Goodbye to Bill's 8th Avenue Meat and Grocery

Mike and I went shopping for the last time at Bill Spencer's 8th Avenue Meat and Grocery today. There wasn't a lot left. Mike got chicken breasts from the meat counter for one last time. I bought several heads of their fresh lettuce, because we are anitipating a big group this weekend at the Jensen family get together. And, I know the quality I am getting--who else will I trust? Where will I shop now?

I heard from my sister-in-law that Ann Cannon wrote a great column about Bills in the Monday, December 22 Deseret News. Actually, that is the place I would usually bump into her, and have her ask about Alison, and how she is doing. Bill's was like that--you would see the same people there again and again, and it brought a small-town feel to the "big city". Bill facilitated that, as he knew everyone and everybody. "How is your Mom?" he would ask, or "Strawberries are a really good price," as he knew how much we love them. I am heartbroken.

Ann's column really says it all:
"On the evening of the 25th, my mother-in-law always says, "Wonder what next Christmas will bring."

Her mother used to say the same thing, and now I do, too.

Christmas night is a natural time to sit by a dying fire and reflect on where we've been and where we might go in the new months ahead...

Here's one change my neighbors and I will have to get used to in 2009.

After serving customers for 86 years, Eighth Avenue Market is closing its doors on Christmas Eve — just like Meg Ryan's little bookstore in "You've Got Mail."

Bill Spencer (owner, proprietor, butcher, shelf stocker, checker, sage, head, heart, soul, impresario and friend to generations of Avenues residents) died before Thanksgiving, and his family has decided the time is right for all of us to move on.

Which, of course, we'll do.

Reluctantly.

Eighth Ave. was unique — a carryover from the days when neighbors were all on a first-name basis with each other. When a customer could call and have groceries delivered.

When people put purchases on their accounts, then settled up at the end of the month.

It was a small market with maybe eight or nine aisles, loaded with both name brand items and Western Family generics.

All of the merchandise was pretty straight-forward: canned tomatoes, cake mixes, dairy, excellent meat.

Nothing too fancy or precious (think saffron threads).

But you could usually find what you needed, and if you didn't, Bill would do his level best to get it for you.

I confess I didn't always understand the store's quirky organizational scheme — why things you needed for baking (chocolate chips, nuts, sugar, flour, spices) were found scattered throughout the store, for instance.

But once I figured out where everything was, I could be in and out of Eighth Ave. in less time than it would take me to park my car and trudge to the entrance of Costco.

Anyway, I'll miss so many things about the store. The BEST meat counter ever.

The TV. The free phone for customers. The hand-lettered signs announcing the arrival of blueberries! Beets! Artichokes!

The vintage cardboard cutout of Diggum the Sugar Smacks frog hanging from the ceiling.

The penny candy. The Snelgrove's ice cream.

The neighbors filling their shopping carts on Saturday mornings.

The dictionary Bill's grandkids kept near the checkout stand to assist them in solving crossword puzzles.

The grandkids.

But most of all I'm going to miss Bill.

Who else will ask about my boys when I shop for my produce?

Or wonder if I've written a book yet or inquire about my parents' health or tell me how smart kids today are or say when someone passes away that "hell, they're lucky to be out of this mess"?

I'll miss the sound of his distinctive laugh.

I'll miss the sight of him in the aisles taking care of business from sunup to sundown, six days a week.

It's a cliche, but it's true:

They just don't make them like him or his store anymore."

SMILE!!

After years, Annie and Shawn have finally gotten their braces off. Yeah!! With serious threats, they have agreed to show their smiles on the blog.

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This is before Annie got her braces off. You can see how much she LOVES having her picture taken!!

Caroling, Hot Chocolate, and Chili

Tonight was the annual caroling for the young men and young women. One of our ward members has a trailer, they put the Primary chairs on it, and then go caroling to some of the people in our neighborhood. The weather this week has gotten COLD, and we have gotten probably a total of a foot of snow over first few days of the week. This is perfect for Christmas, as it just isn't the same without snow. After caroling, everyone met at our house for chili and hot chocolate, which was helpful for warming up. It was really fun, and we had a good turnout. Christmas just wouldn't be the same without it!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Michele

We are a little "sheepish" about sending your birthday greetings this way, but here they are anyway!

