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Show aagngfe 11 . . adventure, but it's the hardest, best job we've had. We jokingly joking-ly say it would be perfect if it weren't for the people. Tongue in cheek perhaps, but on the other hand there's more truth to it than we like to admit. On the whole those who come to the Dell have been wonderful and have followed the rules, but every week we encounter en-counter the "entitled" who were sent to earth to test the rest of us. They ignore the signs like, Closed on Sunday, no skating, no dogs, and Please Check in at the Office (two really big signs). Occasionally I would ask people peo-ple why they didn't check in and was amazed at their excuses: ex-cuses: "I thought that was only for campers," "I thought that was only for scouts," "we've never had to check in before," (NOT) "we're only coming for a picnic," and the unforgettable: "My Stake owns the Dell." I thought I was a patient person, but found out it was a lesson I needed to learn this past summer. I realize my expectations expecta-tions were maybe too high, like thinking people could or would read the BIG signs and check in at the office,-or not bring their dogs, or not park in front of the No Parking sign. I don't know, maybe the mountain air messed with their brain oxygen which definitely affects eyesight. My tongue got quite sore from biting bit-ing it! A classic happened this Fall when Rodger asked a parent to keep her kids off the mountain near the zipline. She sarcastically sarcasti-cally said, "Why, because of the bears?" Nonplussed, Rodger answered, "No, because of the ticks." "Johnny, get down here right this minute!" We laugh every time we tell that story. I won't miss the mice that mocked us by running across the living room floor and into Rodger's chair, then back to the piano. They apparently have no fear of reprisal since our mouse bait disappears like it was candy. can-dy. That isn't as disconcerting as finding the bait gone out of an untripped trap! We've all but welded cheese on the bait trigger and still it's gone in the morning. And yes, we barely touch it to make sure it's working work-ing and it does! I guess the mountain air just makes them stronger. I will miss the animals that stay outside where they belong. be-long. We've watched two does this summer, one with a single and the other with twins. It's hard to articulate the excitement excite-ment I felt when I saw one of the newborn fawns just off the trail this Spring, laying as still as it's mother must have taught it. Moments before I had seen the mother and had a fleeting thought of a doe protecting her young by attacking anything that threatens it. That mental picture propelled me down the path sooner than I wanted because be-cause I knew momma was close by. We watched them grow over the summer, lose their spots and cavort on the lawn when all the campers were gone. When we arrived last October, Oc-tober, the Fall colors were reaching their peak and each day I traveled the canyon I experienced ex-perienced anew the grandeur of God's handiwork. Autumn in New England has always been touted as the must-see destination, desti-nation, but having seen both, I would take American Fork Canyon any day (except maybe this year when many of the trees were drought-induced brown). Farther up the mountain the colors col-ors were more varied and distinct. dis-tinct. Winter was slow in coming com-ing and never really had the punch as in years past, but we "Granny" continued on Page 8 by Geri Taylor The end of an era (however short) gives cause for reflection, and as our time in the canyon comes to a close, I will share some thoughts of this grand adventure. ad-venture. Rodger and I have been the paid caretakers at Mutual Dell for the last 1 5 months and with the closing of the year, so ends our job at the Dell, as well as a form of stewardship that has been in place for many years. The reins will be handed over to full-time missionaries and-under and-under the able direction of the agent Stake, this favored recreation rec-reation spot will take on a new mindset of service. First, I want to give my profound thanks to Mike and Karen Johnson who lived here for 14 years and survived to tell the tale. They experienced many changes, helped build new structures, and supervised thousands of young women, scouts, campers and Ward functions func-tions with style and patience. So what if Karen left on Friday nights -1 totally understand! I've laughed at people's comments about our "perfect job" they wish they had, because be-cause if they knew what was required, they would say, "No thank you!" Don't get me wrong, for us this has been a perfect job and has been a grand vant of the trees mprphing into full foliage than ever before. . I found myself anxiously watching for the buds and flowers to break through the ground and was fascinated fas-cinated to observe the graduating graduat-ing blooming as I traveled up the canyon. When the trees at the mouth were in full bloom, those at the Deli were still just starting to open. Please forgive me, but I won't miss cleaning up after the Scouts when the snow finally melts. I picked up bags and bags of candy wrappers, hand warmers, warm-ers, tent pegs, clothing and more wrappers of assorted foods and drinks. I will say no more. I'll miss girls camp, and all the bubbly teens who come with the right attitude of enjoying na ture. This summer they got a little lit-tle closer to it than they realized with the water situation and port-a-potties. Rodger always got a kick out of their reactions when he explained how to roll up their sleeve and stir the potties with their hands to redistribute the "stuff'. By their horrified looks, we knew some actually believed him. With the well situation we have had the lodge closed since October, and so through the week it is peaceful and serene, like being on vacation. But as I watch the snow fall as I write, I can't help wonder if fickle mother moth-er nature might give Rodger his heart's desire just when we need to move. It wouldn't surprise me a bit. "Granny" continued from Page 3 had enough snow to satisfy the sledders, Klondike Derby kids, snow shoe enthusiasts and Rodger Rod-ger in his Chevy Sierra with the snow plow. It, was his great escape es-cape as he pushed, piled and essentially es-sentially relocated all the snow in the parking lots. Sometimes his enthusiasm got the best of him and he would sheepishly ask for me to pull him out of "almost going go-ing into the creek", or high centering cen-tering on a snow pile. This was his time to "play trucks". I gave him the solution to realize his desire to be snowed in pile all the snow at the driveway opening and we wouldn't get out for a long, long time. He considered consid-ered it more than once, but used his better judgment to let mother nature make that decision. She never cooperated. I will miss having moose walk through my backyard or bed down near the creek across from the cabin. I'll miss seeing the bobcat bob-cat and mountain lion prints in the snow and watching a Stellar Jay fly into a pine tree. And I'll always wonder if the squirrels we watched gathering their winter food found a safe place to live. We think some made their nest in the dumpster last November because when it was picked up, the squirrels disappeared disap-peared from that area. Spring was slow in coming this year, but I was more obser- |