KS, at Louisburg, is the Louisburg Cider Mill, one of the top ten cider mills in the country, according to MSNBC. We went with Ryan on a school visit and had a lot of fun. Learning about the process was fascinating, and the apple cider donuts and the cold cider were delicious!

Fall brings falling leaves and the Ross family spent several days outdoors, raking and playing in the newly grounded leaves. The kids did their best to maintain order, but just couldn't keep the grown-ups from destroying their work!

Of course, outdoor work builds big appetites, and nothing fits that better than home-baked cookies. Here are Reagan and Ryan making the Halloween pumpkins ready for the oven! Mmmmmmm! Speaking of Halloween, our local fellowship, Indian Creek Community Church, sponsored another "Trunk or Treat!" (Don't know what that is? Click on the link.) Here are Reagan and Ryan in the window of the Mystery Machine, one of the exhibits, along with Scooby and friends. What fun! Wish you were here!

Times of Celebration

Celebration of a Life:

We came to Nebraska this fall a little earlier than usual. Roger's Sister Marilyn had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June 2007. After a year of treatment and doing very well, she took a very bad downturn in August of this year and was hospitalized for a few days. We spent much of the next two months in her home, where we were joined by her children, grandchildren and our Brother Randy. For the majority of this "dying part of living", she was up: visiting and playing games with us and enjoying the life she had remaining. But up or down, she was always upbeat, saddened only each time she awoke from sleep and found she was still here. She lapsed at the last into a short coma and entered the presence of her Lord on October 5. It was a joy to know her as our Sister for 61 years, and we look forward to meeting again. We are so thankful for retirement, our wandering lifestyle, and our good friends the Smiths and their hospitality, which allowed us to come north and stay for this important time.



In October we flew to Texas for a celebration of of our Grandson Christian's 5th birthday. We rode a train together in Landa Park in New Braunfels, had cake and gave Christian his new T-ball set. While in the park we spotted this animal; do you know what it is? (see answer ***at the end of this blog)


We met family in the Houston area and celebrated the 16th birthday of Meg's grandnephew Cheyne. We had dinner at a great seafood restaurant, the Monument Inn in Deer Park, TX, named for its proximity to the San Jacinto Monument, erected to honor the heroes of the Texas Revolution.
Wonderful food! If you're ever in the area, this should be on your list.

An annual October celebration is the renewal of the Red River Rivalry, between the University of Texas and Oklahoma University.
This year we Texans are celebrating!
Texas 45-OU 35! Go Horns!!!
We attended a medical ethics seminar by Gene Rudd, MD on "Professionalism in Peril". Gene is an officer of the Christian Medical and Dental Association, and a stimulating and encouraging speaker. We shared the time there with Roger's original partner in practice, Dale Michels and his wife Roylene, a reunion that is always fun!
Of course, we're dressed in the official colors of Nebraska, on our way to the NU-Baylor game
(NU 32-Baylor 20, in case you missed it.) Great to be together again!

Our report from LA earlier this year described our exciting day as extras in the new Jim Carrey movie, "Yes Man." Here's a link to the Nebraska University newletter that gives many more interesting details. (It's on page 8!) The movie will be released December 19th.

We celebrated another life this month, that of Dwight Friesen, the husband of one of Roger's nurses in his pre-army Lincoln medical practice, who died suddenly on October 26th. His funeral provided another opportunity for old friends to meet. Here we are with wonderful friends. Linda and Margaret, who were Roger's first office helpers, the ones who did their best to keep him on-track, and on time (largely a failing effort!)

One of the joys of getting together with old friends is the laughter. Please, whatever you do and wherever you are, take time to laugh! Deep and long!

"If you are cheerful, you feel good; if you are sad, you hurt all over."
Proverbs 17:22 (Contemporary English Version)



A nice web source of quotes on laughter

*** If you said muskrat or beaver, sorry. It's a nutria, transplanted from South America to several wild places in the US. Click on the name for more info.