Annie says: "I wish I was there. You're nineteen!?! You still look 6 to me!"

Shelly says: "Life here is not the same without you. At least we have a picture of you opening a present so we can imagine we are there on your birthday."

Mike says" "I hope you have a great birthday! We don't have much snow here--you should come back so we can get some snow!

Birthday hugs, from Sam!

Rachel says: "Happy Birthday Michele! It was fun having you here, and I wish you could come back and go to the U of U."

Shawn says "Happy Birthday, Michele"

Alison and Ethan say "We didn't get to know you that well, but we know you are an important part of our family just the same."

Andrea says "I am sorry, but not really"

Ruth says--Michele, I hope you have a good birthday. I am sad we are not there to be with you, or you with us. Everything I remember about you is HAPPY!!

Have some good clean fun on your birthday!! We love you!!

Christmas traditions

1. Egg nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate -- the LDS church variety is the best.
2. Do you wrap presents or bag them? Usually wrap.
3. Colored Lights or White? White.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? No, I have given up hoping for kisses.
5. When do you decorate? ASAP after Thanksgiving.
6. Favorite holiday dish? Dessert or regular food? Fudge, chocolate, and other "regular" foods such as this
7. When & how did you learn about Santa? No recuerdo. However, I am sad to hear I blew it with the wallpaper samples for Alison.
8. How do you decorate your tree? With a variety of sentimental ornaments collected over the years, along with white lights. It has Santas from Mike's mom on it, and they get removed and played with repeatedly. It is the major focus of Christmas decorations because of those Santa's and Alison's train.
9. Snow...love it or dread it? Dread it, and wish I was somewhere warmer, especially after Christmas.
10. Can you ice skate? si!
11. Do you remember your favorite gift? I think it would have to be the housecleaning my kids have done for me, and other gifts of the heart. Also, the Bosch Annie gave me last year, and saved up for 1 1/2 years for it
12. What is the most important part of the holidays? Celebrating Christ and the spirit of giving
13. Favorite holiday dessert? Chocolate. Dark.
14. Favorite memory? So many--let's see--Christmas Eve. There were the many Christmas Eve's I had as a child at Grandpa and Grandma Vickery's. I remember being sick after eating potato chips and corn dogs there, and I still don't like them much. I remember reenacting the Christmas story with my cousins, singing, and PLAYING GAMES. I also remember the Christmas Eve night I stayed up all night with my siblings playing cards, and Doyle went straight out to milk cows in the morning after we played all night. Or, perhaps the night I stayed up all night sewing with my sister Marita, gifts for others. I hope Stephanie liked that green corduroy jumpsuit.
15. Do you have a special ornament? The star. It was my grandmother's.
16. What do you do on Christmas Eve? We go to Grandma Reed's house (now Robyn's) and sing Christmas carols after a family dinner. Then we read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and every time the reader says the word "the," you pass a gift to the left. When the story is over, you open the gift. Everyone brings them, and they're things like lotion, dollar store toys and chocolate bars. Ethan's family Christmas Eve sounds pretty fun, though!
17. If you could have anything for Christmas this year what would it be? To be done with my doctoral program. You said anything.
18. What do you do for neighbors and friends for Christmas? We give candy and treats. We always go to our friend Lucile's for her open house on Christmas day. It is a great tradition, and with Lucile 90+, we don't know if each Christmas is our last with her.

Christmas List for Santa

Annie made the Christmas list this week, to put on the refrigerator for all to see, including Santa. This is what we have so far:
Dad: U of U gym membership
Mom: Belgian chocolate, and all the other good things that come from Belgium, like Michele.
Ethan: The Miracle of Forgiveness (book), other LDS books, books by Shel Silverstein, games like Stratego and Chess
Alison: Pass the Pigs, Pit, Thoroughly Modern Millie, any clothes from Down East Outfitters, and Steven's Milk Hot Chocolate.
Neil: Letters!!
Shawn: Light for his bike, candy, chocolate
Annie: Swiss Chocolate--(Michele, you need to set her straight), Ironman, the movie, Brisingr the book, and a pomegranate.
Rachel: Rubix cube, Pillage(book), earrings, chocolate, Sims, and a 2009 calendar, Mama Mia, the movie
Ruth: 2 bottles or more of Martinelli sparkling cider, a box of chocolates (nuts and caramels), dangly earrings, Sims 2
Sam: Remote control helicopter, box of chocolates, Mr. Goodbar (King-sized), glow in the dark pen(cil)

Is there a theme here? Could this family like chocolate? We must take after the Jensen side on that!
We hope Santa reads blogs!!

