Understands why her father loved Northern Nevada
My father, Larry Fitzpatrick, passed away in December 2007. He lived in Washoe Valley for more than 30 years. I often wondered why he did not move back to Oregon to be with his family, especially after the birth of his grandchildren. In December we went down to Carson City for the funeral. During this very difficult time (my father passed very suddenly and completely unexpected), we met the nicest people and it soon became clear as to why he liked Nevada. From the people at his church, to the other members of his AA group, to the mechanic at the oil change shop, to the very kind staff of Carson Station, to the ladies he swam with at the city pool, they were all very willing to tell stories of my Dad. Those stories and kind words helped during the very difficult time.
Then in March 2008 we had to travel down again to clean out his house. Well, living in one house for more than 30 years you tend to collect a lot of "stuff" and my Father was no different. In fact, he was a bit of a hoarder, if he bought one he bought five of everything. So we arrived on a Saturday to start to clean out the house and 3 large sheds. We almost immediately met a gentleman who was without a job and we worked out a barter with him to help us do some work. He stopped by the next morning and invited us to come with him to his church for Easter dinner. Keep in mind we did not know him but appreciated his kind gesture and were touched by his thoughtfulness. We started our Estate Sale, and there was A LOT of stuff. Random people would stop by for the sale and ask about my Dad, so I was able to tell stories about him. They would tell me stories about their families and their losses. These people would stay for hours looking through things talking, laughing, and crying with me. This was very healing. Another lady stopped by and asked to help me, she said that God had told her that we needed help at this very difficult time. She was so very kind and thoughtful. She was a stranger to me, and yet she was there with me as I opened box after box of memories; she was there for me to cry on her shoulder; she was there to guide me spiritually. It was as if my Dad knew that it would be the most difficult thing I had ever done and sent these kind people to give me strength.
Before we left many of these people had become friends, and they felt like family. Tears were shed when we said good-bye. These are people that I didn't know just five days before. As we drove away for the last time, I was saying good-bye to my Dad with a very sad and empty heart that had been filled back up with the kindness, generosity and love of these new friends that I had met.
It was at that time that I understood why my Dad didn't move back to Oregon to be with his family, he had a second family with the people of Carson City. To everyone in Washoe Valley (Dan, Sherri, Kathy, Apples, Frank, Walter), the staff at Carson Station, the members of the St. Theresa Catholic Church, the members of his AA group that meet at Carson Station, the swimming ladies, and anyone else who knew him, I would like to thank you for being a part of his life and for showing me why he loved Nevada. Your kindness and friendship will not be forgotten.
KATHI CRUTCHFIELD
Oregon City Ore.
Clean up after dogs and yard sales, please
Try to imagine, if you will, sitting at your table, enjoying a meal, while occasionally gazing out your window, watching folks stroll by, many of whom are tourists viewing the historical sites on the once calm west side of town. Then all of a sudden, here comes someone, walking their dog, sometimes more than one, allowing their pet to relieve themselves on the lawns of a business, or place of worship. We have even had the disgusting task of removing the animal's droppings from around the roses on the property where we live. Some of you people may carry a bag and scooper, but many times some of the dog's waste cannot be picked up! This is most disgusting and disrespectful to those who occupy these places. The old Church is still used. Children play on that lawn! No one expects to step in your dog's mess, but it happens. Please be so kind as to take your doggy to an open field or better yet, let your pet do his business in your yard!
Yet another disgusting eyesore are all the faded and torn yard and garage sale signs plastered all over town! Come on people, don't be so lazy. You took the time and energy to advertise your sale, when your sale is done, remove them!
I love yard sales. What I hate is driving to a yard sale, that isn't happening. The sign is a week old, hasn't reached the tattered look yet, and no date. That's a waste of our time, and the liquid gold that we put in our tanks to drive to these yard sales. My family has had yard sales, however we remove our signs when finished. If you can't remove them, don't put them up! This goes for all those political signs also.
ELAINE SHIELDS
Carson City
A lemonade stand to remember forever
Our 8-year-old son has always wanted to do a lemonade stand. So, on Sunday, Aug. 3, he finally had it happen.
As he sat under his umbrella in the hot sun, I worried from afar, as I watched car after car drive right by, that his first lemonade stand would be a disappointing one.
