Fri-
Rick did advanced recon (again) by arriving at San Geronimo
earlier in the week to do some fishing. Everyone else arrived
on Friday and found a 4x6 foot "Welcome to the Gathering" banner
(compliments of Marianne) hanging over the entrance. (It matches the
Green and Gold of the web home page.)
We sat outside around the pool, or in the large
sitting room getting acquainted and catching up before
heading out to a restaurant in Taos for dinner.
Around noon, we all headed out to the Angel Fire Vietnam Veterans'
Memorial. True to Terry's promise, it proved to be a moving
experience for everyone. As I stood looking down at the dedication
plaque, I realized that it was 31 years to the day since Dr. Westphal's
son was killed. That gave me the shivers. The chapel has a way of
surfacing buried emotions then washing them away. It is a soothing
place in a beautiful location.
Later, we lightened the mood by spreading out Terry's poncho
liner (US Army issue of course) and having a picnic lunch
on the hillside overlooking the beautiful Angel Fire valley.
The day was gorgeous and the company the best.
In the evening, the Lodge set up a barbeque for us by the pool.
(The dining room was being used for a poetry reading group).
It started to rain and the temperature dropped into the 50's,
so we all huddled for warmth on the second floor outdoor balcony.
As it became darker all we needed were some sandbags and C4 to
make it seem as if we were "in country" again.
After dinner, Marianne was presented with an honorary CIB and was saluted
and hugged by all troops present.
(I think Terry cheated and got in line twice...)
Dennis ended the poetry club's meeting by reciting "There
once was a woman from Nantucket..." and we moved inside to spend
the rest of the evening drinking, BS'ing, and making the
transition from past memories to present friendships.
We found that those we knew 30 years ago
had changed little except for age, experience, and maybe a few pounds,
while those we hadn't known well were still a part of the
brotherhood and easy to accept as friends...
Saturday-
An excellent breakfast was served in the San Geronimo
dining room. (The food was excellent all weekend.) Bob Chappell laid
out detailed maps of our area of
operations in Vietnam and had circled familiar tourist attractions
such as LZ Ann, LZ Gator and Pinksville.
Everyone checked them out, compared notes and
looked at people's scrapbooks and pictures during the day.
Rick claimed his $100 prize from Bob Chappell by appearing in his
un-altered Class A's. (Rick wouldn't accept the cash - he just wanted to prove he could do it.)
For those of you unable to make it our thoughts were with you.
Hopefully all of us will be well until:
Sunday-
Sunday found us splitting up again. Several folks had to leave for
home after breakfast. Bob and Cathy Wagner went to play a round
of golf. Nine of us drove to Chama on the Colorado border to take a
ride on the
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Steam Railroad, and Lt. Kuhn took his
family to Santa Fe for shopping and sightseeing. A smaller
number of us went out for a Mexican dinner in Taos, and
by noon on Monday we had bid our farwells and were all on our
way home.
"The Next Gathering"