WE LOVE THE HOLIDAYS!!

Saturday night we decorated our tree.

Sunday, we got to have another Thanksgiving dinner!

Uncle Charles (Chick), and all of the Reed men

Shelly, Mike, Chick, Beverly, Richard and Jeanne

Raquel, Jeremy, Roman, and Andrah

Happy 5th birthday to Peri!!

Boy, are Sunday dinners ever the best. The food may be good, but the company is the best!

I am thankful for....

A year ago we got to be in New York/Massachusetts for Thanksgiving. We even got to go to Plymouth, where we got this family photo taken. We had a great time being together, and it is a good thing, because this Thanksgiving all are far flung--Alison and Ethan in New York, Michele gone back to Belgium (sniff), and Neil down there in Paraguay. Our Thanksgiving will be here at home this year, with only five kids and two parents--too weird. Nonetheless, there is a lot to be thankful for, and here is our list:

Mike: "I am thankful my kids are learning the Spanish language."
Shelly: "I am thankful for hot showers and finally getting my IRB proposal submitted."
Shawn: "I am thankful for my mom--how she cares when I am not at home, thinking I am smashed out on the asphalt somewhere, too banged up to be recognized."
Annie: "I am thankful people are supporting me by buying Amigos pecans, poinsettias, and grapefruit. I will be especially thankful when they are all sold--anyone interested?"
Rachel: "I am thankful for finding my planner."
Ruth: "I am thankful for my family."
Sam: "I am thankful for the same thing as Ruth."

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Autumn Colors

Here is a picture of the tree and Ruth in front of our house taken a week ago. There are four colors on that tree!! The leaves have continued to change, and the wind blew yesterday, so our tree isn't as glorious anymore.



Something good this week: I finally got passed on my research proposal defense, which I held last APRIL!! Now I am working on getting IRB approval. This doctorate thing is never ending.

Something sad: I found out today that 8th Avenue Meat and Grocery is closing for sure on Christmas Eve. I guess those two fresh turkeys I have ordered will be my last--at least from Bill's. It is the end of an era.

Newest Amigo--Annie!!

This is Annie--I have decided to do Amigos de las Americas, a program where youth travel to a Latin-American country during the summer for 6-8 weeks and perform service in different communities. I get to immerse myself in the culture, serve in a Latin-American country and improve my Spanish.
I am now fundraising for this program. I am selling grapefruit($19/case),




pecans($14 per 1 lb. bag)









and red or white poinsettas($12).




These items are perfect for the holidays and great gifts for friends and family. Any support will be appreciated.

Good Things

While Bill's funeral was very sad on Thursday, good things are still happening. His store is still open, for example, and I have ordered my turkey for Thanksgiving. Annie started piano with a professor from the University, and it is so nice to hear all the practicing she does (she's good!). She was very infatuated with this carrot one of the girls in YW raised this year--why, I am not sure.Shawn is keeping his GPA up, (he checks his grades daily, so we don't have to wait for the report card). Neil's mission seems perfect for he, his quest for language learning, and his gregariousness. We got to see Michele on the Young Women's year in review video. Ruth had a good birthday party here last Sunday with the family around here, for example, Trine and kids, Reed, Andrea, & Jeff and Deanna and family.Alison is doing well at her new job, and Ethan, as always, does well at school. We are looking forward to having him here in January when he does a rotation for school. Sam got 100% on his spelling test this week. And Rachel, on her own, cleaned and organized the pantry. What a talent!

