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“To be a praying Christian does not mean we pray occasionally, but that we pray continually — wherever we are, whatever we are doing. We must put our faith into action. Just as…..
No one can live by taking a breath once in awhile or survive by taking only a sip of water once a week.
No person can read by a light that flickers on and off.
No sailor can steer his course with only an occasional puff of wind.
So it is with prayer and the Christian life. We must pray always, in all things, and in spite of all circumstances.
Exerpt from — “God’s Little Devotional Journal for Women” Honor Books — Tulsa, Oklahoma
My goodness, what is happening around here? Just when we find the body of Naomi, a couple goes missing. With the same absence of news coverage, the silence is as vast as the desert that swallowed these two up. It doesn’t take 48 hours for people to know their loved ones are in trouble. Whoever created that rule up is insane. Sure, in New York City, why not? 48 hours is just fine. In the desert, a 48 hour wait leads to finding a girl buried in a shallow mine.
When VST and I moved our rig, I can tell you this. Our daughter knew where we’d been, where we were and where we were headed. She checked in often, and sometimes, I think she may have installed a tracking device. Nothing would make her dad smile more than getting a call as we drove mile after mile. No, if we were on the roll, family knew our plans. For the second time in a month, law enforcement has disregarded a family’s terror when a member has gone missing. That’s only the two in our area. Something’s got to change.
Here in the desert, night has a whole new meaning. If you are scared of the dark, this isn’t the place for you. The desert night is so black. You can scream, holler, and cry and the only things that will hear you are the mustangs and rattlesnakes. I can drive five minutes from my house and be in vast nothingness.
Ronnie and Bev Barker are on an RV trip on roads that VST and I traveled many, many times. I assure you, this isn’t a trek for the unexperienced or faint of heart. There are hundreds of miles with NOTHING. No services of any kind between Hawthorne, Nevada and Tonopah, Nevada. That’s a long, long stretch of Highway 95. If you’ve driven it, you know. Highway 6. Highway 95. Plenty of places to disappear.
Ron and Bev are good people. Again, I don’t know them, but, their kids said they are members of their local Search and Rescue Squad. That speaks volume to their abilities and character. Not people that just decide to blow off plans to visit friends on a Tuesday afternoon.
These two stopped in Stagecoach, Nevada on Highway 50, March 27th. That’s the last credit card purchase they made. Their rig has a 55 gallon tank. At 6 – 7 miles per gallon, they could have travelled 330 – 385 miles. Their phone last pinged in Coaldale, Nevada. It’s been a week now. They were on their way to see friends in Arizona last week, Tuesday. Now, they’re gone. Their last cell phone Again, desolation doesn’t begin to describe these places. Dangerous things can happen. Rattlesnakes are pissy when they wake up in the spring. A flat tire could lead to many other problems. One things for sure, this couple had a brand new rig and car, cell phones and computers. Their RVing life was dialed in and now, they’re GONE.
Around here, Search and Rescue requires aircraft. There are just too few roads that go anyway. Most roads off the main highways are dirt. Rutted and pot-holed. A 385 mile nightmare for their family. Where are they. It’s over a week now. The days are getting very warm, the nights are still extremely cold. Ron and Bev are in trouble.
Coaldale, Nevada — Hundreds of Miles of THIS.
As awareness for the missing around here is rising, the false sense of security is gone. A local Ammunition store is offering a Self Defense class on April 25th at our brand new community center. There’s room for 100, and those seats were gone in minutes. I hope they offer a second class, because I certainly want to attend.
In some ways, Covid did teach us the 6′ rule. That’s a space to remember for self defense. Either you want to be two arms lengths from anyone, or you want to be hugging your attacker and fighting like heck. The middle range is the danger zone where you can get smacked. Just as Chris Rock.
It will take some time for things to calm down around here. If Ronnie and Bev had to go missing, this was the best time ever. The cavalry is coming. People are revved up and ready to search. Let’s hope are found safe and sound, with nothing more than a flat tire or broken axle.
For those of you that are RVing, please be safe. Things are not like they used to be in the old days. Everything has changed. Be prepared, not scared.
