Inquisitive Quest

.  Bob, the X-Ray technician whom transported Gary to Pratt Medical Center when his colon ruptured, and who worked with Gay Farney, Kiowa  hospital’s Lab tech supervisor ,   was somewhat of a braggadocio, proclaiming that he was never a loser when playing casinoslots.  Declaring that he possessed an ability to communicate with the machine,  knowing when and which machine would pay off.   Gary found this hard to believe,  advocating  he and Bob pursue a trip to a casino  so Bob could affirm and confirm his ability.

.  Gary mentioned his endeavor to his Wichita Boeing employed friend Diane, if she would be  interested in joining the two,  Gary asking if she had a lady friend who would be interested in meeting Bob.   Di confirmed that she had a friend Vicki that might be interested in a casino trip.   The journey commencing early Saturday morning,  as Bob related,  his ability to communicate with the slot machines worked only in the morning before noon.   Gary directing the Buick to Wichita,  the two hospital employees  greeting Die and making Vicki’s acquaintance,  then venturing southeast to the Sac & Fox Indian casino at Stroud Oklahoma,  Gary’s skepticism abounding.

.  The four arriving at the Indian casino at 10:45 a.m.,  Gary not an avid slots person,  having $100 on his person,  willing to lose about $50 of it before halting his gambling effort.   Bob immediately started scouting the casino for a particular model slot machines,  the Red, White and Blue.   He tried several,  but shaking his head  the machine wasn’t responding to his beckoning.  It was 11:15,  Bob having failed to win but a token amount,  when he spotted a group of Red, White and Blue slots near the entrance,  approaching one,  inserting a hundred dollar bill, playing three dollars at a time, bingo, three sevens, the machine paying $240.    Bi-Pasting the next one,  but playing the machine beside it,  bingo again, another $240.   He walk around to the other side, finding another Red White & Blue,  and  another $240,  only this time, the continuous sounding of the bells having drawn the attention of the security guard at the entrance.

.  Gary making a comment about being watched by security and mentioning that his luck was nil,  and  hadn’t won a dime.   Bob pointed to another Red, White and Blue, telling Gary to play it,  ” it would pay off”.   Gary starting to wonder how lucky one person could be, reluctant,  but deciding to tap into his $50 reserve, putting a twenty dollar bill in,  when the three sevens appeared,  it was unbelievable,  Bob was right, the machine came through.  It was nearing 12 p.m.,  Bob noting the time saying it was  time to go,  Gary noticing that the security guard still watching them as they left the building, a puzzled look on his face.  Die and Vicki buzzed with excitement over Bob’s demonstration,  Gary chalking Bob’s success to pure luck,  telling  the big winner,  he qualified to pick up the lunch tab.

.  The arrival in Wichita finding the four having lunch at Applebee’s,  a discussion on how to spend the rest of the afternoon was conversed, Gary remarking, there was a current film everyone was talking about starring Tom Hanks,  a movie that depicting the  reality of World War II,    “Saving Private Ryan”.   Gary thought the  movie was everything the critics proclaimed,  a very moving experience, especially to Di,  she was upset after seeing it.    The two host returning the ladies to Di’s residence, satisfied they traversed back to Kiowa, concluding a very remarkable day.

.  Bob’s Ford pickup license plates proclaimed it was from Montana, the Lab Tech not very open about his past.  His Price Apartment was sparsely furnished,  so it wasn’t surprising when one day, he mentioned  he had procured  another job in Blackwell Oklahoman,  and was moving on,  asking  Gary to help him move.   Gary agreeing,  the two loading the pickup with what little furniture he had,  asking if Gary would mind making the trip to Blackwell with him,  being told he  already had a small one bedroom rental house with appliances.

.  The two arriving,  unloading the belongings,  Gary anxious to return, as he hadn’t planned on spending the day,  when Bob made a startling statement,  “ I’m not returning to Kiowa”,  Gary saying okay, then Bob repeated it again,  adding,  ever,  to not returning to Kiowa, Gary was stunned, questioning him  how he was going to get home.   Bob continuing to shock Gary,  handing him the keys to the Ford,  asking him to drive the pickup back to Kiowa,  park it somewhere in town, walk away leaving the keys in it.

.  Gary immediate reaction was disbelief, but responding with an,  Okay,  no questioned asked.   Bidding his friend goodbye, it was all unsaid,  but suspicious, in all probability the pickup from Montana,  either didn’t belong to Bob,  or was being repossessed.  Gary keeping his promise, on arrival in Kiowa,   finding himself nervous about what was to transpire.  Once in Kiowa, making sure he was not being watched, he decided to park the pickup across the street  from the park,  then stroll back to his apartment.  Surprisingly, he was never questioned about Bob,  or heard anything about the discovery of an abandoned pickup with Montana tags,  his curiosity held in check, another questionable ending,  to a questionable event,  involving a questionable person, deciding,  somethings are best left unanswered

The daily morning edition of the Wichita Eagle was provided by Dr. Marcia Drewry, better known as “Dr. D”, when she entered the east back door which was the Kiowa Hospitals old ambulance entrance and adjacent to the kitchens back door. Most mornings  along with the paper she he would deposit a box of donuts from Val’s donut shop on the picnic table that resided there for the non-certify staff

The Thursday edition of  the Wichita Eagle would include what was designated as a social page,  where a person could submit at no charge an introduction of themselves to the public, leaving a phone number for those of like interest to enjoin an introduction.  Fellow hospital employee’s, Arvetta Starzyk , dietary, Judy Reed and her housekeeping staff  during their morning break formulated a novel idea.  The assembly forthcoming  with Gary to post his social personality subsistence on the Eagle social page, Gary at first declining but on a lark giving in.

Placing a call to the Eagle society page editors number, a lady answered, cordially taking the prescribed ad,  then posing a question, “how do you want it titled?”   Gary was somewhat perplexed at the unexpected question, hesitantly he replied he didn’t know, what do you think?,  the lady replying, “well, you sound like A Prince Charming, how about that”.  The week-long wait was finally over, the Thursday morning paper arriving, there in bold print, the lady was true to her word.  As the weeks progressed  Gary’s answering machine having several messages from the opposite gender briefly introducing themselves leaving their number.

A call on the answering machine initiating an introduction to  Karla Balsamo residing in Wichita,  the lady sounding very congenial the two agreeing to meet Saturday at noon at a Wichita’s Town West Square Mall restaurant.    Gary arriving early,  seated patiently waiting and watching the entrance having never made Karla’s acquaintance, not knowing what to expect.   A younger attractive women entering  immediately capturing him with her stylish dress and her eyes searching the restaurant for recognition.   Gary  introducing himself, finding Karla comfortable with his company, conversation flowing with this first meeting and after lunch agreeing to see each other again.  Gary’s first appearance at her residence on S. Edgemoor Street, endeavoring to make a good impression making a stop at Town West  purchasing a distinctive candle and holder as a housewarming gift and by coincidence his gift happened to accord her home’s decor, the couple spending a delightful outing together, the first of several.

