“California or bust” has changed to “We made it!” Though not all the way to Upper Lake, we are finally back in California with one more day on the road to go! Today’s trip was long and felt even  lo-o-onger as we traveled through the Mojave Desert toward Bakersfield. But there is so much beauty and diversity within the landscape, even when it seems to “look” the same, I watched the passing scenes with a deep sense of wonder!

John seemed to have had the same delight in the natural beauty that surrounded him. Among his many pictures (1000+) are scenes of waterfalls, cactus pocketed desert, barren trees, blossoming bushes, mountains, streams, deer, bears, elk, turtles, rabbits, and the list goes on. John had a photographer’s eye and many of the pictures he took are striking, I am so grateful to have seen for myself some of the sights that caught his eye and imagination.

Before leaving for this tribute journey, I had removed John’s photos from the albums where he had placed them in a somewhat random way. With some of the pictures I created an album to share at the memorial service. The rest ended up in a shoebox. Often as we have been driving home (and I have been the passenger) I would look at them and arrange them in categories. Most of the pictures are of the people who were part of John’s life, but he also had photos of his truck parked in front of the places where he stopped to help, of the bedrooms where he stayed, and of the projects that he worked on. And, yes, of tables decorated for holidays and of food that was served. Each picture holds a memory. I am grateful to have them and to remember the stories that John shared about his life.