OCR Text |
Show THE ZEPHYRMARCH 1990 PAGE 2 page two Jim Stiles "There's no place like home, Auntie Em there's no place like home." Dorothy Gale, Kansas (after returning from a long trip.) -- Somewhere south of Soldier Summit, as the Amtrak California Zephyr made Its downhill run to Price, the clouds receded, the sun came out, the cliffs caught Are In the golden morning light, and I knew I was almost home. In the distance, the (slightly) snowcapped La Sal Mountains came Into view and a couple hours later, I was standing In front of my house on Locust Lane, feeling a little bewildered and strange. When I left home, 5 12 weeks earlier, It had seemed difficult to leave everything safe and familiar behind me; now tne exact opposite was true. I'd been gone long enough to feel like an alien In my own house. It only took awhile, however, to become reacquainted with my perpetually dripping kitchen faucet, my noisy refrigerator, the smiling (and sometimes frowning) faces of my friends, and In general the Moab ambience that seems to keep us here, or keeps pulling us back. After a few days, I tried to put the trip In perspective. In a little less than a month and a half, I'd traveled by train across the Rocky Mountains, and Great Plains to Chicago, then across the Rust Belt to Washington, D.C. I travelled Amtrak back to Chicago and south to San Antonio where I boarded SAHSA Airlines for Belize In Central America. I spent three weeks exploring the country by bus, boat and my own two feeL I saw a lot of amazing things, unheard of beauty, and unspeakable poverty. Eventually (reluctantly), I came Lack to the the train and returned to Moab via the West Coast. I traveled U.S., 8,000 miles by rail In 22 states (although I mostly passed through them; I have droamy memories of lit up state capitol buildings, viewed from my coach car seat It on a 737 called Sahsa Airlines at three o'clock In the morning). I to Belize City, and spent hours and hours on small boats on turquoise blue waters. But what did I learn and what do I remember the most? First of all, while I've repeatedly described Moab as a "diverse community," I've realized that we are hardly representative of the Great American Melting Pot. I was pleased to discover that cable television and MTV have not totally annihilated regional differences and customs. There Is, thank God, still such a thing as a Kentucky, accent, and a Philadelphia accent and a Chicago accent, and a San Antonio drawl. I learned a lot about trains. I learned that It's very Important to get on the right car or you may be left at the station. I learned that Amtrak toilets break very easily. I learned that east of Chicago, most conductors and attendants are surly. As a matter of fact, I discovered that practically everyone east of Chicago is surly -- those Easterners have an attitude at times. I spent several days In Washington, D.C. I took the Tourmoblle bus to all the Monuments. I made my way to Arlington to the graves of the two slain Konnedys, and ihen to the black marble wedge engraved with the names of 58,000 young re-boa- rded white-knuck- led I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; if wc think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion. Thomas Jefferson THE CANYON COUNTRY ZEPHYR P.O. BOX 327 MOAB. UTAH 84532 (801) 259-777- 3 JIM STILES, PUBLISHER Trish West production manager contributing writers Bill Howard, Lawson LeGate, Lloyd Pierson John Sensenbrenner, Raquel Shumway, Ken Sleight soldiers who died In a tragic war. For me, the two memorials are Inextricably linked If we could erase the horror of Dallas and the graves that lie beneath the Curtis Lee Mansion, Is It Just possible that history might have followed a different course? Would there even bfi a Vietnam Memorial? Could one man (or two) really make a difference? We'll never know. I discovered that our World Is much smaller than we think. Through the trip, me. In Belize City, I climbed on a small strange coincidences continued to amaze I boat to take the twenty mile trip to one of the Islands. mentioned to someone A guy at the bow of the boat next to me that I lived In a town called Moab. Mae l. a ILIII La aaLajJ Ama anH IK A know someone named Kathy Cooney?" he asked. "Coondog?" I exclaimed. "Of course, shes one of my best friends." Jim Stiles, meet Brian Thompson of Skagway, Alaska, also an old friend of Kathy small world. I told the story to a new friend of mine named Allen Biller, Cooney a smokejumper and also from Alaska; he had a similar story to tell. Also boarding a boat from Cayes, he sat next to a guy from Wisconsin. The two struck up a conversation. Allen had been to Wisconsin once, and recalled getting a ride across a lake from a doctor. Which lake, asked the man from the dairy state.