Ronnie and Bev — Prayers needed for their safe return
Life is just that. A complicated balancing act of so many varied responsibilities. Retirement makes me wonder how VST and I ever kept so many balls in the air at once. At times, life seemed nearly impossible, and yet, thing always got done. In the prime of life, productive people don’t have much time for examination of the belly button.
April 8th will be the two year anniversary of VST’s death. Remembering back to those last days, a variety of needs were put on the back burner with one main focus front and center. Hospice care for my dying husband. Those days were the darkest of my life. Horrific memories still pop into my head from time to time. What could I have done differently? How could I have made things go more smoothly? Being a hospice team of one on the hillside of Mount Davidson, I did the best I could. How difficult were those days with only VST and I knowing the toll “Goodbye” took on us.
During the last 726 days, so many challenges have been conquered. From moving 350 moving boxes from storage to keeping a 1/2 acre yard lush and lovely, life’s been busy enough. There were days when I spent too much time weeping. Other days when I wasted time sleeping too much. Some days were spent just thinking about life. Each day, writing took me to a focused place that I could express an abscessed wound. Coming to the end of my second widowed year, I find that my life is finally coming into balance.
For those of you just entering the foggy wilderness of widowhood, I send my prayers and love. I wish I could send you a road map. That was the original intent of this blog. After all this time, I realize that was a bloated and arrogant thought. No one can lead another on the journey of grief. It’s all a new widow can do to put one foot in front of the other and find her own way. I know that the prayers of T, K, Miss Firecracker, CC, Ninja Neighbor, Ace, and all the others who supported me helped me find a new life, one day at a time.
Today, I was taking inventory of the parts of myself that need nurturing. Thinking of my recent activities, a personal balance is finally coming into focus. Spirituality, artistic abilities, social needs, grief, financial security, home-owner responsibilities, self care, creativity, intellect, community service, and love of nature. Listening to my inner voice, I’ve slowly plugged in nurturing activities. God’s grace and mercy have given me strength to carry on.
As a widow of 66, these are the last years in life I can enjoy activities of my very own choosing. Slowly, health and circumstances will enforce certain limits. Until that happens, I need “make hay while the sun shines”, as my dad would always say. VST would just tell me I can sleep when I’m dead”.
Awhile back, when things weren’t very balanced, I made a pie chart of my activities to see from where the imbalance came. Being a visual person, it was interesting to see that laziness was taking up more of my life than necessary. A little more social interaction was necessary. By adding a little of this and taking away a little of that, the balance I’m currently enjoying is starting to feel natural.
726 days represents quite a journey in my life. In reality, it’s only 3% of my days on earth, yet sometimes consuming 100% of my thoughts. In the big old world, April 8, 2020’s heart wrenching loss wasn’t even a hiccup. Life goes on. Grief is something we experience as we continue living. At some point along the way, the 8th’s of every single month now hold promise instead of loss. Instead of two years a widow, I’m coming up on two years with my own personal angel. Tall, dark, and extremely handsome he will always be to me. Today is the first day of the rest of my life. What will I choose to do next?
Look for your own balance. If one activity is taking up too much of your time, try a different approach. Add a new activity to spice up your life. The choices are too numerous to count.
Continued prayers for Ron and Beverly Barker. As of this writing, they haven’t been found.
Yesterday looked a lot like this picture here in the high desert plains of Nevada. The weather can’t decide yet. One minute it’s still and warming, the next overcast and blustery. It always surprises me how tall the sage brush grows. Even though it doesn’t look like it, sage brush can grow to be 4 1/2′ – 5′ tall. Everything seems closer than it really is. The ground looks flat, but it’s really uneven. All deceiving at a first glance.
Yesterday was an in-between spring day. Bright blue skies made things look warm and inviting, while the desert winds were brisk. It was the day they found Ronnie and Beverly Barker. Sadly, only Beverly was taken to the hospital. Ronnie had already died.
