Inevitably, the changing of the year is
a time of reflection. A review and reassessment of the recent past,
and a moment to plan and hope for the future. A time when millions of
Americans resolve to go to the gym, and most don't make it past
January. Although fitness is important, these people are not thinking
big enough. Former congressman and highly-progressive presidential
candidate Dennis Kucinich has a broader and more visionary new year's resolution for America, which includes a full-employment economy, an end to NSA
spying, reparations for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a
transition to sustainable forms of agriculture and energy, to halt
global climate change. My resolutions and yours should be similar in
scope!
Geographically, my 2014 spanned across
many parts of the western United States. Although I still need to
think bigger when it comes to accomplishments for the world, it is
nice to look back with a bit of awe at all the red monoliths I saw
and the frigid waters I stomped through. It is wise to pause and feel some wonder at our amazing world, a quest assisted by photos like these and these.
For the long-winded Studlar family
holiday letter, I wrote the following for my part:
“Ross
has continued to work in National Park Service sites that feature
caves. He finished a volunteer post at Wind Cave, was a summer Ranger
at Timpanogos Cave, and then reprised for the winter a seasonal
Ranger job at Carlsbad Caverns (held previously in summer 2013.) This
all happened because one cave park led to the next—Ross is still a
forest dweller at heart! Timpanogos Cave has its fair share of
forests as well, with a daily hike up a rocky mountain required to
reach the trio of glittering caves, the last and most impressive of
which (the monument’s namesake) features many thousands of
helictites—formations
that resemble writhing snakes. With its comparatively small staff,
Rangers at Timpanogos Cave must wear multiple hats, which Ross was
glad to do. He guided cave tours and tours of Cascade Springs
wetland; patrolled the mountain trail; acted as a primary EMT; and
created portions of the Junior Ranger activity books for children. He
wrote and drew a comics story about a Townsend’s big-eared bat and
a Packrat who have an adventure in the caves, giving the National
Monument a rare and innovative edition for its Junior Ranger program.
Timpanogos Cave is in the heart of Mormon country. And, unlike most
National Parks, the majority of its rangers and visitors are local.
Ross was able to make friends across the boundary, even staying with
an LDS family for several nights after the season was over .Back at
Carlsbad, Ross partook in the Rock
of Ages historic lantern tour,
a special holiday production, wherein the modern Cave Rangers donned
costumes and impersonated key people from the park’s history. Ross
portrayed Ray V. Davis, the photographer whose work alerted the
public and authorities to the wonders of the caverns, leading to
their inclusion in the National Park system in 1923. Ross took pride
in playing a fellow artist. In between seasons, he made trips
(sometimes solo and sometimes with friends) to the great Sequoias; to
wilderness areas of Oregon; and to Zion, Bryce Canyon, Monument
Valley, and other legends of the southwest. He agrees that the family
trip to Yellowstone was amazing! He transcribes his adventures and
draws stories about animals and monsters whenever he can. Follow him
at rosswoodstudlar.blogspot.com.”
Using a photo from Monument Valley Tribal Park
(taken for me by one of their Navajo guides), I created a spoof movie
poster. This made a special Christmas gift for my father. He is a
proud Texan, who grew up in the days when John Wayne dominated the
box office.....
Happy New Year to all and Hope for a
better 2015!
