JESSIE'S VEGAS

    We have a problem with garbage in this country. The first time this hit me was when we visited the land-fill in Idaho.  I do not even remember why in the world we were driving through the mountains on such a fine Saturday afternoon to visit "the dump".  There we were, however, my husband and I with our load of unsavory or unwanted items in the back of the neighbor's white, rusty pick-up truck. The sun was warm and bright that day, the air whipped playfully through our hair as we had the windows unrolled.  With such a scenic view, we checked our GPS more than once to make sure we were headed in the right direction.  "Why would the land-fill be in the mountains?" my husband laughed. "It seems like we are headed for a picnic in the foot-hills".  "Yes! I should have packed us a picnic-lunch!" I said as I looked out at the surrounding Juniper and pine trees.        We rounded a shoulder in the road and suddenly the scenery ...

Valentine's Day is tomorrow, but my sweetie and I usually celebrate early. February 11,  was the day we first met so , in many ways, the 11th is our own special Valentine's Day.  February 11th, 1984 there was a thin frosting of snow on the Idaho ground. I had not planned on going to the youth dance that night as it was cold and I didn't feel like dressing up. At the last minute a friend offered me a ride and I put on the dress my mom had made me for my uncle Dan's wedding.  My mom was an expert seamstress and her clothes were often better than were found even at JCPenney-one of the only clothing conglomerates in the South Idaho town I grew up in. I twirled in my floral dress and thought "cousin Ricky was right. This dress really is flattering". When we got to the dance, I was missing my usual wingman, Kathleen Carnahan. She had been grounded for not cleaning her room . My other friend ,Heidi Heiner, had offered me a ride, but was soon found dancing every son...