It was during a ten-day triple digit heat wave in Wichita that Gary came to her rescue  the central air conditioning in her residence having failed,  Karla calling him in Kiowa about her dilemma.   Gary explaining although he could do the basic service on a unit he wasn’t a AC technician and didn’t possess any of the necessary tools,  suggesting she call an AC professional.  She related she had called several but it would be several days before anyone could address her problem because of a backlog of service calls.   Gary responding he knew of someone in Wichita that might be of some help, mentioning he would place a call to a friend, Larry Dunn.

 Larry having been Plant Operation Manager at HCA Wesley Hospital,  a past president of the Kansas Hospital Engineers Association and a mentor in Gary’s election as KHEA president.  Gary was aware that Larry had changed employment with the management downsizing at HCA Wesley, taking a position as service manager for Comfort Heating and Air Systems,  the largest air conditioning service assemblage in Wichita,  employing over 32 staff members and technicians, plus Larry also having been a distributor in Gary’s Amway enterprise.   Gary placing a call to his friend about Karla’s dilemma,  Larry also acknowledging that his service trucks were backlogged because of the heatwave and committed for several days, Gary beseeching that this lady friend was somewhat special,  could he make an exception.  Larry replying that he couldn’t change the service schedule,  but what he would do for Gary was make the service call himself.   Later that evening Karla telephoned thanking Gary, her air conditioning was once again operational,  stating that Larry even refused payment for his services.

The phone call was unexpected, Gary’s Mother calling from California,  revealing that she had made reservation for the two of them to invest three nights in Branson Missouri,  and  had acquired reservation for five shows, and a celebrated dinner cruise on Table Rock Lake aboard the Branson Belle Showboat.   The Matriarch of the Willson family giving notice she would alight Wichita’s Mid-Continent Airport on United Airlines the evening of Wednesday, October 8th.  Gary foreseeing with anticipation an enjoyable new venture with his mother.

Leaving work early from the Kiowa Hospital,   his small suitcase made ready for a four-day excursion,  the Buick journeying to Wichita.  Gary arriving at the Mid-Continent Airport arena,  addressing the Airport Hilton, deciding instead of driving all the way back to Kiowa for the night, to access a room for his mother and himself,  enabling  an early start in the morning for Branson.   Waiting for her arrival, Gary formatting  a novel idea,  making a decision to call Karla to see if she would be interested in joining the two of them for dinner, and with her being a vibrant conversationalist, it would bring life to the dinner engagement.

Gary addressed his mother’s United Airlines flight arriving at Mid Continent at 7:00 PM.,  the two walking the short distance to the Airport Hilton finding a Renaissance Convention in Progress.  Knights, Ladies and others dressed in the costumes of that era milling about.  Stopping to view the members in the hotel convention room, the two  enjoying the festive groups garb and music of the period before hastily getting situated in their room.   Gary informing his mom of the evening plans, the Buick found them journeying to Karla’s, their dinner guest Waiting.

Gary suggesting they dine at the restaurant and Club that Karla had previously introduced to Gary, it’s unique atmosphere and menu specialty,  a hollowed out pineapple filled with a sweet and sour bouquet of shrimp, tropical fruits and pork,  with an apropos name of   “Hawaii five-O”.   Gary seated at the table observing his Mother and Karla conveying most of the conversation,  the two getting on famously.   The evening drawing nigh, their meal completed,  Gary returning Karla home thanking her for a most enjoyable evening ,  the Willson’s returning to the Airport Hilton.

A nocturnal rest, Gary and his mother awakening to a marvelous fall morning,  the two having breakfast at Denny’s located on West Kellogg,  a block east of the airport entrance.  The 300 mile journey to Branson beginning,  Gary making a decision rather than taking the easterly US 54,  deciding to accommodate the less traveled scenic southeast route,  US 400, shorter in distance but more time consuming because of the highways two lane contingency.    A brief halfway stop in Fredonia for fuel and lunch,  the small town an analogous to many scattered throughout Kansas.

Ascending the road once more traversing east,  soon crossing into Missouri their destination no longer fleeting.   Springfield loomed ahead, but would not be perceive,  a change in direction turning south onto state highway 65,  entering the scenic realm of the southern Ozarks.    Gary realizing he had missed a turn,  discovering they were no longer on the highway,  but on the old Winding Mountain road into Branson,  both in good spirits able to look down on the town,  commenting on the mistake that this was truly the real scenic route.

From their vantage point descending off the mountain,  a view of the 722 mile long White River, and the man-made Table Rock Lake,  just one of eight reservoirs built by the corp. of engineers beginning in 1938,.     The Table Rock Dam being completed in 1964, forming the area’s largest lake.   Looming before them was the aura and  arresting picture of Branson, the couple looking forward to what was to Come.

Gary and his mother Betty having arrived in Branson,  the three hundred mile journey coming to a conclusion,  their first precept was to check in at the Quality Inn,  the hosting accommodations for their three nights lodging in this community of 6000.   Achieving their ambition,  the late afternoon still prevailing for an introspection drive to discover the compilation of this small bastion of American Music.

The first theatre was built in 1967 by the Presley family, featuring country stars  like Red Foley, Slim Whitman and the Sons of the Pioneers,  performing with the Presley Family Jubilee at their Mountain Music Theatre.  The celebrated Roy Clark abiding as the first of many national renown entertainers to discover Branson,  initiating his country venue in 1983 with the opening of the Roy Clark Theatre.

The Willson’s concluding an entreaty evening meal,  the two outbound for their first showcase presentation,  a 7:00  performance by Andy Williams at his acclaimed Moon River theatre.   The advent of the Theatre was inaugurated May 1st, 1992,  with Andy Williams being the first non-country entertainer to build a platform for performance in Branson.  The Moon River Theatre was more than an auditorium,  a citadel encompassing three lobbies,  the indoor plants décor in keeping with the magnificent grounds.   The Landscapers employing the outcropping of rocks to enfold waterfalls,  Koi filled ponds,  ferns and trees,  all native to the Ozarks and accessible to the public.

The Willson’s seated in the impressive 2000 capacity accommodation waiting with  Anticipation, Gary very much impressed as the curtain Opened.  Andy Williams welcoming the bristling attendance, and as was the custom in all Branson Show Arenas,  giving recognition to different sections of the tour-bus audience, mentioning their State and cities of Embarkation.   Gary estimating that two-thirds of the tourist amassing in Branson arrived by bus as patrons of a Tour.

The wonder of Andy William was everything expected,  Gary finding the only surprising feature was his physical stature, 5’6’’ wearing platform shoes.   Williams singing many of his 18 gold recorded  vocal expressions,  including two of Gary’s favorites from the 50’s, Canadian Sunset, and Lonely Street.   Gary and his Mother  impressed by the astounding performance,  making a note to return during the delight hours and apprehend the scenic grounds of this prodigious theatre.

