Jack Tegan Nichols

What is more precious than a newborn baby? Jack Tegan Nichols was born on Sunday, March 29, 2009, at 9:39 a.m. to Janet and Shawnda Nichols, my granddaughter. Janet went into labor at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, and Jack was born a short six hours later. Good job, Janet! They had a home delivery, with grandma Paula present as Janet's coach. There were tears of joy as he made his entrance into our world! Welcome, Jack!

Coincidentally, my brother's name is Jack, and Jack Tegan was born on my brother Phil's 71st birthday. Carol made t-shirts for her brothers that say: "If you don't know Phil, you don't know Jack!" We'll have to have one made for little Jack Tegan.

A Tribute to Jan

My friend Jan and her granddaughter Ali

I lost a friend this week, but heaven gained an angel. Jan found out about a year and a half ago that she had inoperable pancreatic cancer. Despite her battle with the disease, loss of weight, doctors appointments and chemotherapy, she managed to strengthen the relationships with those around her.

Jan spent time with her grandchildren and was at Ali's first birthday party in February, one of her goals. She took a trip to California last summer with her three sisters, Barb, Toni and Gerri and came away with some great photos and memories. One of her last outings was a Valentine stay at a the Gainey Ranch Hyatt with Jack, her dear friend, where they danced and rode in a gondola.

Last Saturday, her family helped her throw a "Celebration of Life" party. She invited those close to her for a final goodbye and hug. She told us all to love those around us and treasure every day. It was a difficult goodbye, with laughter, tears and a beautiful sunset!

Jan was six months younger than me. Her sister Barb married my brother Phil when we were teens, and we became fast friends. We raised kids together, camped out, water skiied and shared many happy times together.

Jan passed away peacefully with her sisters, Barb and Gerri, by her side. We will all miss her beautiful smile, charm and grace. Goodbye, dear friend!

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

A Black-tailed gnatcatcher nesting at the visitor's center.


Wildflowers grow among the cholla.


Entry sign at Anza-Borrego State Park.

The Sam's Radio Hams Chapter of the Good Sam Club to which we belong held an RV campout in Borrego Springs, California. We spent the first night, Monday, March 9, parked at the Peg Leg Smith's area out on the desert near Borrego Springs. The wind blew and rocked the rig that night, but each day it got calmer and warmer.

On Tuesday, we moved to The Springs at Borrego, an RV campground that was quite luxurious . . . heated pool, four hot tubs, golf course, club house, library with wireless internet, etc., etc. Twenty rigs and 41 chapter members made up the group.

Our first activity was a wild flower tour lead by a volunteer with the Anza Borrego Foundation. We formed a car caravan and drove into Glorietta Canyon about six miles from the center of town. With the help of our guide, we identified 43 different desert wildflowers. And were they gorgeous! Varieties included desert dandelion, brown-eyed evening primrose, checker fiddleneck, Parish's gold poppy, purple mat, desert chicory, blue heliotrope, various mustard plants, and chuparosa. The hummingbirds love the red trumpet shaped flowers of the chuparosa, but my favorite was the ghost flower. We found them growing right out of the boulders and blooming with waxen, grey-green folliage. We picked the best week to visit; in a few days they will all vanish as the desert heats up.

We also did a little bird watching. A black-tailed gnatcatcher (photo above) was nesting at the Anza-Borrego Visitor's Center. There were also nesting verdin at our RV camp. Also saw cactus wren, roadrunners, black-throated sparrows, a king bird and a kestrel.

It was great visiting our friends at the campout. We had invited Dean and Ann Dierks and John and Phyl Cade, longtime friends of Gene, and they enjoyed meeting the Sam's Ham group. We had many group meals, played games, attended a wine tasting and campfire cookout hosted by the Springs, and overall had a wonderful, relaxing week.

Baby Boom!

