The happiest of birthdays!

As my birthday numbers keep rising, so does my awareness of my many blessings in life. This year, at 77, my birthday was exceptionally blessed and happy. I am at our family's summer cottage on an island in Upper Peninsula Michigan. I am with almost all my family and we all spent a wonderful day together- and topped it off with a group midnight plunge off the dock!  Dave is with us in spirit because he left us his Boston Whaler which is our main transportation, and as he wished, the grandkids and cousins are all learning to drive it. I am healthy, happy, and looking foreword to many more birthdays!

Liz Meyer 

Carnine Ranch

For 55 years my family goes a little out of our way on our summer sojourn to our island in Upper Peninsula Michigan to visit this 5000 acre cattle ranch in the sand hills of Nebraska. Forest was born and raised on this ranch, which was bought by his father in the early 1900's. Forest recently died at age 93, and his son Dan and grandson Leo now run the ranch. A small ranch by local standards, they grow alfalfa and raise over 350 head of cattle. Over the years we have watched as the generations and farming methods have changed. Barns change, cattle are herded by ATVs instead of horseback, windmills in the fields to water the cattle are now solar powered. 100 years of watering systems and farm equipment are present to show their evolution. But some things never change. Every meal begins with a blessing, and needed weather is prayed for, neighbors still come to help with the Branding, and family emergencies. Truly, America is blessed with ranches and families like this.

Devils Tower

Day two of this journey began with a spectacular sight of the big Cottonwood Canyon and crossing over the pass. The day ended with the spectacular sunset on Devils Tower in Wyoming. Poking out of the plains of Wyoming for 867 feet from its base stand this amazing rock. We made camp, and toasted a good day of driving. We visited the Devils Tower National Monument Visitor Center the next morning, however it was closed due to Covid. Still, getting that close to that monstrous structure was awe inspiring.  A long day of driving brought us to Loren's beautiful home near Minneapolis MN. I drove on alone the next day, missing the good company and the drive sharing! 

Liz Meyer 

From the Desert to the Mountains

All of a sudden circumstances fell into place for me to take a van trip! A friend was staying  in the guest house, and she could watch the dogs and house. Another friend needed a ride to his home in Minnesota, and with Covid concerns, a van trip was the safest route.  Angela and her family were planning to gather at Hatch Haven, and I quickly decided to join them.  Leaving early from 29 palms, as the temperature would be rising to 111 that day, Loren and I shared the driving and got to Salt Lake City that night, covering 700 miles that day.  Loren suggested we reward ourselves after that long day with a detour up through Big Cottonwood Canyon the next morning.  The early morning sun backlit the Mountains, pines and cottonwood trees as we travelled up this river canyon.  We drove through some of the most elite ski resorts this country offers, and climbed up to a 10,000 foot height to traverse the mountain pass.  What a glorious way to start our second day of travel!




Liz Meyer

The New Reality

Session met in Mom’s house last night,  the last time for an undetermined time.  They all left in tears, carrying the burden of how their decisions will be affecting our church family, and the families and employees of Little School of the Desert.  The Governor’s mandate to stay at home effects us all, in this entire State.  Those of us among the elderly have already self isolated, and now hundreds of thousands more will be doing the same.

September 11, 2001 changed society as we knew it here in the United States, and ramped up security around the world. The Corona Virus will change our lives forever, around the world. Even if we don’t catch the virus (and the Governor predicted that half the population would, if critical measures are not taken) we are all affected by the uncertainty of these times. How bad will it get? How long will it last? What will happen to our personal finances?....And the world economy?

This is a good time to reflect on the world as our community and where we have been taking it.  Let’s make this an opportunity to change the direction and become a kinder world.  Isolation has not changed our ability to reach out to each other by phone and the internet to share our love and encouragement.  My hope and prayer is that we emerge from this event as better people, one person at a time.

Liz Meyer

Fwd: Homeless count

 Homeless count

This morning I went out before sunrise to help count the homeless living in 29 Palms.  What an eye-opening four hours!  I was on a team with four men (I love going out with men!) The driver was Jim Thornburg, one of our former sheriff Deputies and now our city's Code enforcement Officer.  We rode in his BFT (The first thing I learned is that a BFT is a Big F..ing Truck).  Jim  knew where all the homeless camp out, knew them by name, knew their stories and has a great rapport with them. Along with Jim were four of us representing 29 Palms Rotary - Gary Daigneault, owner and operator of the Morongo Basin's Main radio station, who has lived here over 30  years; Aaron Kyle, a third generation local who has lived here over 40 years; Danny Mintz one of our City Council members and a second generation '29-er  with over 50 years of local living; and me, a second generation local, with over 70 years of living here.  Among all of us in the truck, we shared stories all morning of people and places of the past in this town. We carried with us hot and freshly made egg muffins from Jack-in-the-Box; backpacks filled with Sox, underwear, hats etc; bags with personal toiletries; and sleeping bags.  One abandoned house had 7 People living in it!  Our team counted  and surveyed 15 people.  The surveys were recorded on an App on our cell phone.  This information will be used to receive County, State, and Federal funding and services.  I sure know more about this town than I did when I woke up this morning!

Sent from my iPhone

Fwd: JOIRIDE

This has been an over-the-top day, and I need to write about it to share my excitement. This is a scheduled meeting day for the Board of Trustees of Copper Mountain College, and, as President, I needed to be on board for the meeting by 2 o'clock. At 12 o'clock noon, my friend and partner in a business enterprise, Ivan, called me and said, "Do you want to go for a helicopter ride?"  He and Chris are partners in a helicopter airline business, planning to build a heliport on my land near Joshua Tree National Park for tourism purposes.  The company's name is JOIRIDE, and they are contracted to fly for news reports for NBC.  In return, NBC agreed to give them a publicity photo shoot, which included JTNP and my land.  

OF COURSE I was up for the ride, but told Ivan I needed to be at the college by 2 o'clock. Ivan said, " no problem,  we'll drop you off at the college at two."  So I met them on my land, the JOIRIDE helicopter landed, and a second helicopter landed also. JOIRIDE had one NBC photographer and the second helicopter had two other NBC photographers.  We spent the next two hours doing photo shoots of exciting flights, hovers, and scenes with desert backgrounds.  Very fun!  At 1:30 I texted Jeff Cummings, the College President, and told him I was flying in for the meeting, and on my way. We landed on the athletic fields near the gym, and Jeff was there to pick me up!  Observers commented it was like a Presidential arrival, and I reminded them I WAS the President of the Board, and we all had a good laugh! To top it off, we had a very good Board meeting.

Sent from my iPhone