Saturday afternoon,  the couple awaiting the 2:00 PM Remington Theaters production of Branson City Lights to Commence,  the two having returned from exploring Andy Williams Moon River argillaceous Location.  The Branson City Lights program at the Remington was unconventional,  a ceremonious ice extravaganza musical presentation.  the use of ice a preview of a new forum for Branson.  With the conclusion of the program,  the visitors prospecting the downtown memorabilia shops,  Gary purchasing a keepsake shirt embossed with the name Branson.

  .

Dino Kartsonakis and a Capacity Audience

The evening endeavor at the Grand Palace approaching,  the structure built in 1992 at cost of 13 million dollars,  the Largest and most Luxurious Theatre in Branson,  seating over 4000.,    Gary was totally inculcated with the grandiose of the Grand Palace,  but had no knowledge of the skill of pianist Dino Kartsonakis except that some said he was a poor man’s Yonni and others asserting he was a Christian Liberace because of his apparel,  jewelry and Scintillating Piano.    A brief biography  discovering the virtuoso began playing at the age of three and was a student of the Julliard School of Music.   Gary and his Mother seated,  Dino coming on stage asking for a volunteer to join him at the piano.   A name was given him,  Camille,  the pianist trying to coax her to come on stage,  but to no avail.  Gary’s mother,  her elbow jabbing him,  beseeching him to volunteer, Gary rising,  Dino recognizing him,  asking him to come forward.

Gary on stage with Dino

Dino joining Gary in aisle,  microphone in hand,  the two mounting the stage.   Dino interviewing the captive visitor about his musical background, then asking if he was familiar with these three songs,  “Put Another Nickel In“,  “The 12th Street Rag“ and “When The Saints Go Marching In”.   Gary answering affirmative,  the two addressing the nine foot light studded concert grand piano poised on an embellished lit, three-tier platform center stage.   A duet was initiated with “Put Another Nickle In”,  Gary on the left,  but soon found Dino exiting,  leaving him solo,  to play both upper and lower keyboard parts.

Gary left to play solo at the Grand Palace

Dino returning to initiate upper octaves of the 12th Street Rag,  then seating himself to Gary’s left to address the lower keys,  allowing Gary to play the higher octaves of  “When The Saints Go Marching In”.  The music complete,  Gary receiving a standing ovation from the attendance,  Dino asking Gary if they had ever meant before,  because there were always some in the audience that might think he was a plant.

Before leaving the stage, Dino presenting Gary with a gift certificate and a video tape of their performance together.   On their short return journey to their place of abode, discovering a nearby  Ruby Tuesday bar and grill less than two blocks from the Quality Inn.   Gary’s Mother desiring to stop for a snack and a nightcap of her favorite beverage,  the bartender familiar with the Kahlua configuration called a separator, and it wasn’t long before the eldest Willson enthralled the customers with her conversation.

The Willson’s morning appetite being secured, the Quality Inn having room Coffee Makers, and provided pastries conveniently displayed on a table outside each building complex.  The two deciding to return to the Majestic Grand Palace to peregrinate the areas open to the public and experience its captivating aura.    The Branson Belle Showboat awaited, with a 11:00 cast off time for the Luncheon Dinner Cruise.

Boarding the Paddle-Wheeled Queen of Table Lake,  the Showboat was under way commencing their two-hour dinner cruise.   The reservation slips denoting the Willson’s seating,  a balcony dining provision looking down upon the prestigious stage,  the view enabling one to experience the ambiance of a By-Gone Era.  The sound of music filled the exposition dining room,  show tunes from Broadway,  music of past generations,  a compliment to the three coarse meal being served.   A final quest , Gary and his Mother Betty traversing to the upper deck atop the boat,  adjoining the Wheel House,  the two introducing themselves to the Captain.  Gary finding the lake expedition,  music and the meal gratifying,  especially in the company of his mother,  whom was like-minded in sharing the aura of the experience.

A 3:00 afternoon calling,  the two arriving at Bobby Vinton’s Blue Velvet Theatre,  appropriately named.   entering the lobby one could not help but notice the décor.  the ceiling was flourished with clouds and cherubs, the carpet, the walls all in blue, one realizing that Bobby  savored the color that brought him to Stardom.   The stage hosting a seating area for the Glenn Miller-arrangement orchestra, and as always an introduction and a recognition given to the tour-bus groups, .

Bobby was extraordinary showman, his enthusiasm bursting forth, Gary Admiring his dedication for an afternoon performance.  The vocalizing of the song Blue Velvet bringing back memories, the last time Gary performed the song was in 1963 with a group from Chicago called Bobby And The Runaways.   The playing of the polish air,  Melody of Love,  brought the rhythmic hand clapping, the audience coming alive with their participation.  Bobby was no stranger to those in attendance, microphone in hand,  progressing up the aisles,  stopping beside Gary’s Mothers aisle seat,  kneeling beside her and singing.  The matriarch of the Willson’s enjoying every minute of it.

The concluding entertainment presentation for Gary and his Mothers Branson adventure was an 8:00 p.m. participation assembling at the Jim Stafford Theatre.   Jim an icon comedian,  singer,  musician,  a regular performer on the 60’s Smothers Brother Hit television program,  as well as the Smothers Brothers head writer and producer.   Gary’s recollection producing only one song that he could recall by Jim Stafford,  recorded in 1966,   “Spider and Snakes”   topping Billboard as the number 3 song in the nation.

Jim’s Theatre Production of the song was something out of the Twilight Zone,  a hologram machine,  transported images of spiders and snakes out into the audience,  Gary never having experience an event with such visual reality.   Spiders and Snakes floated right before one’s eyes,  finding most members of the audience reaching out,  trying to grasp the visionary perception.   The country venue of music was a welcome sound,  giving evidence that country music still reigned king in the realm of Branson.   The evening event concluding,  Gary traversing the Buick towards Ruby Tuesday for a farewell toast to Branson.

The morning found Gary and his mother bidding a forlorn adieu to Branson,  Gary directing the Skylark northwest to intercept interstate 44 and the Will Rogers Turnpike,  continuing a southwesterly journey to Tulsa,  a lunch stop, then apprehending the Turner Turnpike to Oklahoma City.   Gary and his mother arriving at the home of his daughter and son in-law Chris and Marlo Denton.  Grandma Willson to return to California on a flight from Oklahoma City.  Gary returning to Kiowa,  bidding his love to his mother and the time the spent together,  a Memory to be Never Forgotten.

(To see the video of Gary and Dino Kartsonakis at the Grand Palace, go to .)http://www.youtube.com/my_videos?feature=mhee

The recently acquired Kiowa Manor

.  The summer 1998 bringing a diversification in Gary’s disposition at the Kiowa District Hospital,  Administrator Buck McKinney proposing  the hospital take under their ascendancy the proprietorship of the Kiowa Manor,  a Hunter Care 37 bed skilled nursing facility.   After an open public meeting,  the acquisition process being approved and put in ambulation, McKinney attempting to solicit volunteers from the hospital staff willing to traverse their employment to the Manor,  discovering that not a single employee was willing to leave their employment status at the hospital.