The Sound of Music

Located near Stacey's Florida home is the Citrus County Arts Center and Theater. The summer musical production was "The Sound of Music" and auditions were held before we left for Egypt. While overseas we were notified that we had been chosen for parts in the play. So, we extended our visit as Stacey's "neighbors" for several more months, rehearsing frequently and finally getting to production. The play opened July 11 for three weekends and a total of 10 performances.

Quick recap for those who've forgotten: Maria (played by Stacey) is sent from her abbey to be the governess for the seven children of the von Trapp family. Here she is with "Marta", played by our granddaughter Ashley. The Baron and Maria fall in love. Franz, the Butler (played by Roger) and Frau Schmidt, the Housekeeper (played by Meg) care for the household. Meg performed double-roles, as Frau Schmidt and as one of the "singing nuns" at the abbey.

Franz, ever the faithful butler, is at last revealed as a traitor and Nazi sympathizer.What a great time this family of thespians enjoyed together!

The day after the cast party we said goodbye to our Florida family and headed for Nebraska for a long autumn visit with family and friends in Lincoln.

The Lost City of the Nabateans-Petra

The second part of this Ken McFarland tour was a visit to Jordan and the ancient lost city of Petra. What a fantastic place! The sandstone has been carved into beautiful shapes and colors by the various elements over time, and the Nabateans who lived here carved temples, graves, and homes into that sandstone. These are "monolithic" carvings out of the solid rock, and boggle the mind with their beauty and variety. We drove to the south of Jordan to visit Wadi Rum, an area of arid beauty, with large outcroppings of stone like this. Reminiscent of areas of Utah. The film, "Lawrence of Arabia" was parially filmed here. We toured the ancient city of Jerash, reportedly the best preserved Roman city anywhere. Located along the major north-south trade route, it was very large and a key city in its time. Before leaving for the States we had to bob for awhile in the Dead Sea, the world's lowest point below sea-level.

The Jordanians are a lovely people, friendly and welcoming to their country. To answer one question you might have: in Egypt and Jordan we never had reason to fear for our safety.

Thanks for sharing our travels. Wish you were here!

Roger and Meg

A Dream Cruise on the Nile

In March we were able to realize a life-long dream of a trip to Egypt! As long as we can remember dreaming anything, it has been to see the pyramids and the temples and the Nile! We flew to Cairo and then on to Aswan, where we boarded the SS Karim. Built in 1917 for then-King Fuad, she is the last steam paddlewheeler on the Nile. We traveled for a week in real luxury, reminiscent of that seen in the 1978 Peter Ustinov movie, "Death on the Nile," filmed on a similar ship. We docked in Luxor (ancient Thebes), Edfu, and Kom Ombo before returning to Aswan. Luxor is famed for its temples of Luxor and Karnak, with their incredible halls of columns. The Temple of Luxor by night.

We sailed "down the Nile" (south toward the Mediterranean) and then back "up the Nile" (south or down on our maps) You'd be surprised how confusing that can be!

The Nile is surprisingly clear and blue and very charming. Here's a lovely little village on its banks, looking probably as it has for centuries

The beautiful ancient art adorning the walls at Abydos, the colors unretouched for thousands of years! Back in Aswan area we visited this beautiful Temple of Isis on the small island of Philae in the Nile.
Our last night aboard the Karim we had a costume party, with all dressing up in their Egyptian garb bought after patient haggling with the local merchants. Lots of fun! Everyone was totally surprised when two of us, both named "Roger", walked in dressed in identical "galabeas"! (We didn't realize the color difference until looking through our pictures the next day.)

Before leaving Aswan we flew to Abu Simbel to visit this large temple of Ramses II. It was wonderful! We spent our last few days in Cairo itself, visiting the bazaar, the Great Pyramids and Sphynx.

One cannot realize the enormity of these structures from pictures; simply impossible. Really wish you could have been here with us.

Unsolicited ad:

We nearly always travel on our own, but this trip was arranged by Ken McFarland, who specializes in special (one might say "boutique") tours that typically are small in number and cater to individuals who enjoy walking and seeing the out-of-the-way spots of the world. He tries very hard to give his clients top value for their money, and we recommend him highly and without reservation (though you'll need reservations; he sells out quickly.) That was a joke!