Cold day in...........SLC

It is a cold day here in Salt Lake City, a fitting day for my mood following the election. It is hard to imagine all the snow after 70 degree weather and picking strawberries just three days ago! Our favorite friend and grocer, Bill Spencer, of 8th Avenue Meat and Grocery, also died on Saturday, ending a productive 87 years of friendliness and interest in others that just can't compare. My story:

In 1980, I started nursing school here in Salt Lake. I lived in the Colonial House, on the corner of 7th Avenue and B street. It is an old mansion, owned by LDS Hospital, and at the time, nursing students could live there one semester until they figured out where else to live. I had no car, and walked over to 8th Avenue Meat and Grocery to shop. I did my shopping, and went to check out, realizing only at that time, I had left my checkbook at home. "Can you keep this for me at the register?" I asked, "I'll be right back with the checkbook."

Bill was there at the checkout. "You can just charge it," he said, "and pay for it the next time you come in."

I couldn't believe it. Here I was in the big city, and some man who doesn't even know me offers to let me charge something. It was just like my grandpa's store, in Letha, Idaho, (population 150), and I was trusted, even though he didn't know me. I went home and got the checkbook, and came back and paid. Bill got a customer at that moment. Those who know me well know I do all the shopping I can at Bill's. I have loved taking the kids into see the salmon, having Bill ask about my day, order me food, and even tell me how to cook it! I have loved the fresh meats and personal service at the meat counter. I have loved the great prices, and felt smug that those shopping at the big stores think they are getting a deal just because there is an advertisement. Bill has been a part of my family's life, and so many people's, and I am sure all of us will dearly miss him.

Yeah, it is a cold day here, and easy to be sad. So many good things are gone, and the best of them is Bill.

Happy Halloween!!

Pumpkin carving, also great fun. Isn't Halloween great!!

The great candy exchange, which is almost as good as GETTING the candy.

Here is Ruth with her birthday cupcakes, and in her angel costume. She really is a little angel!! Sam is below, in his pirate costume.

Mary Jane and Annie as "nerds", Sam as a pirate, and Shawn, a South American tourist dude.

Today has been the most awesome Halloween ever, if you are talking weather. It has been in the 70's and the kids are out Trick or Treating without even coats!! We are still picking strawberries, and it is October 31st. Here are some photos. Sam and Shawn are back, and it is only 9, early for Shawn. He says it is not the same without Neil--(the ever Kid at Heart). The kids are now in the living room, with their candy all laid out, doing what they like to do best after Trick or Treating--trading candy!

Happy Birthday Ruth!!

Ruth turned 11 today, really quietly. For her birthday, we will have a family dinner on Sunday, but today, nothing much. I made cupcakes and took them to Ruth's class at school. She, Sam, & Rachel had a piano recital, then we had Halloween bowling for the Young Men & Young Women's group, and we took Ruth along, just because she didn't need to be home alone on HER BIRTHDAY! On Garthmail, we found the most awesome cartoon, which totally represents our Ruthie!! Eleven years ago, we got the best Halloween treat ever!

Washington/Canada pics

"UEA" in Canada

So, this past weekend was UEA here in Utah. UEA stands for "Utah Education Association", or if you are from Utah, it really stands for "Utah Evacuates for Anaheim". However, last year we went to Anaheim with everyone else, so this year we decided to be different.

Road Trip!!

We left Wednesday at 7pm with Annie driving--gotta get in those driving hours in!! We drove to Stephanie & Alan's in Hermiston. Annie only lasted a few hours--she is not one for staying up late. In the morning, after breakfast and a haircut (thanks, Stephanie!), we were on our way. We drove through Rainier National Park, stopping at the viewpoints along the way. It was BEAUTIFUL! We learned something new--there are deciduous conifers, and they turn YELLOW in the fall. What a contrast with the regular evergreens! From Ranier we drove through the Seattle area to a town north (Burlington), where we stayed the next couple of nights.

On Friday, we drove up to Canada, to Vancouver. We spent the day in Vancouver, visiting Chinatown, and Stanley Park. The fall colors were breathtaking, and we even loved the rain which fell all day.