.  Gary after some serious thought,  volunteered to move to the nursing home, accepting  the safety and maintenance task at the Manor,  in addition to maintaining  his responsibilities at the hospital.  His first concern was to establish an office,  enabling a home for his computer and files,  the only area designated for maintenance was a very small work bench area off the rear door entrance.    A brief search for an unoccupied room was nil,  but  discovering  a delightful Hannah Watson offering to share her office.   Hannah was responsible for coding and billing the Medicare paperwork for reimbursement, utilizing the 1996 HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

.  The Manor, unlike the hospital, hosted an in-house laundry, small but adequate for the facility,  employing a young man with Down’s Syndrome from Medicine Lodge,  the youth chauffeured  by car five days a week.  Gary discovering he was sponsored by Arrowhead West, a Community Integrated Employment Services .   The program that  benefits both employees and employers by assisting individuals with disabilities to obtain and keep jobs in the community, while at the same time offering reliable and qualified employees to area businesses.

.  Buck McKinney in an effort to cut cost for the Nursing Home eliminated the kitchen at the Manor,  requiring Ivette Starzyk and the hospital kitchen to provide the manor with three daily meals.  Gary having to regulate his hours acquiring the additional duty, transporting the meals to the Manor utilizing  the manors  van,  McKinney’s  daughter Robyn either fulfilling the Manor needs or finding someone for weekends.

.  McKinney and the hospital board coming to a decision to hire a subjective administrator for the Nursing Home.   The ongoing search for an administrator concluded, the Manor staff introduced to the new administrator,  Gary having some questioning doubts about the board’s selection.    On one occasion, entering the manors new administrator’s office without knocking, the administrator seated at his desk, his back to the door,  Gary noticing a monitor screen situated on a shelf behind him displaying what appeared to be porn.   The administrator aware of his presence,  turning,  his body movements trying to break Gary’s line of sight, immediately retreating, withdrawing from the room,  knowing his interruption of the administrators aspersions,  would someday come back to haunt him.

.  A fall afternoon found Gary coming across Susan Luthi leaving the Manors administrator’s office, Susan approaching,  saying he was just the person she wanted to talk to.  She continued with an explanation.  She was a representative of Arrowhead West, and the sponsor of the laundry employee. The organization holding a recognition dinner in Medicine Lodge,  to recognize the handicapped and mentally challenged employees in Barber County for their labors,  and honor the employers,  who gave them the opportunity.  Susan relating she had approached the manor administrator,  and he had declined to attend and stand be introduced with the youth as his sponsor.

.  Susan  asking Gary if he would attend, and Gary with a smile,  giving Susan assurance,  of course he would be more than happy to participate.  The night of the event,  Gary in attendance greeting two other employers he was acquainted with, Jim Reed from the Kiowa CO-OP and Kevin White, the Medicine Lodge Hospital administrator, both having sponsored challenged employees.   Gary seated for dinner with the manor’s employee, and later standing with the down syndrome employee, as he received a plaque of recognition for his work accomplishment.  Gary also receiving a plaque of recognition for his attendance,  in the form of a hug from a thankful Susan Luthi.

.  A additional maintenance employee was hired, Rory Reed, Gary being told he was hired to make the once abandon large garage outbuilding on the Manor property suitable for use.  Rory’s previous employment was with the Kiowa CO-OP,  his father Jim managed.  Gary finding it was good to have a second pair hands at the facility.   With the new administrator, and the addition of a new Nursing Director,  he wasn’t the only one who noticed a uncertain atmosphere prevailed at the manor, still realized the unexpected entry into administrators office could have repercussions.    He sensed a feeling of being watched,  also having confrontations with the Manors Nursing Director about staff not making rounds,  a toilet overflowing for hours,  flooding  rooms and half way down the east hall, receiving a call at 2 o’clock in the morning.

.  A maintenance monthly responsibility was conducting and logging a fire drill at both medical facilities, including the clinic,  documenting the sounding of the alarms and the staffs response.   During a morning  drill at the hospital,  Gay Farney,  the Lab Director approached Gary with a concerned look on her face, stating that she had received a call from the Manors administrator,   directing her to perform a blood alcohol test on him.  The request raised some suspicion, curious if his recent confrontation with the Manors D O N,  their past disagreements  and  his unexpected walk-in on the Administrator may have given this request meaning.  Gary was comfortable submitting to the lab test, his concern wasn’t the test results,   but the  implication leading to a questionable future.   That evening receiving a phone call from the administrator, apologizing for the administrative misjudgment in asking for the test,  the negative results confirming his aberration.   The administrator stating,  his reasoning for the test was based on statement from the Director of Nursing,  Gary realizing,  his tenure at the Nursing Home would not endure,  concluding he was now a target for dismissal.

Grand Hotel Mackinac Island almost realized

.  Again the 97 Buick Skylark was traversing the road north to Wichita ,  Mid Continent Airport Gary’s  point of embarkation,  a United Airlines 737 flight to Chicago O’Hare, then a  flight northeast to Lake Huron and the Tri City (MBS) Airport servicing Midland, Bay City, and his destination Saginaw Michigan.    The traveler journeying during this Thanksgiving holiday  to affront an ICQ internet acquaintance whom he had visited with for many months,  a lady of standard whom had recently suffered a major physical difficulty.   Debbie’s occupation,  a transcriber of  recorded court proceedings,   typing the audio transcript  on a computer word processor as a written document,  returning the results to the subscribing court appointed attorneys and other parties.   For some unbeknownst reason her  vision having literally overnight diminished to the point she could no longer decipher the printing on her computer screen,  her circumscribed vision problem now a concern that she would lose her livelihood and source of income.

.  The arrival in Chicago,  O’Hare terminal #3  always enjoyable to Gary,  the underground walkway with the tantalizing chiming stereo sound and the psychedelic lighting giving a presence of entering another world.   He could envisioning the artisans of this production,  unprecedented in their fortitude for this artistic endeavor,  the structure providing a remembrance to all that passed thru it.   His travels continuing,  boarding a 737 for, the Michigan Tri-city Airport, disembarking finally meeting Debbie and friend Vicki who had provided the transportation considering Deb’s recent disability.  Gary was pleased that unlike other inaugural meetings with a new internet acquaintance, discovering their appearance didn’t exactly correspond to a self-description or photo,  pleasantly surprised that Deb justified the photo she had posted.