But then all that changed and for the next four hours people came. Some buying three even four cups at a time. The excitement on our son's face was priceless. And to top it all off, people gave him tips, some being very generous ones.
Though our son enjoyed making some money, he told us that the best part of all was just the fact that people came to his stand and he got to serve them some lemonade.
So on that note, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank the residents of the Dayton/Mark Twain area for stopping by and making this little boy's first lemonade stand a most memorable one.
MICHELLE STRATTON
Dayton
The proud uncle of the Poet Laureate lives in Carson City
Believe it or not, my niece, Kay Ryan, has been named Poet Laureate of the United States and she has moved from Marin County, Calif., to Washington, D.C. She was born in California in 1945. I am 92 and I've lived here in Carson City most of my life. I am the proud uncle of the Poet Laureate.
This is my poem.
Some modern poets have an absolute dread
of being caught in bed with a rhyme.
And if they see a rhyme walking down the street
They retreat.
Well, what's wrong with: "Double double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble."
These words may be old and smoky but I think they're okey-dokey. To rhyme is no crime.
RALPH BARRETT
Carson City
Editor's note: Kay Ryan was named the United States Poet Laureate by the Library of Congress on July 17. The honor is bestowed for the highest quality of poetry, according to Librarian of Congress James H. Billington. Others who have received the honor include Robert Penn Warren, Robert Lowell, William Carlos Williams, Robert Frost, James Dickey, Howard Nemerov and Robert Pinsky. Ryan has written six books. Some of her work can be found by visiting the Web page www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/352.
Change the name of baseball field
Since Mr. McNutt (former Carson High baseball coach) is comfortable retiring from Carson High and taking a job at a competitor school, it's time for Carson High to move on too. Just imagine the coming season with Mr. McNutt bringing his new team to Carson High; that sounds too disturbing to let it happen! If he'd moved to Las Vegas or another state it wouldn't seem disloyal, but to go a few miles down the road is just not far enough for Carson High to maintain the field with his name. I suggest that before baseball season starts, a new name should be selected and established on the field; perhaps a contest to decide the new name would give the baseball team some support. I don't even follow baseball that much, but if I'm upset about this, I can only imagine how the solid baseball fans feel!
JAN PENNEY-ARAZA
Carson City
Thanks for help retrieving dog
Amber is a rescue dog I adopted at the Douglas County Animal Shelter. On Saturday I took her to the Carson Valley Veterinary Hospital for suture removal. At about 2 p.m. , she bolted as I loaded her into my truck, running North on Hwy 88. Staffers from CVVH immediately assisted, but she was fast. Several people pulled their vehicles to the side and exited, to attempt to stop her, still running and trailing her leash. Amber crossed traffic and sped down a dirt road east for a couple of miles, toward housing. I followed but she kept running ahead. I returned home and called Joan at the animal shelter. Joan put out a Douglas Animal Welfare Group volunteer alert. At 5 p.m. I got a call from the hospital " amazingly, Amber had found her way back to the hospital, again crossing Hwy. 88 traffic! My thanks to all mentioned above and to the small army of DAWG volunteers who had ended their search to reunite Amber with me at the hospital. Amber will be enjoying a rib eye steak bone in about 10 minutes.
JAMES SPENCER
Minden
Welcomes an election with a ballot
Finally! At last! We get a bonified ballot to vote! In my dictionary bonified is defined as "without fraud." This "thing" they described as a caucus we all went through a few months ago was a "fraud." There was no meeting, just utter chaos!
Nobody knew what was going on. No one was in charge. There were long lines, longer than those that appeared in the Nevada Appeal.
What this appeared like to me was a popularity contest. And what did it prove? Not a danged thing!
With one exception: The voters in Nevada and several other Western states did not have their states rights to vote for a candidate for president!
Now that's pretty dang shabby, to say the least! Really burns me, in fact makes me down right mad that some idiot or idiots took my rights away from me!
Think about it!
RHEBA MONTROSE
Carson City
Will miss Sam Bauman
Being an online reader, it was with great sorrow that I read about Sam Bauman's departure. I always looked forward to his stories as they were full of human interest. Being a senior myself, it was easy to relate to his articles and I, along with many other people, I'm sure, admired his "gutsy" approach to life. Being an avid skier at age 80 is quite an accomplishment along with his many other adventures. He will be sorely missed by me and many, many other readers.
BEV PELOQUIN
Cypress, Calif.