I don’t know these folks. They aren’t my beloved mother, father, brother, sister, aunt, uncle or friend, although they were all those things in their lives. It took nine days of red-taped insanity to get anyone to listen. Even the Nevada Silver Alert System couldn’t be activated right away because the couple didn’t live in our state. It took regular citizens to hound the governors office to bend that rule. WHATTHE HECK??? It took a week to get planes in the air, even though Beverly and Ronnie had been in the Civil Air Patrol themselves.
Ron and Beverly carried 8 days worth of supplies and medicines. They were both diabetic, according to family. Beverly used a walker.
In this crazy world, it isn’t common to make a plan and stick to it. Our generation of people do just that. These two were going to be at their friend’s house on a certain day at a certain time. It’s called an appointment. Not suggested arrival time, but a day and hour in which the visitors knock on the door and the host has an array of goodies and drinks waiting for the travelers. Pillows are fluffed and waiting for their weary heads. When one has an appointment on a certain time and day, they don’t decide at the last minute to go see the wildflowers in Death Valley, or take a side trip to Yosemite National Park. Friends and family of Ron and Beverly knew, without a shadow of a doubt, something was very, very wrong. Again, Law Enforcement didn’t LISTEN TO THE FAMILY.
My generation doesn’t decide at the last minute to take a detour in an opposite direction. We know how to prepare and execute a real plan of action. However, it’s so easy to trust travel technology. Their chosen route ended in death. How these medically fragile, elderly people were abandoned in the desert for 9 days is beyond my comprehension. Lack of action by Law Enforcement will definitely be a factor when I plan a road trip. In this day and age, we’re all on our own. Don’t expect or welcome help from anyone. Don’t expect the Calvary to come to your aide should something go wrong.
Ronnie and Beverly’s RV was located on Red Mountain near Silver Peak. I haven’t been there, but expect its a place that VST would have never chanced taking our rig. He was careful in that way. The news reported their rig was found stuck in mud. It was raining the night they went missing. Their car was gone. The couple was found a little later.
Two days ago, when no one had any idea where they could be, I had the most chilling thought. Remembering back to my own RVing days, I wondered if Beverly ever learned how to drive the rig herself. I didn’t. In an emergency, I could have. I would have. But, I also wouldn’t have known the best ways to move a 30′ house, especially on dirt roads. I remember eliminating certain motorhomes from consideration due to their extremely low clearance. Sadly, Ronnie and Beverly’s motorhome appeared to be that type. Not recommended for off road adventures.
I also wouldn’t have had strength enough to unhook the Jeep trailing behind the rig. Ladies, if you are the passenger of an RV, insist that you know how and are able to do these two things. Be an active participant because it just might save your life.
As the days go on, please join in prayer for Beverly’s recovery from this nightmare. Please pray that our “protectors” change some laws to locate vulnerable people that get lost in the desert. Minutes are critical in “Missing Person” cases. In the last month, Nevada authorities have twice wasted valuable days, resulting in death to victims.
Thank goodness for Missing Person Facebook Pages. It was because of thousands of interested people that both cases received attention from the press and law enforcement. Those concerned followers got Civil Patrol planes in the air.
Heal quickly, Beverly. Rest in Peace, Ronnie. You are missed.
If you have been following, you know my area has been hit by two high profile cases in the last month. The one that brought back so memories and emotions has been that of Ronnie and Beverly Barker and their disappearance while RVing in a place I know very well. It took nine days for the authorities to get it together to find them. Once the air search began, they were discovered in a few hours. Ronnie died because of the Nevada’s legal road blocks on days 1-8.
Law enforcement — #LISTENTOTHEFAMILY.
The following speaks for itself of the strength and courage of Ronnie and Beverly Barker. It speaks of their faith in God Almighty. It speaks of so many things bigger than us, you just need to read it and find the message for yourself.
Written by Ronnie and Beverly Barker’s relatives Travis Peters, Lynn Bledsoe, Chris and Jennifer Whaley. Told by Beverly Barker, survivor.
UPDATE 9:22 EDT 4/6/22
If anyone would like to see my full interview it will be on at 10:00pm Indiana time / 7pm Nevada time. Just open Facebook and go to the WTHR-TV homepage and out Facebook live segment will begin. I’m not use to being on that side of the lens.
