The "Cat's in the Cradle" Effect

          I was giving my 12-year-old grandson a piano lesson when his father (my son Andy) strode into the piano room, bent over, and gave his boy a hug. "What's that for?" I asked with a smile. 
          "Stupid 'Cat's in the Cradle'," Andy said, referring to Harry Chapin's song as he walked out of the room.
          In case you aren't familiar with it, the message chronicles a father's pride at having a baby boy who he declares will grow up to be just like him. As he keeps putting off his son's requests to spend time playing ball and other things, it turns out that when the father calls his grown son to spend some time with him, his son makes excuses as to why he can't. Then the father laments that his son has grown up just like him.
          With family relationships on my mind, I was lucky enough to re-connect with some extended family when my Uncle Bob and cousin Steve Rallison came for a visit from the lush, green state of Oregon. Here we are: 

L-R My sister Carolyn standing in front of Momma Ruth, Shirley (me), my sister Rebecca, my Uncle Bob Rallison, my cousin Steve Rallison.  

And my son, Michael, found his tribe with L-R: tall blond cousins Jacob McGarry, Steve Rallison, and Michael himself.

Do you have family gatherings? Do you enjoy connecting with extended family?

What I did last week

This is me by the Colorado River. (You're too close to the camera... take a step back... just a little further... another step.... almost there... step back one more time!)

Bob is obviously outstanding in his field.

Michael wants to know if there's any food left in the ancient granary! (The depression in the rock above and to the right of his head.)

Now I'm wondering how a family of 10 pioneers lived in this little cabin!

Coming back from a book selling trip to Blanding, Utah was fun with Michael at the wheel. He made spontaneous stops at sites that looked interesting. The only time we skipped a site was when someone in the truck had to go to the bathroom and we were a couple of miles from the visitor's center. (Plan ahead, people!)

When you travel, do you make spontaneous stops, or are you a keep-to-the-schedule type of person?

Moon half white half blue sky

Maybe I don't get outside enough, but I'd never seen a half white/half blue sky before.

 I thought it would make a great setting for a book.

 Did you even notice the moon in the photos above? (If not, I got a close up here for you.)

 I don't know. Maybe I need to go outside more.

Do you like to be outside?

How much time do you spend out there?