But firstly, symptomatic of the times, a full page ad in my college alumni magazine offering

friendlier opportunities up north for the educated…

Meanwhile here in the mtns. it was water day, topping off our tank in an hour and a half before

an afternoon spent culling, finishing and wrapping paintings – not shown – to Go West as L.

continued to contemplate the last of her Summer Drawings.

Next day, last Monday, it was as usual up the creek

before a last visit to La Clinica

to see Desireé,

home and

that evening a last evening with Bill and Muriel with a feast of salmon and spectacular pics

of Mu’s backpacking down another above timberline stretch of the Colorado Trail.

Tuesday brought a chilly change of weather,

confused wasps, Linda’s third drawing finished at last

and a quick look in on the Library’s [considerable] Progress

before beginning packing in earnest, which went on all the rest of that day and, after a last

thirsty trip up the creek,

all of Wednesday as well.  It did get [mostly] done but as always it’ll be hard to leave this place

for sure [always is, every one of these places] though by dinner we were

mostly ready…maybe.

So come Friday hopefully not too many of your neighborhood kids will dress up as ICEholes, let alone their Supreme Enablerer Greg Bovino…Chainsaw massacrers and vampires are much friendlier…