.  Gary looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with his Michigan internet friend, not surprised at the snow laden covering on the ground, a norm  for Michigan this time of the year.   The person from Kansas,  finding the unheralded hostess,  providing a traditional Thanksgiving meal of turkey and all the trimmings,  her sight not being impaired enough to distract from a kitchen performance.   The following morning,  the two traversing to the hospital for a scheduled MRI,  hopefully to discover if there were any neurological reasons for her demise vision.  The preliminary results reflecting no neurological problems, but a waiting period for the doctors official reading remained.   Gary having contemplated taking advantage of his Michigan journey to explore the tri-city area and lake front,  but having never experience the non forecast snowfall from what was called The Lake Effect, when cold air moves over warmer water, taking up moisture,  that later precipitates as snow when the air moves over land, and wasn’t too enthused to brave the weather.

..Giving it some thought,  there was  a destination that always intrigued him, one influenced by the movie, “Somewhere In Time“,  starring Christopher Reeves  and Jane Seymour, the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island,  the departure site for the alluring destination on Lake Huron was about a three-hour drive,  Placing a phone,  there was a resurgent,  the season for charting an accommodation having just closed.   Further adjustments prevailed as Deb’s car developed a difficulty,  and would no longer start.  Gary suggesting they call and have it repaired,  but Debbie insisted that she knew a mechanic that would take care of it,  but he wouldn’t be back until after the holiday weekend.  Gary somewhat distressed finding himself stranded in his new acquaintance home, although in good company,  not wanting to be sequestered.

.  His return Sunday having arrived, a late arrival by Vicki to transport them to the airport,  the three arriving as a final call for departure for Gary’s flight was being announced,  Gary not happy with the rush to board the plane, and the brief goodbye to Debbie.    Once aboard, the 737 remained on the Tri-City taxi way for a long time, questioning a stewardess to the reason for the delay, her reply,  the problem wasn’t Tri-City,  but O’Hare,  traffic was back-up because of the weather.  With  the delay Gary thought he would miss his connecting flight, but apparently,  it too was running late,  Finally airborne on his final leg to Wichita, from the air Wichita’s Mid-Continent would be a welcome sight.  The 90 mile drive, the newborn winter wheat just starting to flourish, a contrast to stark naked brown landscape of the Michigan winter.   Gary’s visit to Saginaw Michigan somewhat enjoyable,  his acquaintance with a friend acceptable in many regards, realizing a person to person confrontation trumps the written and spoken word.

.  The premonition still resided within,  his employment questionable.  the hiring of Rory Reed,   Rory informing Gary, he would be available to assist in the upcoming projects at the Manor.   It was  the last week of December 1998 and payday,  when Gary was summoned to the administrator’s office, the administrator handing him a check,  and without an explanation,  given notice his employment status was terminated effective immediately.  With all the changes in his life in the last year,  Gary had already come to a decision, if this day should come,  he wouldn’t question or contest his termination,  not because of a lack of valor or justification,  but acknowledging it would be better for all,  not to add to the reflected heresy of aspersions.

.  Gary wasn’t surprised that the word of his termination at the hospital had spread among the members of the Apostolic Church,  and  Ron Allenbach and Tom Farney were making inquiries on Gary’s behalf,  for employment elsewhere.   The days following his release were spent waiting on the monetary funds from his closed 403 hospital retirement account,  Gary considered his termination not a dismissal,  but a liberation, now able to give thoughts to opening other doors of opportunity, recognizing the world knows no bounds.

Gary and the Buick ready to go west

.  Gary decision was procreate,  an intuitive sense that maybe it was time to turn another page in the book of life,  a westward challenge was about to be ordained.   The 97 Buick was progressing south on highway #281,  then a rambling way to state 183 to enjoin Interstate 40 at Clinton  Oklahoma,.  The  Interstate  journey beginning,  no ambitious agenda,  just a forbearance of a California destination.  The westward trek on Interstate 40,  the highway having changed,  no longer the memory filled meandering historical Route 66 from the past.  Gary discovering an omnipresence,  a ferreting endless expanse of highway before him,  his travel being driven for no personal purpose,  exiting  with no self-proclaimed questionable answer. 

.   Gary’s mind-set attempting to contemplate a purpose, the future a masquerade waiting to be discovered.  The droning sound of the Buick on the soldiery road,  Gary a lone passenger,  passing the landmark acquaintances of  yesteryear,  the scenic aura a melancholy  comfort from the past, but projecting an unknown accolade of the future.  A planned overnight stop in Albuquerque abated, the evening hour still a fledgling,  a decision to press onward to Gallup before halting for the night.   With darkness beginning to prevail,  a welcome Motel Room to rest and replenish, a renewed  aspiration to boost his propensity for this California journey.

.  An early morning breakfast,  Gary again acquainting the highway a continuation on Interstate 40,  passing the Red Rock Caves west of Gallup,  another postcard vision.  The highway starting its dispersion upward,  the Arizona border on the horizon,  leaving the barren high plateau regions of New Mexico,  entering the tree enclosed mountains, a gateway to the beautiful throes  of  Flagstaff.   A brief stop for fuel,  the Buick continuing its abide westward, Gary’s thinking  becoming resolute,  a 14 hour,  900 mile trip to his sister’s residence in Columbia was deemed a possibility. Intersecting at Barstow, Ca. Highway 58,  departing the Interstate,  the town of Mojave and 100 mile desert trek stretching before him.    It was early evening the Buick arriving in Bakersfield to address a familiar friend,   the well-traveled Highway #99,  the artery north thru the Central Valley, its vestige the length of the state before exiting into Oregon.  Gary finding the highway inhibited mostly with ten-wheelers,  tractor and trailers their drivers performing an unheralded function,   transporting  the commerce that sets the table for America.

.  Bakersfield in the rear view mirror,  Fresno, then Merced and east to the Sierra foothill  his destination,  all within reach then a trammel circumstance suddenly made its presence known in the failing twilight , a prodigious valley fog beginning its emergence.    The view of the highway becoming obscured,  the pilot of the Buick unable to distinguish road signs, relying on logic,  following the tail lights of a the truckers before him hoping that the teamsters vision was better than his.   The slow pace travel went on for miles, the fog engulfing all signs of roadside life,  Gary looking to remove himself from this dissolute travel,  finally noticing a glow of lighted structures off the highway, the Buick exiting  into an unnamed  fog enshrouded  realm.  The glowing lights projecting the outline of a well-lit complex and its proclamation sign,  Pea Soup Anderson’s.