Saturday we went on a whalewatching cruise, from Anacortes out into the Puget Sound, near Victoria, BC, and then back again. We saw a lot of wild life, a bald eagle, birds, porpoises, and yes, whales. The whales we saw were Minke whales, pretty exciting. And, the water was smooth, much better than our rolling and pitching-no whale-boat ride we had this summer off of the coast of Ecuador. The day was perfect, sunny, warm, with beautiful scenery, and the best of all, whales.

After leaving Anacortes, we drove to the south end of Whidby Island where we caught the ferry and ended up in Port Townsend for the night. In the morning we drove to Olympia, by the Olympic National Forest on the east, and again, the leaves and fall foliage against the pines were absolutely breathtaking. Annie got more driving time in as well. In Olympia, I called cousin-Dr. Matt Wellock's answering service, and ended up getting to visit with he, Jill, and the kids in the church parking lot. It has been seven years, and we hadn't even met the twins who are almost 5, so that was fun. From Olympia, we drove down the Columbia River Gorge to Stephanies.

We stayed at Stephanie's for a couple of hours, got to have dinner, and visit with everyone there, including Steve, Cindy, and Chad Vickery, Duane & Emily Vickery, Gary, Mandy, and Dennis & Tara and family. We pushed on after, and drove all night so the kids could get back to do their homework on Monday. Back to school on Tuesday, for all of us.

Neil leaves on his mission

Hola Todos;
Neil was officially made a missionary when he was set apart last night by President Richards, our stake president. He gave him a very lengthy blessing, covering everything one could think of. This left some in our family a little impatient (or in one case, asleep), but for myself, I found it very comforting. I hope the organization and prioritization parts come to realization for Neil. Everything else he pretty much has under control, and I am glad he has had such a nice blessing to cover all I could ever worry about and more.

Today he reported to the MTC in Provo. He spent the last part here a little panicked about all the things he had to do, but really, none were that important. I do need to mail a package tomorrow with some of the things he forgot, like the belt hanging in the closet, or his glasses. We were going to eat out somewhere, but ended up getting pizza at Costco while shopping for a camera, again trying to save time.

We arrived 20 minutes before his 1pm report time, but by the time we got the pictures and he had a brief Spanish assessment, we missed the 1pm welcome session. He did get placed in the advanced Spanish class, but it doesn't seem to affect the fact he is scheduled to stay in the MTC until December 2nd.

When it came time to go, only Neil was a little tearful. I think I have already gotten my tears out, and I told him not to cry, because I didn't want to. We separated, but I hung back watching him as he lined up with the other missionaries. He ended up right next to a Latino elder, who looked about 2 feet shorter. He forgot any possible thought of tears and kicked into Neil mode--visiting and meeting this new friend. I followed from afar into the hall, and watched as they walked away down the hall in conversation. Just before they turned the corner, Neil looked back and saw me, and gave me a wave, and then was gone. I was left with the feeling all is well, and that he has a whole new world of friends to make--a new place, a new adventure, and many new friends. That is what he is best at, and he is in his element.

Alison has made a blog for Neil, which she is going to update with his e-mails. It is elderreedinparaguay.blogspot.com. Also, if any of you want to write regular mail, his MTC address is:

Elder Neil Reed
MTC Mailbox #86
PAR-ASU 1202
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604

Con Amor,
Shelly

Final Days

Today I pushed David out the door. We went and saw the pink dolphins where are river comes into the Amazon. We were on an actual split half of the Amazon for about ten minutes. I would like to see the Amazon in one big piece which is not possible in my current situation, but I can see me coming back to delve into the deep unexplored jungle far away from here where there is no jungle, and maybe back to this river.

Anyways there were lots of dolphins by the dock. We saw lost of them. To back up a little I touched one yesterday at a touristic zoo beach place just outside of town. I jumped in the river to swim with them but they are scared of people. We then took a boat up a river, walked through a nieghbourhoodish jungle area where we stumbled upon a cheesy Indian village setup for tourists. After coming back we ate lunch which was good. In desperation to get out I caused David to dump the vital siesta to go to a Coca Cola like pool lake thing where we swam with David and his two uncles and also made sand castles. All of Davids uncles are very young. I think his mom is teaching agriculture, and his dad cooks fish in the market. His dad has taken four days off to cook for us. David is learning to work at a lodge some place which a rotarian hooke up for him. David is the oldest of the grandkids. In the house we have his grandparents uncles aunts and cousins.

