 Barbara and I accompanied Dave Ellis on a trip to look at some petroglyphs near where Old US Highway 80 crosses the Gila River. The bridge there (which I neglected to photograph) would probably be of interest to AJ, as it is old and consists of 5 or 6 steel trestles.
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 We met Jon (who lives in Buckeye, some 25 minutes away) and Amanda there. For some unknown reason, Dave didn't recognize Jon.
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 We also met Brian Cox (who now works at at the Red Hawk power Plant--just visible from where we were). This area contains hundreds of petroglyphs, most of them along a series of short cliffs that parallel the Gila River. Jon and Brian clambered up the scree to get a close-up look at the inscriptions, and Brian took my camera along. It is he who I have to thank for the images below. I would guess these represent less than 1% of the petroglyphs in this area.
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 This year spring break occurred simultaneously for many of our grandchildren.
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 The result was a "cousins party" hosted this year by Terra, that lasted the better part of a week.
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 Present were offspring belonging to: Nathen (who managed to avoid participation by scheduling extra time at work), Ameilia (who left her husband working on her truck, and without transportation until it was fixed), Sabrina, and Brittney.
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 The adults, and younger kids, stayed in the shadow of a bridge. The concrete support for this bridge had a ledge about 18 inches wide, and shoulder high, running all the way around it. This ledge acted as a kid magnet, and their parents didn't seem to sense any danger. It is a bit disconcerting, but I really am turning into my mother.
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 But there were no fatalities, and in fact, no one even came close to falling, so maybe "over reacting" is a phase we need to add to our vocabulary.
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 Terra: "Stop throwing mud balls at your sister!"
Kyle:"I'm not throwing mud balls... (sotto voce) I'm throwing sand and gravel." |
 I find it a bit surprising that these cousins interact so well. I don't recall having any especial affinity for offspring of my Aunts and Uncles. Then again, there were so many of them...
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 Braxton obviously had the best idea about how to stay cool.
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I suspect this outing, with cousins in a creek, was a first for the youngest among us. Still, you have to admit that he epitomizes the concept of "trying to function with a kid under foot."
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