 .  Gary not seeing or hearing that name for over forty years, a remembrance returning, O’Toole funeral in Santa Ana.    The capturing fog curtailing any further travel,  Gary ordained to spend  the night at Andersen’s, not happy with the $120 charge for a night lodging compared to motel6 $36 per night,   but under the circumstances, when held hostage by fog, what could one do. Anderson’s Pea Soup and their advertised enterprise for some reason initiating the  memory of a journey  in the 48 Chevrolet with his father and two sisters to join his mother at his Uncle Charlie’s funeral in Santa Ana 

.  The early morning finding highway 99 still enshrouded in fog, but unlike the Stygian darkness, the  dawning delight providing some visual amenity, the journey continuing.  The fog was still persistent when reaching Merced,  the Buick changing directions,  journeying northeastward on State Highway J-59, finally breaking clear of the fog clouded shroud, the sun finally annihilating its  density , the scenic Sierra Foothills beginning their arrival.   The junction of #108, soon the familiar framework of Sonora coming into view,  Gary’s travel concluding  with the five-mile foray to Columbia,  the home of his sister Nancy and mother.    The welcome up-hill  driveway entrance on Parrotts Ferry Rd,  the magnificent tree engulfed log cabin structure with it resume of huge boulders providing a welcome sight.   The arduous 1600 mile journey coming to a conclusion, its purpose still unrealized,  but allowing a serenity,  an atmosphere for reflection, a time for Gary to ruminate on the past and current events that have transpired.

.  The time unfolding slowly,  Gary still pondering a direction, the stay of Columbia protruding on, keeping busy with a list of small project that his sister had accumulated over time.  Gary’s mind-set seemed in a semi-quasi state of limbo, indecision still reigned and with all his possessions still in Kiowa decision time was fast approaching, whether to remain in California or return to Oklahoma or Kansas.

Old Priest Grade at sunset 

Gary having decided to visit his sister Kay,  and Brother-in-Law, Don Da Valley,  at their affluent lake front home in the 19 square mile gated community of   Pine Mountain Lake,  a mile northeast of Groveland.  The Buick reaching Moccasin on highway 1 20,  approaching Priest Grade, named after Margaret Priest, the 1870’s  proprietor of the Waystation and Hotel at the summit of Grizzly Gulch.  Gary making the decision to take Old Priest Grade,  the 2 mile,  serpentine, 16 hundred foot cliff endowed elevation to the summit of Grizzly Gulch,  rather than new Priest Grade, the longer,  6 mile, highway 1 20 summit route on the other side of Grizzly Gulch.

Arriving at the Da Valley’s try-level home,  with its sandy beach,  affronting a scenic view of the quasi-stellar private lake.  The community, sporting an 18 hole golf course,  country club and restaurant, equestrian center, and airport, was a preeminent presidio display of monetary affluence.  His brother-in-law contracted as a computer systems engineer, at Loral Space Systems in Palo Alto, responsible for programming the meteorological, GOES,  8,  Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite,  to maintained its geostationary position,  and likewise involved in other projects that because of security classification,  was not at liberty to talk about.

Don’s bay area commute required him to spend weekdays in San Mateo at his mother Celesta’s residence,  Kay allocated to reside in Groveland alone, Gary finding the accommodations at the three level Lake House exceedingly spacious, his sister introducing him to her stay at  home routine.   Kay and Don having initiated a long desired project,  purchasing 90 acres of rural land on Ferretti Road which was a scenic loop from the town around the gated community,  and  rejoining Highway 1 20, 7 miles from Groveland.  The property eighteen miles from the Big Oaks Flat entrance to Yosemite National Park, and like most of life’s endeavors,  with its purchase, a seed was planted.   Katherine and Don’s master plan for the acreage was to plant forty acres of olives trees,  work having begun on the renovation of an old cabin on the 90 acre, its presence having a colorful past,  once  a residence,  a tack house,  even a rural church,  the cabin to be converted into a showcase exhibition room for their product.  The couple having hired Jacque,  a carpenter from San Francisco,  who previously provided workmanship at Don’s mother‘s home in San Mateo, and provided him with a place to stay at the lake house when available to work on the cabin.

Gary being questioned as to his future, his sister putting forth an offer for him to remain and assist in renovation of cabin and their ongoing projects, with an overture of residency at the lake house and some financial compensation, but the objective of his venture west was to assess the perspectives of returning to California,  not to make a decision.  His sister introducing an exposure to the world of the stock market and as an avid participant, an awakening to the corollary of Day Trading, providing an insight accomplished by experience. The DaValle’s having been active traders,  especially with the gaining appearance of IPO’s   (Initial Public Offering)    inaugurating from the High Tech Companies of the Silicon Valley.  Weighing the perspectives of his sisters offer, moving to California, the pro’s and con’s and the recourse on his family and friends, deciding to efface the numerous questionable complexities.  The only question:  should he to return to the encumbrance of the past,  or traverse into the uncertain clarity of the future?

The decision was made, he would move to California, reservations for a round trip flight to Kansas was coordinated,  scheduling a pickup date by United Van Lines to remove his possessions from his apartment in Kiowa for the journey west.  Katherine rendering him to San Francisco International  for a flight to Houston,  then boarding a 25 passenger commuter jet to Wichita Mid Continent Airport.  The flight concluding with a rental car,  and the drive to Kiowa.   Gary’s journey from Mid Continent to Kiowa was a melancholy experience,  twenty years of traversing this highway,  scenes and recollections from the past entering his thoughts,  knowing  this drive might never be renewed.  Entering the darken apartment, the fragrance of vacancy accompanying a forbearance of sadness, a sense of being privy to all memories that were captive within the walls,  and experiencing a hollowed emptiness,  knowing the past and one couldn’t change what had been written in the book of life.

A 53 foot United Van Lines tractor and trailer was parked curbside at the Price Apartments in Kiowa,  three employees embarking to remove Gary’s apartment of his possessions.   The moving experience taking less than two hours,  Gary discovering he would leave several unwanted items,  placing a call to his daughter Sandra,  asking if she would assist in the final dispersing of items left behind, and finish with the cleanup.

The loaded United Van Lines contemporary began its trip to Groveland,  the afternoon finding Gary bidding a goodbye to Kiowa returning his rental car, boarding a Wichita United Airlines flight via Denver to San Francisco,  the final move now decisive.  The arrival at SFO,  Gary finding Don accommodating him at the airport,  the two  spending the night at Don’s Mothers in San Mateo before returning  to Groveland.  Surprisingly the furniture accorded Van arrived in three days considering the probability of other stops as his few possessions were minimal in a 53 ft. van.  The driver wasn’t without comment, complaining about traversing New Priest Grade,  having to utilize both lanes of the highway to make the winding curves because of  the trailer length, and he wasn’t looking forward to the return trip.   Gary finding a temporary home  at the lake house, but a deep seated question remained of his decision.

.   The Pine Mountain Lake House residence providing Gary with an opportunity to indulge further into the stock market procrastination of investment,  his sister giving him access to her and Donald’s investment accounts allowing him to make short-term day trades for them.  Gary attaining a $6000 portfolio with Sure Trade,  a retail branch firm and a $7.95 flat fee per trade commissions for trades executed through their Internet trading platform.

 , The Day Trader  procuring low-priced investments,  opting his preference for stocks less than $15.00 a share enabling him to dwell in the 100 + share range when buying or selling,  watching for an upward movement of 50  cents or more on several hundred shares able to recoup a hundred or more dollars in a short time frame. The weekday mornings soon became the beginning of an abbreviated  NASDAQ trading day, realizing even with the daily study of the Wall Street Journal, advice from Charles Schwab,  Gary found that in some respect short-term investments were pretty much likened to a casino gamble.

