Let me tell you about my adopted family.

I was orphaned pretty young. When our father died in my sixteenth year, I didn’t have a place to live. I did have a good friend, Jim, who I knew in high school. His family took me in so I could finish high school. Sherrie, whom I visited in the precious story, was the ring leader. Her, along with her husband Mike, Jim, Jim’s brother John, and near the end of my time there, Joanie, gave me a home for a year. I’ll always have a big special place in my thoughts for them.

Joanie is my adopted sister. We’ve stayed in touch all these years, although there were several years when I didn’t know where she was and I’m sure she didn’t know where I was either. We met again in 2005 when my son Mychal and me made a three-week long road trip through the west. Joanie lived in Sedona, Arizona, and Mychal and I spent a few days with Joanie and her daughter Sophia. Joanie lived in Sedona for many years until she recently moved to Azalea, Oregon with her partner Robert.

Now you’re up to date.

Linda and I pulled out of Bishop early in the morning of June 8th. Our destination was somewhere in Northern California, preferably near Mt. Lassen National Park. We drove up US 395 toward Reno. We made good time. Actually, we made great time. We passed through Susanville by 1:30 PM, heading toward Mt. Lassen. While pulling out of Susanville, I had the idea that maybe we could visit Mt. Lassen and drive all the way to Joanie’s house that evening. I called Joanie and left her a message. Linda and I then drove into the northern part of Mt. Lassen National Park and made a quick hike through the woods.

Northern California has some impressive mountains. From a viewpoint near Lassen, I saw Crater Peak, an 8,683 foot extinct volcano. About an hour from there, while driving along Highway 89, we came to Mt. Shasta, another great looking old volcano.

The rest of these photographs are from our time in Azalea with Joanie and Robert. Linda and I slept in the apartment they built in an old barn, hiked around the area, and enjoyed the farm life.