- - Interesting. the doctor was this mans father. Small Which doctor? Even more Interesting That night, Allen and I ate dinner at the Tropical Paradise with a beautiful woman named Ellen Gruneisen, a 911 dispatcher from Dillon, Colorado. After several hours of conversation, I discovered she was born and at least partly raised small world. In Louisville, Kentucky, my home town A few days later, I traveled Inland by Batty Bus with eight Belizeans and one live chicken to a village called San Ignacio, Just seven miles from the Guatamalen border. On a hilltop overlooking the town, I spotted a strangely familiar building; Church of Jesus Christ of as I got closer I read the name on the brick wall In white shirts and black men Latter Day Saints. On the front steps sat four young I I from Utah. They had was told them ties. They lit up like Roman candles when a for a couple of them had been away a million questLn year and a half. And I I again, when told them came from Moab, one of them had a question for me -- "Do you know Dixie Barksdale?" he asked. I looked at his name tag -- - Elder Barksdale -- - amazing. Back In the United States, I discovered In San Antonio that Pee Wee Herman was right there Is ng basement In the Alamo. And returning via train through Los Angeles (my fist visit to the City of Angels In 18 years), I became reacquainted with smog. I sneezed for the first time In 39 days. When I finally the California Zephyr at Thompson, everything looked the same; It was as If I'd never left. ML Tukunlkivats shone brightly In the noonday sun. The tall red cliffs radiated warmth on this wind blown winter day. But beyond the eternal rock and the changing yet constant sky, back In the ebb and flow of humanity In Moab, Utah, there wa something different We'd all changed a little .... backward or forward, for better or worse .... who can say? To de-boar- ded quote the poet: Times go by turns, and chances change by course, From foul to fair, from better hap to worse." Although this Is actually the last Issue of the year (the April Issue will mark The Zpphyr's first anniversary), this seemed like a good time to Institute some changes. First of all, I've offered regular columns to the Western Association of Land Users and to the Sierra Club (or other environmental groups who would like to express an opinion). The Idea here Is not to generate some kind of Morton Downey, Jr. mud slinging festival; rather, It Is to give both sides an opportunity to explain themselves. Since this environmental debate seems to be fueled by fear as much as anything else, I'm hoping that an honest, common sense approach by both sides might help cut through the rhetoric. At least It's worth a try. In the Interview department, well get together with the full Grand County Commission every other month. On the alternating months, the interview will concentrate on one of the commissioners. As for city Interviews will alternate between the Mayor and a councllperson. By thepolitics, end of the year, each member of the Council will have an opportunity to express hfs or her views. n Sensenbrenner will continue their tl6r) es! monthly columns. Ken has to decided run for State Representative aieight against Incumbent David Adams. As filing date draws near, and In fairness to Representative Adams, we'll d8Cnl,nua Ken's column after this Issue. I'm hoping, however, that In the fa l, The Zephyr can provide a forum for both candidates io state their positions In this very Important election. r . i " ismuK i.aiitu mu riuving eye, o eanuiu Moab and Moabites as seen through the unique and unblinking eyes of Becky Knouff and her kid brother, Terry Knouff. It should be C -- TBCVi Interesting. 180 fr ld Photos of Grand County and her loyal citizens. If you f have pictures that you d like to share with the readers, please get In touch with me; hrrow them long enough to make a half-to-ne copy and will guard them with my life. ufAirnillf'ani8!!!! ftou0hta about Iba Zephyr, positive or negative, are always (motly)- - Plea8a ,eel free to offer constructive criticism any time you think I deserve IL It's nice to be home. SUBSCRIBE NOW an annual subscription is only $12.00 The Canyon Country Zephyr is a monthly newspaper, published eleven times a year at Moab, Utah. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of its vendors, advertisers, or even at times of its publishers. THE CANYON COUNTRY name address 1989 The Canyon Country Zephyr all rights reserved ZEPHYR P.O. BOX 327 MOAB, UTAH 84532 |