Kathy Longacre

Waking in a bungalow 8 feet off the ground excited to explore Vang Vieng, Laos with Michael is the beginning of a perfect day. Farm animals were on the property behind us. We heard pigs, birds, roosters and a myriad of other animal sounds. Our bungalow was situated on the bank of a beautiful river, Nam Xong. Vang Vieng is only a few blocks in each direction so we walked,  passing happy children, chickens,  very simple houses and experiencing a new culture.

We  floated down the river on intertubes. We asked the tuk tuk driver to take us further up the river and were thankful later he hadn’t. The river was slow moving, clear so you could see the bottom and gorgeous. The float took about 4 hours. We saw women and a few men harvesting algae from the river, putting it in a basket on their back. I harvested some and one of the men smiled. I used a long bamboo pole to harvest with, which I was also using to push me along. We stopped to explore a cave. From the river bank we walked through a field, wondering if we were on a “wild goose chase”, then climbed the steep craggy lime mountain. When we finally reached the opening we looked in and I thought, “OK we see it let’s go.”  It looked like a very huge opening in the mountain. Michael wanted me to climb down in. I did so grumbling. The surprise was that when we got down into the cave we could see much more cave in front of us. It also was a nice break from the heat being that it was cool. We walked and walked. It was if the whole mountain was hollow. The cave was flat bottomed, about 50 feet wide and 30 feet high.  Many times it is good to listen to your kids.

Along the river were a few entrepreneurs with cold drinks and a rope you could swing over the river and jump in. The vistas were breathtaking with tall limestone mountains and green fields.

By the end of the float I had thoroughly enjoyed the river and warm sun, but my arms were tired from treading water. I remember seeing massage establishments near the take out and think it would be a great idea to have one.

After having a refreshment Michael and I talked to the lady about getting a massage. I was first and Michael would come back in an hour for his…well at the beginning of my massage in broken, very broken English I heard, “you like 2 hours, it would be very nice?” Well, I thought Michael won’t be back for an hour, then he will be another hour and it was only $4. an hour so why not. I want to go back for some more. Lao masseuse have a unique, indescribable technique!

We rented a motorcycle to explore and turned down a small dirt lane, all “roadsth” are dirt, to see people tending to their daily living, with cows, chickens and kids on the lane. They stared at us because we are such an oddity, but with smiles and greeting of SABADEE. (Good Day) I loved those happy, simple, beautiful people and there simple life and gorgeous country. We ate dinner in an openair  stall. The young girl waiting on us showed interest in new words, so Michael taught her how to greet someone and ask their name. She was precious and thankful. He checked with her the next day to see if she remembered. Michael is a great travel companion. I am blessed to have had the opportunity to travel and experience with him. That was a perfect day!

March 17, 2009 my son Ken joined the Army. I wasn’t excited about his choice to enlist in the Army, especially being in his thirties. It was great visiting him and having him share the benefits as he sees them. Ken has a great attitude and will be an asset to all he serves with and for. He will be in basic and advanced training to be an air traffic controller for over five months and then when he gets his assignment his wife, Heidi and children, Blake, Cathryn, and James can join him. Thinking about Heidi taking care of the kids while Ken is away reminds me of when my kids father worked on the Alaska Pipeline for two seasons and was gone for many months.

It was wonderful to see my kids;  Ken and wife, Heidi and Michael and girlfriend, Kim. The grandkids were a joy! We talked, walked and played games.

Why are we here? For me one of the reasons is to make a difference. How can one person make a difference?  You probably are already making a difference in ways you don’t even know. There are several ways I like to make a difference.

The first one is having children and doing my best to pass on love and good character. I am proud of Scott, Brent, Christina, Kenneth and Michael. They are now living the lives they believe in with love in their hearts.

We make a difference to strangers by offering small acts of kindness, encouraging words or even a smile to brighten their day.

To our community we make a difference by giving our talents. I like to help someone organize a space, room or house that is causing them frustration. I have enjoyed sharing my talents as a seamstress to make a wedding dress, recover furniture or help a grandchild make a pillow.

In the global arena it is easy to make a difference by donating to people with less to help a women in a third world country start a cottage business so she can provide for her family or help fund a water system to provide safe drinking water to the entire community. If you feel real adventuresome you can be on the work team.

It is an awesome life when you can spend the summer at the edge of a small secluded lake in Alaska and watch nature happen. You choose…do you want to sit on the dock to be closer to the fish jumping, beavers swimming around you, watch the loons play, and occasionally have the gracious swans visit.Or would you rather lounge on the deck with a good book and see the resident eagle fly over and purch on a nearby spruce, listen and watch the small planes fly over and watch nature though out the summer as the leaves come out, the first wildflowers bloom and then more. It is really a thrill. Another favorite place is in front of the picture windows in the swivel recliner rockers with the lake on one side and the fireplace on the other.

I have loved to ski since I was 8 years old. Only an hour away from my home in Denver, Colorado is Keystone, my favorite ski resort. Keystone has three magnificent mountains with 3K acres of skiing.

To “fly” down my favorite run, Starfire. The rush is the ultimate. I stop at the top to look over the breathtaking view of the converging mountain ranges and Lake Dillion with awe, then tuck and go fast as I can, just under, “out of control”. I like to ski on all three peaks each day I ski and vary the terrain.

Apres skiing I like to soak in the open air hot tubs overlooking the slopes and then eat at one of the many great restaurants while waiting for the after ski traffic to  subside.

I don’t think I would take up skiing as an adult because I would be falling and enduring the cold, but I know how to dress warm and don’t fall. Thanks Dad for taking time to share skiing with me when I was young. I’m  so thankful to be doing something I truly love.