I've moved from the park back home again.  My last day of work was Saturday, Oct 28.  That evening after work, I planned to join a few friends for dinner at a restaurant just outside the park.  As I walked out to my car from my cabin, there was an eleven-point buck standing near the car.  He did not run off as I spoke to him and drove away.  I have had white-tailed deer in my yard all season, as well as a skunk or two. 

 

At dinner, we all agreed that we have one of those jobs that you wake up in the morning and say, "Oh, Goody! I get to go to work today."  In addition, you mean it.

 

I know I did not write as much as I wanted this year, but perhaps this winter I can make up for it.  I started trying my hand at larger sketching efforts and perhaps I will post some of those on this website later on.

 

Meanwhile, the year went by way too fast.  I was up there for seven months and it seems like just yesterday that I arrived.  We figured out that it probably went by so fast because of all the challenges of keeping the Visitor Center open while as the construction was going on around us.  Imagine, if you will, trying to show movies on a small television in the same lobby; where we have to answer questions for other folks; while jack hammers are drilling through the building somewhere.  Turn up the TV sound so those folks can hear the movie, and talk louder so the visitor two feet away can hear your voice.

 

"When will the new Exhibit Hall open?"

"Will it have that same picture of my great, great, grand-daddy on his porch smoking a pipe?"

 

The good news is that when the new exhibit hall opens, it will have a couple of my photos in it.  When you come up to the Visitor Center next year to see the exhibits, look for the panel at the window looking out on the meadow.  There are three photographs illustrating characteristics and use of the meadow.  Yup, those are mine.