UPDATE 8:02pm EDT 4/6/22
I don’t even know how to tell everyone the story… I will try to tell the best I can. About 6:15pm, we received a group video call from Jennifer. Like you all, we were waiting anxiously to hear how Bev is doing and get some details about what happened. Jennifer appeared on the phone and waited for everyone to appear…. she was sitting in the driver’s seat of a car so we assumed she was headed to the hotel after visiting with Bev. There was a gasp of astonishment when Jennifer simply panned the phone over and there was Beverly sitting in the passenger seat of the rental car. You guys cannot imagine the rush of emotion that shot thru us all….
We anticipated Jennifer was going to tell us what happened, but instead we were given the story directly from Beverly.
Through an intermittent cell signal, and the voice of someone that had just spent 9 days on the side of the mountain we heard the details. I will attempt to re-tell this but I will never get it 100% correct but I will try.
Beverly stated that the GPS was to blame for getting them into the pickle they found themselves in. The “highway” switch was not turned on in the GPS settings so I suppose it found the shortest route to their destination and that’s the way they went. I’m unclear of where they were heading on that Sunday evening, that’s a detail I missed when talking with her.
In any event they started down the road, following directions. There never was a fear that they were doing anything wrong. Bev recalls they they saw other cars, I believe she even mentioned another motorhome was seen. The directions had them making turns and they knew they were going up a mountain but I don’t think they ever had a fear that they were doing anything wrong. Bev said that the RV was doing just fine on the road other than the fact that they had to slow down because the trailer dolly that was bouncing around if they went too fast. Eventually the motorhome became stuck in the gravel and sand that was their roadbed. In my mind I pictured them stuck in the mud, but I think it was more of the sand.
They were going nowhere that Sunday night so they figured that they would just sleep in the RV and just hop in the Kia Soul in the morning and just continue up and over the mountain and get help to free their RV.
Without thinking about it, they just got in the car the next morning (Monday) and drove away from the RV. Thought wasn’t given to getting some water or blankets… They were ok, they just needed to go get some help to get the RV. Bev said they continued and came across numerous intersections and they took a wrong turn and eventually found themselves stuck again.
The next part of this story isn’t about the struggle to survive, because yes, that was happening. No, the rest of this story can only be described as a religious experience. I cannot provide a day-by-day account, but I will give you some details only because Beverly gave me permission to tell you all.
They remained with the stranded Kia, roughly 2 miles from where they left the RV. They had no idea how far they had went or how to begin to get back to the rig, especially in the shape they were in physically. They stayed with their vehicle and Ronnie would tap out SOS signals on the horn every 10 minutes. Ronnie taught Bev the pattern and she would do the same throughout the 9 day ordeal.
It was cold at night. Bev said the temps dropped to roughly 27. She never mentioned hunger as an issue, but thirst was their enemy. I’m unsure of when things got to the point that Bev had to begin taking care of my uncle as the dehydration began to pull the life from him.
Bev mentioned finding the strength to walk a long way to get snow that remained along a ridge. She used her walker for balance and she had bags that she would fill with snow before returning to uncle Ronnie. She mentioned using N95 masks that they had in the car to hold the snow. My uncle Ronnie was dying, and there was nothing they could do but honk that horn and try to melt snow for drink.
Bev mentioned the beauty of the area they were stranded in. She recalled how gorgeous the blue skies were and how many aircraft they would see crisscrossing the skies. I THINK she mentioned hearing or seeing someone that was looking for them but the cell signal made it hard to understand her at times. She spoke of the nights and how beautiful the stars were as they cuddled in the backseat of the Kia Soul.
My uncle was having difficulty breathing so Bev would have to position herself in ways that allowed Ronnie’s lungs to get air. She joked about one time she put her leg across his body and he told her it felt good because of the warmth she was providing him.
My uncle began to see Ananias from the Bible and he would talk to Ronnie. Ronnie asked Bev to read to him from the bible and she would do so as they passed the hours and days in the car.
Ronnie blamed himself for getting them into the situation but I do not think that there was any blame for him to shoulder. Eventually peace came upon the both of them and Ronnie Barker passed away at 3:12pm on Monday April 4. Beverly said that she snapped a photo so that she would remember the time of his passing.