Early Monday mornings were a ritual,  Gary and Kay seeing Don off to San Mateo joining him for store-brewed coffee and donuts  at the Groveland Mini Mart at the corner of Ferretti Rd and the 120 Highway junction.  Most other weekday mornings would find Gary and Kay and her Rottweiler Darien, who had a towering physical presence in the jeep his sister drove, would journey into Groveland for breakfast and several nights thru the week would fine them enjoying a prepared cuisine featured in the dining room of the Groveland Golf and Country Club. 

. .The two would frequent the acreage every day, both participating in the reconstruction of the historic cabin and catering to the two horses which were apropos in the modern stable that had previously been erected.  Sally, Kay’s youngest daughter on her visits from San Francisco appropriating a equestrian  skill with the equine species.  Sally prompting a workout in the fenced circular arena, letting the magnificent breed protruding their prominence and under her direction achieving a showmanship of expertise with the horses excise.   Gary discovering a new direction in life,  a family with monetary affluence, his sister responsible for the introduction.

..Gary having corresponded with California ICQ lady friend whom he had visit with from his apartment in Kansas, the two agreeing to meet.  Pat was in Merced, the meeting was cordial and it was apparent the picture she had sent him was taken years earlier and pounds lighter, but that was not unexpected.   Gary dressed in what he thought was appropriate  for a first meeting,  short sleeve shirt and tie, his internet friend dressing more casually in jeans ,  the two meeting at a Pizza Hut.  He was aware from their previous correspondence that her husband of thirty years had passed two years prior,  Pat mentioning that her solitude being the  reason for her ICQ participation.  

…Gary finding the lady very congeal, especially when she offered to provide a tour of  Merced in her pickup,  their brief ride ending up at Yosemite Lake, a small lake bordering the town.   Pat relating remembrances,  giving a reflection of  her late husband, the two having spent decades fishing this lake, Gary listening with understanding as she added that the Hmong influx from Thailand and Laos having proclaimed the east side of the lake as theirs and the Hispanics having occupied the west side, sadly expressing it was no longer safe.   Gary not being familiar with the demographics of Merced suspected her concern was warranted, upon leaving thanking her for an enjoyable afternoon.

…Another foray from Groveland traveling down Priest Grade to meet another awareness whom he had correspondence with from Kiowa, her name also was Pat.  Gary noting that both the ICQ persons in California whom he had corresponded with were named Pat.  Traveling from “Groveland, a long trip to Lodi, the lady having a home in an exclusive gated community, meeting her in for the first time.  Gary finding her personality adherent to her internet presentation, but discovering her physical apparition was new to him.  She was handicapped, not able to walk without an accommodation, her mode of transportation was a van with a lift enabling her to sit in the driver’s seat.   Her conversation was enlighten, very knowledgeable, humorously mentioning her gated community was where the Stockton Police Department reside, but her aspirations were of reliving the past. 

…Gary and her journeying to a A&W Drive In to partake of the roller skating waitresses, noting a sign proclaiming Thursday Cruise Night, a warrant of the past, both enjoying the experience.,  Her disability didn’t prevent her from preparing a dinner, asking if Gary would spend the night and accompany her to church in the morning.  She was a consummate Pentecostal, Gary spending the night in an alternate bedroom rising to a prepared breakfast, Pat capable and able to navigate the kitchen.  The Pentecostal Church was experience for Gary, never having attended a Church Service that exhibited such enthusiasm, never before observing a five piece band, drums, guitar, bass, keyboard sax fulfilling the background for the hymns. the congregation standing and lifting their praised to the Almighty.  The Sunday morning completed returning to Groveland,  not disappointed at making a new acquaintance but only as an online friend.

.  Gary’s entrepreneurial sister Kay and husband  Don having opened a Nevada office for their recent LLC business,  Orbital Tech Search Inc. in Nevada,  to a establish legal residency in  non-corporate taxing Limited Liability Corporations state,  enabling  prospective clients a means to diversify and incorporate their income.  Orbital having been established, joining the ranks of the DeValle’s  three  California LLC’s,  Indian Creek,   Morning Dove,  Olive Forever.  Gary never one to turn down an opportunity to expand his knowledge,  accepting an invitation to  accompany his sister to Reno for a three-day conference and seminar on LLC’s,  entitled,  The Asset Protection and  Tax Planning Strategy Conference,  at the Atlantis Hotel and Casino hosted by the Laughlin Institute of Corporation Studies, Limited .

.  The seminar to address what was known in the world of corporate structure as ‘the red ink system’, a means of diversifying their income and transferring it into several LLC’s  showing a loss by means of distribution thus a reduction in taxes.   The three-day conference to start on Wednesday March 24th, brother and sister to travel by car, Don would not be in attendance for the conference because of work priorities,  but fly into Reno Friday night to spend the weekend.   Joining the seminar group besides the two would be Gary’s niece Brenda McQuary and a friend of Dons, computer engineer Dave Matthews, also another a non-participant friend.   Gary soon found the Reno journey entailed more than just a three-day conference at the Atlantis, discovering they also would be spending  Saturday and Sunday nights at the Silver Legacy Hotel &  Casino.

.  A departure for Reno and the three-day conference, Gary piloting the Buick with his sister.  A stop for gas at San Andres  before the venture east on Highway 88 at Jackson,  the upward journey over the Sierra’s beginning, Kay asking if she could drive.  Gary not surprised as his sister was the driver in their family, not ever recalling her husband Don in the driver’s seat when she was present.   Leaving the bounds of the sierra’s an afternoon Reno arrival at the towering new edifice still under construction, the Atlantis, the two entering,  meeting with Katherine’s daughter Brenda, Dave Mathews and family friend.   Gary immediately perceiving the beckoning  sound resonating from the casino, its hypnotic voice enticing with the promise of reward.  Kay in a business like manner registered questions about the conference,  the answers were given, the large lobby Venue Directory servicing notice of the conference room location and the 8:30 a.m. starting time.

.  Gary having sat through ten years of informative seminar session on a variety of subject with the Kansas Hospital Engineers Association, discovering sometimes you feel like you’re being held hostage.  There was an upside to seminar attendance beside the educational benefit, it was the  dietary morsels provided during a break by the facility catering service, but when partaken of and endowed sometimes made it difficult to stay awake.  Dave Mathews being a large person, and concurrently having a large appetite, plus frequenting the late hours in the casino, would eat a copious afternoon lunch,  Subsequently one afternoon during a monotone seminar presentation, he found no difficulty discovering slumber land.  Brenda and Gary were not distracted with Dave’s dozing until he began to snore, then Brenda took control, quietly furnishing an unwelcome elbow to bring him back to reality. 

