Sunday, Pre-departure day

My bags are packed and I’m ready to go.

I leave tomorrow and, surprisingly, today has been really relaxed. Thanks to my niece, Tracy, who helped me organize and pack everything on Thursday, the rest of the week has been a piece of cake.

This afternoon was especially fun. Chris, Stephanie and I met Gayle, my sister, and her husband, Jim, at Spect’s Store, a little cafe that literally used to be the only store in the area “back in the day.” Gayle knew that when my Grandmother lived at the Panther Springs ranch, this was the store at which they had to shop. The ranch house is roughly three miles away as the crow flies, but a full day’s journey in a horse drawn wagon loaded with supplies.

Her ranch was ‘confiscated’ in World War II and the house sits in the middle of what’s now Camp Bullis (about 4 miles south of where I now live.) Sadly the house was used for artillery practice before they realized it’s historic value as a 19th century German farm house so it’s practically destroyed. Using Google Earth you can still see the shell if you know where to look.

More tomorrow after I get to Basel which will actually be Thursday!

To view my spiritual reflections for the day click here.