We may go to Nauta tomorow which is a ways away on another river which means we are finished with the amazon river. We have one day left. I am sad and do not want this trip to end. The day I get home is the day I start working, which will probably not end forever. Oh well. I will see you soon

Shawn

Lost Camera

We took an overnight bus to Pisco from Arequipa. We took a boat tour to some islands were we saw cormorants, boobies, penguins, and sea lions. We then took an overland tour of desert cliffs. That is where things went wrong. Somewhere on the way back to Pisco I lost the three hundred dollar camera, all the pictures from this trip, and a few pictures from home. We spent several hours trying to find it by bactracking and talking to all the drivers we traveled with. I have now lost our Peru book, wallet, camera, and have almost lost our passports. Wow.
Shawn

Condors

We took an overnight bus from San Pedro de Atacama to Arica. From Arica we traveled through the boring desert cost of Peru for most of the day to Arequipa. In Arequipa we bought tickets to Iquitos then took a bus to Colca Canyon. We stayed the night and at four this morning we took a three hour bus to Cruz del Condor where you can see the largest bird in the world up close in the deepest canyon in the world. We only stayed a half hour and saw the condors in the distance before they got close because dad did not like it before returning. We leave for Arequipa in about an hour. We are leaving the Andes and Southern Peru for good and are going to Lima then the Amazon. Maybe we will see some pengiuns on the way.

Shawn

Brazil, Bolivia, and cold

We decided to go to Brazil. We left Puerto in the morning on the Brazil-Peru Interocean highway which they have thousands of people and hundreds of heavy machinery working on. By the road most of the Jungle was cut down, with plenty of huge logs leaving. People need wood.

We got to the border of the three countries. We decided to go to Brazileia, but could not get a taxi or bus out until the evening. We went to the three adjoining towns, which, though they are right next to each other, the towns are very different.

In Brazil it was more or less modern with lots of tall Joao (Alison's note: an Brazilian exchange student who stayed with my family) looking people who spoke Portuguese. Peru was like Peru, and Bolivia was very poor with Peruvian looking people (short dark Indians).

From Brazileia we walked over the river through the border post to Cobija Bolivia where we stayed the night. The borders are extremely loose. The next morning we went back to the border to get visas. Guess what hit me? The fifty three requirements for Americans only. These include a thirty dollar visa, a hundred dollar border fee, written letter of invitation and recommendation, proof of a return plane flight, and what hit me hard, a certificate of having taken my yellow fever vaccination which I could have but did not do in Ecuador.

Instead of three days in the unexplored Bolivian rainforest on the worst roads we had to backtrack. We arrived on an overpacked sixteen hour night bus this morning where we gave up a seat for a woman and toddler to spend the night in the overpacked aisle.


We arrived in Juliaca near Lake Titicaca and arrived right before church. The building was nice, but the people were few. I understood most of what was said, though during a lesson, and the teacher said these gringos are here, though they can not understand anything because of faith.

There are five thousand members in this small city, of which six hundred are active. We took a nap. It is very cold right now. The windows on the bus became covered with ice. We jumped out of the Amazon suana into the winter air. Brrrr. We plan on seeing the lake, Chile, Colca Canyon and David. Our trip is coming to a close. The ward invited us to an activity which is why we are still in this crazy little city with a hotel that charges for showers for locals who come in.

Shawn

Puerto Maldondo

Wow, we are so close to Brazil and Bolivia, only four hours. We probably won´t go because it will cost fifty dollars a person to make the three hundred mile round trip.

Anyways. Today was great here in Puerto Maldondo in the Amazon rainforest. We hired a boat and guide for the day. We saw large trees, a parrot clay lick, macaws, the largest freshwater fish in the world, The rare giant river otter( a family of about ten playing), monkeys, and lots of forest. We started at four and finished at five. A full day.

Who knows what we will do next because I don´t, since I´m trying to be more money careful. Time flies.