She left her husband in the back seat and moved to the front of the car and resumed the only thing she could do….honk the horn….S O S….. She became frightened that the battery had died at some point after Ronnie passed. She went to honk and nothing happened. She waited a few hours and though to try again and luckily it started to honk again.
She remained with Ronnie and the next day (yesterday) unbenounced to her, rescuers located the RV. They were able to see the tire tracks and began following, although they were having a difficult time keeping the tracks as the desert would swallow them occasionally. Finally, after 9 days on Red Mountain, a rescuer heard that S-O-S coming from the Kia and Aunt Bev was finally safe.
Bev didn’t go into details of how she felt when she saw her rescuers. She said that they asked her what she needed and she instantly said “Water!” They asked if she needed food and amazingly after 9 days with nothing to eat she told them that she really wasn’t hungry.
She never mentioned weeping for her loss, I’m not sure she had the water to even form tears at that moment. She didn’t mention fighting anything that was happening around them. It was like they were ok with how it could end.
My friends…….that is everything she told me that I can recall. I was due to record an interview with my evening reporter Scott Swan so I think I staggered from my edit bay and he was the first person I saw so I told him I had just talked to Bev. We were already supposed to record an interview, so with Beverly’s blessing I talked to Scott and told him what I just told you all.
I will post that interview later this evening for you to hear. I still have questions…. where were they trying to get to? When did the gas run out? Bev mentioned that it had 3/4 of a tank when they started down the mountain. Did they ever come close to rescue? Did they see any search aircraft? Minor details that really don’t matter at this point.
The story has been told to me, and me to you….A miracle took place on Red Mountain. There’s no physical way that Bev would have been able to make it to get snow time after time without the Lord carrying her up to that ridge. The story Bev told, while heartbreaking, was uplifting as well. There was way more talk about how they were at peace with the fate that was closing in on them. There were more words of love and kindness to each other than pain and suffering. It truly was a religious experience.
I often tell people that my favorite church is when I’m alone in the woods or out on a creek or lake. It’s real…and there’s nothing fake about my church. Ron and Bev spent 9 days in my favorite church and in a way I’m very jealous of the spot that the Lord chose to bring Uncle Ronnie home.
We told Bev of all the prayers that you all were sending out. We told her of people from England and Australia that reached out to us. All of those dropped what they were doing and went looking for them in that Nevada high desert. She thanks all of you from the bottom of her heart. Thank you all….
The following words are the “official” statement we are now releasing to members of the media. We thank them all for their coverage of this harrowing story, and we ask that they continue to follow us as we try to get things changed so that no family has to struggle for the help we were seeking. Ronnie Barker passed away on Monday 4/4. Beverly was rescued roughly 21 hours later. Had proper steps been taken from the moment they were reported as missing, my Uncle would be alive today. Your inability to deal with this situation cost my uncle his life. I hope that haunts you for the rest of yours.
————-Statement from the Family of Ronnie & Beverly Barker April 6, 2022
The family of Ronnie and Beverly Barker wish to thank those who participated in the search and rescue operations to locate our beloved family members. The outpouring of support was nothing short of incredible by the members of the local community. Our hearts are full because of the efforts that were put forth to help us bring Ron and Bev back home again to Indiana.
While the loss of Ronnie Barker is tragic, we are grateful that Beverly was found alive and can now begin her recovery from this tragic ordeal. We are grateful that Beverly will be able to fill in the blanks and give us the answers that we all so desperately seek.
Ronnie Barker loved his family and loved his country. He served our nation proud over his 26 year career in the United States Air Force. Ronnie was a believer in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was proud of his faith and was always willing to give to others. He was funny, witty, and was the spark of energy that everyone gravitated toward. People just loved and wanted to be around Ron Barker.
Our family grieves over this news, and we question the roadblocks that seemed to stifle the search from the moment we were made aware of their disappearance. It’s our hope that Ronnie Barker’s legacy will be changing policy that will allow for a more expeditious approach to locating missing persons of all ages for both non-residents and residents of the state of Nevada. We call upon the citizens of Nevada to stand up and demand that changes be made at ALL levels of Public Safety to avoid the hurdles that our family faced as we attempted to bring resources into the search of our loved ones.