We had a baby shower at our house yesterday in anticipation of the arrival of "baby Nichols". Granddaughter Shawnda and her partner Janet are due on Easter Sunday. They do not know if it will be a girl or a boy . . . they want to be surprised. If it's a girl, she will join two great granddaughters born this past year. Gene's granddaughter, Crystal, gave birth to Addison Ann Davy on May 8, 2008; and Sue's grandson Matthew and wife Nikki welcomed daughter Ariel on June 15.

The above photos show Shawnda and Janet at the shower with Paula, Shawnda's Mom; infant Addie taken in July; and baby Ariel who attended the shower with Mom, Nikki. We have the feeling that the next generation will continue to expand. With 13 grandchildren between Gene and Sue, it's inevitable!

Spring Has Sprung!

Spring comes early in the desert. Yesterday, February 13, we took a drive up to Superior, Arizona, to see the snow on the peaks east of the valley. There were a few flowers along the roadside, but it will be a few more weeks before the desert is in full bloom. After having a delicious lunch (try the pozole!) at Los Hermanos in Superior, we stopped at Boyce Thompson Arboretum and walked the loop through the garden. A few aloes and hedgehog cactus were just beginning to bloom, and Queen Creek was rushing and full of sring runoff.

Our yard, however, is a different story. The African daisies that sprouted in November now cover the front yard. We're enjoying the colorful display knowing the flowers will dry up once the heat hits.

Light Rail Begins Running in Phoenix

Photos: The train arrives at the Old Spaghetti Factory; and David and Paula on the train (sorta looks like Sara Palin, don't you think?)

My daughter, Paula, came up with a great idea for a family outing. Gene and I drove to their house in Tempe. From there we drove a few blocks to a parking garage next to the new light rail and boarded a train for central Phoenix. There were eight of us: Paula and husband David, my grandson Riley, granddaughters Sarah and Shawnda, and Shawnda's partner Janet. Our destination was the Old Spaghetti Factory at Central and McDowell where we'd have dinner and celebrate Shawnda's 26th birthday.

A light rail in Phoenix! What a contrast to the Phoenix I remember when we arrived on a scorching August day in 1956 and checked into the Frontier Village Motel on east Van Buren. Mom, Dad and six sweating, thirsty, tired kids who had just driven 1800 miles from Chicago to Phoenix to begin a new life. Thank goodness they had a swimming pool, or we would have instantly evaporated that summer day.

Phoenix in 1956 had a population of only 250,000. Mom and Dad quickly bought a house on the outskirts of town near 27th Ave. and Bethany Home Road. Phoenix was separated from surrounding cities, with cotton fields to the west and south and orange groves between Phoenix and Scottsdale to the east. The tallest building was the Westward Ho Hotel, just 10 or 12 stores high with a radio tower on top. My grandfather used to drive us to the top of South Mountain to view the city lights. You could easily identify the Westward Ho, as well as lights defining Central Avenue, Van Buren and mile marker streets set out in a tic-tac-toe grid across the Valley. Today, it is a sea of lights all blending Glendale, Phoenix, Scottsdale and suburbs together. In those summers, monsoon dust storms would roll across Phoenix like a a giant tsunami of roiling sand, we had an evaporative cooler (no AC), and we'd spend every summer day at the closest city pool.

Our ride from Tempe to Phoenix reflected a new Phoenix, with Tempe Town Lake in the place of a dry river bed, freeways criss-crossing the city, an airport with three terminals, high rise buildings, sports stadiums for pro teams, and our new central library and art museum. Today, the new rail runs diagonally across the Valley and connects it all. Next trip we plan on stopping at each of the 25 or so stations to view the public art on display.

A New President!

We've been watching all morning as our new president has taken the oath of office. The part of his speech that impressed me the most were his words about opening a hand in friendship to any fist that would become unclenched. Perhaps with new respect in our world, peace truly can prevail. And with peace, perhaps prosperity and the end of poverty for all of the suffering in our world. Now, back to watching the parade!