.  Gary wasn’t a gambler as such, but enjoyed watching others, he enjoyed spending the evenings with his niece Brenda,  the two attempting to show a profit on the uncooperative machines,  but together discovering a host of mutual subjects to converse about.  The morning would find them meeting at the bar, skipping breakfast because of the early conference time, Brenda having discovered,  if you purchased $10  in coins for the bar’s counter slot machines you would receive a free drink,  and as regiment would have it, Brenda would deposit the $10 in coins in the slot machine, and toasting the loss with a Bloody-Mary for breakfast.

.

.  The three days of Laughlin asset protection & tax strategies coming to a conclusion, Gary recognizing the big picture of de-facto deception of corporate tax by setting up a circle of LLC’s,  strategically rotating assets from one to another to show a loss.   With Don arriving from San Francisco for the weekend, a move being made to the Silver Legacy, a change from the upscale modern motif of the Atlantis,  to the western mining heritage of the 17 hundred room,  42 story Silver Legacy that opened in 1995. With the move, it was getting to be more like a family reunion,  Kay’s daughter Mary Garrett  arriving to join Brenda, the two to visit their father,  John Ove who had suffered a debilitating illness and was now residing in Carson City.

.

.  Gary found the most impressive feature in the Silver Legacy was the giant 180 ft. automated replica of a silver mining rig, its performance set on a timing mechanism with clock watching bystanders waiting to observe its operation..  The Buick was being put to good use, transporting Donald and Kay to their Nevada office and Brenda and Mary asking to borrow the Skylark to visit their father in Carson City, Gary happy to comply with both the request.  The weekend coming to an end, Gary making two trips to the Reno Airport, the first to see his Brenda off and Donald’s return to San Francisco. A farewell to Reno, this time Gary when asked by his sister about his impressions of the past week,  two words came to mind, “an experience”.

 .  The first of May found a spring snow falling at the lake house, with camera in hand, Pine Mountain Lake a pictorial background,  Gary taking a photo for posterity feeling like he was living in  Currier & Ives pictured postcard.  The weather returning to normalcy , Gary, Kay and her copious Rottweiler Darian firmly sequester in the jeep, their destination Greeley Hill, a secluded area south of highway #120..  The two arriving at the wooded home of John Brooks, a retired 74 years of age projector of heavy equipment,  a character of renown, having escalated much of the landscape in the county with his arraignment of bulldozing equipment for the past 50 years. A delightful person with endless stories from another era, his explorations for gold and all the discoveries he had made thru his 70 plus years of life.

.  His mountain yard filled with the equipment, relics and mementos from another time.  Like monuments, remains of old excavation equipment, several vintage trucks with a bygone history, an array of paraphernalia from his gold mining endeavors, including a mercury detort tube for extrapolating gold that he had invented,  every conversation entailed an exponent from his life.   The large gray-haired elder was an amiable overwhelming personality,  his presence and vocabulary one of dauntlessness and integrity,  a person that Gary immediately accepted.  Kay proposing John to transport his legendary D-8,  385 horsepower, 80,000 pound  caterpillar bulldozer to break the ground with a ripper blades,  for the future planting of her olive tree endeavor.  John agreeing to cultivate the hillside with the heavy-duty ripper,  but suggesting a first attempt be made with a smaller caterpillar.

. John and his son arriving at the proposed site , readied the smaller unit for its task but soon discovering it was unable to break the hardened soil of the virgin hillside terrain.   returning to retrieve the heavy-duty D-8  to accept the challenge,  it’s presence being successful.   Gary watched as a bystander but then called upon to journey to Jamestown in Katherine’s pickup with a 55 gallon drum to purchase diesel fuel for the Caterpillar.  It was also noticeable that John would occasionally stop, dismount and inspect the furrows of the turned over ground during his 40 acre traversing, Gary was reasonably sure that John was looking for the telltale signs of gold.

. The completion of the Cottage was entailed,  Mike,  a friend of Katherine’s daughter Sally, (Scelestia) noted for his impeccable carpentry skills  was employed.   A perfectionist  installing the hallmark beam ceiling for the downstairs, his work a paragon display.   Brother and sister deciding to put their painting and carpentry skills to task,  the access to the upstairs having required a ladder as the placement for stairs was still undecided.   The two designing and structuring the yet constructed outside stairway to the second floor,  notching and securing  the 2 x 10’s for the steps to be installed,   Jacque returning,  the San Francisco contractor having completed all the electrical and plumbing projects, his final calling would be the laying of the ceramic tile that would engulf the downstairs floor. the once building relic from the past beginning to resemble a showcase livable entity.

. Gary accompanying his sister,  the two journeying to the bay area,  venturing to Hayward,  stopping at an antiquity  home  built in 1888.   The McConaghy House,  a two-story,  six bedroom mansion,  now officially designated as a historical museum.   It’s stairway, windows and Victorian widows walk endowed roof for some reason implanted a fascination with Kay,  Gary not aware   her obsession with this structural part of history would might soon turn into reality. Katherine having set another goal besides the olive orchard and the remodeling of the cottage,  a project that would  fulfill her entailment with the McConaghy House as a legacy.   the purchase of an additional 120 acres adjoining the 90 acres,  would provide a realm for a Bed & Breakfast.

. With the lake house put on the market as a rental,  and a move to the cottage,  their goals of purchasing an additional 120 acres instilled,  the addition acreage included three houses and high delivery water well.   A journeying to contracting home builder George Williams Pine Mountain Lake home,  addressing him about his services and of duplicating a facsimile of the McConaghy House with a Bread and Breakfast concept in mind.   After several deliberations,  the contractor concurred,  accepting  the project,  the timeline undecided but the McConaghy facsimile would be realized.

.  Gary found the move to the cottage  somewhat unsettling , but the Yamaha console had found a new home.  At first Gary was more than satisfied with the large downstairs bedroom with french doors opening onto a porch, Kay and Don claiming the upstairs, but it was the 8 mile drive to Groveland and the habit of eating out that was the consternation.  The stay at the Cottage with its remoteness, serenity and echoes of benevolent country living was becoming prosaic.  there being no internet, television or outside distractions except for an occasional passing vehicle.  The only nocturnal sound was an occasional cricket or the rustling of the  creatures of the night,  an aura and realizing beginning to unfold, that silence could be deafening.  The summer found Kay’s grandchildren visiting, Gary and her erecting  a large tent, the grandchildren to spent a summer month breaking the solemn stillness of the countryside.    

. Gary’s labor provocations having diminished,  he and sister having expended their expertise.   The stay at the cottage beginning to seem like a bastion of  isolation,  but a reprieving  call from his sister Nancy in Columbia,  provided a reasoning to abrogate,  she was in need of a dog sitter for Kizzy,  his sister and mother having planned an extended excursion,  Gary finding a reason to waiver from the solitude of nomadic life,  returning to Columbia. recalling a memorable quote.   “where ever your heart is     there you will find your treasure.