Fly high MSgt Ronnie E. Barker, you served us all well.
Ronnie Ercel Barker 11/21/1949 – 4/4/2022————–
Ronnie and Beverly Barker
You can follow their story at
Ronnie and Beverly Barker – Missing from Dyer Nevada (Facebook page)
I give you this one thought to keep I am with you still – I do not sleep I am a thousand winds that blow I am the diamond glints on snow I am the sunlight on ripened grain I am the gentle autumn rain When you awaken in the mornings hush I am the swift, uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight I am the soft stars that shine at night Do not think of me as gone – I am with you still – with each new dawn.
I am so blessed to have shared such a life with VST. Today is all about honoring his memory.
Do something special today in memory of those you have lost. Hug someone. Smile. Enjoy some laughter. Perform a random act of kindness. Be mindful that in the blink of an eye, everything can change.
Ballet — using movement to illuminate human emotion and endeavor.
Northwestern Nevada
April 8th, I visited a place that’s become my favorite when a change of scenery is needed. The Lake. To be quite sure, this isn’t a place to park the car and go for a stroll. Vast and lonely, mysterious stories and secrets surround her which is one of the reasons I’m drawn there. On days when my focus is disrupted by sorrow, nature’s beauty comforts me best. Friday was a day just like that.
Needing a picnic, I stopped at the local Subway on Main. I could easily live on Subway sandwiches for the rest of my life. My little town has a busy shop and the sandwiches are always fresh and tasty. I’ve recently discovered the Child’s size sandwich. 4″. Perfect for lunch.
Stepping outside, the crisp spring day made me smile. Across the street, the hardware store was bustling with activity. Just minutes before, I’d stopped to buy couplers for my decaying sprinkler system. Fix one spot, three more leak while becoming a never ending project. Who needs the gym when one has a beautiful yard that needs tending?
With Easter just around the corner, I’d love to buy spring flowers and put them everywhere. Nature has other plans. For the next week, nightly frost will blanket us. Tahoe is expecting 12″ of snow. The winds continue to howl. Expensive spring flowers would be ruined this week. It was announced last week that Nevada is the most expensive place in the US to garden. After looking at 2022 prices for flowers, I’d have to agree. Nope. That project needs to wait a little longer.
Driving out to the lake, the clouds were performing a ballet just for me. Big Sky. If you haven’t experienced it, you need to. It’s something wonderful to behold and nourishment for the soul. Driving along while listening to tunes from the 80’s, I had plenty of time to think. 1987 changed my life forever. I met four people that transformed me into a better woman. VST and his three kiddos. Along with my two boys, we became a pack of 7. What an adventurous life we shared! Time remembered a little differently by each one of us, but cherished by all.
The terrain on the road to the lake reminded me of all the places VST and I traveled through the years. The coastal ranges of California, the plains of Wyoming and South Dakota, and the Central Valley of California where we both grew up. The spring rains have given new life to the hills, turning them the prettiest shade of desert green. At The Lake, shore birds come to rest and nest. With the high salt content of the water, grebes, pelicans (yes, PELICANS), cormorants, waterfowl, gulls, and terns all enjoying time there as much as I do. On the vast and wild lake, life is abundant. You just need to stop long enough to eat a sandwich and watch.
My time at the lake was cut short when a fisherman surprised me as he up over the ridge towards the bathrooms. With Naomi’s murder fresh in my mind, the Jeep and I were already rolling before that gentleman got any closer. Miles and miles of silent emptiness is the perfect place for one old lady to be snatched and never missed. Not happening on my watch.
Driving back home under the brilliant blue sky, the clouds danced along, changing shape and speed. A show just for me and the memories that tagged along for company on April 8th, 2020. Such a beautiful day to mark two years since VST’s went on his way.
With Mother Nature in the middle of her indecision, garden hoses are stowed and soup’s in the kettle. The winds are wild today, just the way I like them. All the while, the clouds dance on, eastward.
The desert. A most comforting place to call home. I’m so glad it’s mine.
Have a wonderful Sunday, whatever you decide to do.
Every day, the best place is found in the middle. A very wise friend once told me the following. “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift.” Sandwiched between what was and what will be is today. With no hope of changing the past or the writing the future, we need to get with it and make today the best it can be.
Everyone values time differently. Make no mistake, it’s the one thing you can never get back. It never goes on sale. A minute is worth 60 seconds whether it is in the morning, afternoon, or evening. Passing at a constant speed, it’s a personal decision on how minutes are used and everyone does that a little differently.
As a 3rd Grade teacher, one of the first lessons shared was about the available teaching minutes in a school day. We had 340 teachable minutes. Listing everything my eager students wanted to learn and do during the school year, we then dealt with the reality. The school district required 180 minutes for language arts, 85 minutes for mathematics, 22 minutes for physical education, 30 minutes for Social Studies AND Science. That left a whopping 23 minutes for the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call and lunch count, art, music, drama, story time, and a little fun. Get the picture?
During the first week of each school year, we would brainstorm how minutes could be bankrolled to give us extra time to create the fun that 3rd Grade is supposed to be. My students were creative. We always found time to create dramatic plays, and work on cursive handwriting (not required, but taught). It was all about time management, even under the watchful eye of a very strict and performance based principal. When there’s a will, there’s a way.
While teaching, the middle was a great place to be. Children change by the hour. Something horrible happens in the morning, and by the afternoon, three great things have already replaced the bad. Grouchy moms would drop off their children with complaints and worries. Just hours later, they would return in smiles and complimentary remarks. In the middle, I found fun, peace, acceptance, and love from my students. After all, we didn’t have the minutes to waste anywhere else. There wasn’t time for drama or grudges. Things happen. Life moves on. Get on the bus or get left behind. It’s all a choice.
I miss those days of meeting goals and growth. Of watching a class of silly little squirrels turn into responsible children while working together to create an educational atmosphere in Room 20, where teachable moments were everywhere you looked. Somedays, the Winterpast is pretty quiet.
My best minutes, as you already know, are in the morning hours of darkness. This morning, the wind continues to howl. Zephyr Winds as Mark Twain called them. You can hear them racing from miles away, exactly like the rumble of freight train. The closer they get, the louder. Like ocean waves, they blow over Winterpast. One blast after another.
Ninja Neighbor was out last night waiting for Mr. B, Master of the Gardens. We were both considering whether or not to turn the water off, yet again. It’s a process that is best done during the day. Mr. B had just turned mine on two weeks ago. He’s not turning his own water off. I decided to take a chance and leave mine on. Ninja Neighbor is going the safe route and turning hers off. With a forecast of freezing nights for five days in a row, we’ll sit tight and see who was right.
This week, my minutes are totally consumed. From Jeep maintenance to Easter Dinner for ten, I’ll need to count my minutes and make choices on how to spend them. Precious time on which to paint beautiful memories. It’s all we have in life.
Time is a marvelous gift. Just what will you choose to do with yours today?
It’s raining today, I’ll stay in my room Quiet Oliver, the clouds will break soon But I must confess, I’ll be glad if they stay I don’t want to leave It’s raining today! Here and then gone Invisible dawn All of the edges are frayed No warmth on my shoulders, the weather’s gettin’ colder Zephyr winds carry old worries away. My hat’s on the porch, it’s heavy and soaked I’m on the steps and I don’t have a coat. What do I do? What can I say? It’s raining today! The gardening crew all can sleep in Local joggers and walkers, too. I want it done but I’ll have to wait I can’t get to work It’s raining today! It’s raining today! What does it mean? Probably not much of anything! Still I can’t resist to let my thoughts stray What harm will it do? It’s raining today! Here and then gone Invisible dawn All of the edges are frayed No warmth on my shoulders, the weather’s gettin’ colder Zephyr winds carry these old worries away My hat’s on the porch, it’s heavy and soaked I’m on the steps and I don’t have a coat What do I do? What can I say? Its raining. Today.
Borrowed and Customized. Inspired by The Avett Brothers — It’s Raining Today