Shawn and Mike

Sacred Valley

Today I did something very special I never thought I would do. Well, we were walking down the road the the Inca ruins of Tipon which have awesome irrigation systems, when I saw a sign that said 'zoologico.' It was a family´s private collection of fifteen animals. I walked in and a rare vicuna walked up. I petted its long neck, and felt its soft belly. I then looked up and it spat in my face. Its smelled horrible. Then it kicked me. I then held a monkey which was running around. The owner then took me to see his cougers. One came up top the fence. He said it was like a large house cat since he raised it from a cub. I petted its back and rubbed its ears. Wow. I love the interaction of small zoos.

We got out of Cuzco spending over a hundred dollars for an hour train ride. We then saw the huge ruins called Ollataytambo. There were eight ton pink stones and a carving of the white bearded god on the mountain which our guide said is all over the Americas.

We then took a taxi to the agricultural pits salled Moray. We saw oxen and donkeys plowing wheat fields with glacier covered mountains in the backgound.

We then went to Chichero, a converted Inca to Spanish city. Sixty percent of this country is one hundred percent indian, and it shows. There we bought some awesome hats that were expensive, but took an obviously extensive amount of work to make. They are rainbow colored with lots of beadwork. We then found a three dollar hostel which was nice. Dad is fascinated with how everyone here uses adobe brick to make their houses.

Today we got up went back to the Chichero ruins, then went to Cuzco. From Cuzco we went to Tipon. We left Tipon and went to the Huari culture ruins of Pikillacta. I lost our ruin tickets making it so we couldn´t go to Pisac. We then went back to Cuzco, walked around, and are planning on taking an overnight bus to Puerto Maldondo in the Amazon.

Should we go see David on the Amazon river in Iquitos? It costs four hundred and twenty round trip to get there. Puerto Maldondo in the South cost fifty dollars round trip by bus. Everything is going well. We couldn´t buy anything today because Machu Picchu was very expensive.

Shawn

Machu Picchu

This morning we arrived in Santa Maria at three after a seven hour bus ride. From there we took to convis to a hydroelectric plant where we started our walk to Machu Picchu on the railroad tracks. One of the convi rides was on a dirt road on the edge of a thousand foot cliff. i met some nice Germans, Brasilians, and Argentinians. There were many backpackers who took the same route.

After a three hour walk we took another hour and a half walk hauling our junk to Machu Picchu. There were people from all over the world. It was very expensive to get in. The views and architecture were amazing. It is not that big so we saw the whole thing in littler time. we were able to see the mortarless masonry and a footpath carved into the middle of a sheer two thousand foot cliff. We were tired and chilled there most of the day. Right before we left we saw condors which a guide next to us said are so rare he has only seen them once.

We then took a short fourteen dollar bus ride. I wanted to ride the train making it so we missed our window of opportunity to get back by bus. We went to the train station. It was horrible .It costs three bucks for Peruvians to go by train while it costs us thirty to one hundred and forty dollars. You can only get out of here by walking and train. Since there is only one train company they aren´t helpful, rude, slow, and don´t care about their customers. It costs over a hundred dollars to get out by train which is about a thirty minute ride.

Dad is upset because I bought a fancy alpaca meat dinner and a Andean music cd. We have never spent so much mony in so little time. We our in a terribly expensive tourist trap. we probably are going to walk out during the night or tomorrow, wasting a whole day, and making it so we can´t go to church. Machu Picchu is nice, but everything that goes with it is terrible.
Shawn

Cuzco

We took an overnight bus from Huarez to Lima. It is a very large city of eight million with no bus terminal. A taxi took us to a bus station where we bought tickets.

We then went to two museums that had stone carvings, lots of gold ornaments, Metal weapons and armor, and thousands of pots mostly from pre Inca civilizations. We left Lima at four and arrived at four today in Cuzco. There was a fat kid behined me who kept and eating and throwing up the throughout the twenty four hour trip. He never learned what went down comes back up.

The mountains in the South are very large, brown, dry with Cactus, and have glaciers on the peaks. I finally saw some Alpaca heards.

We are pinching our pennys so instead of taking the two hour train we are taking another eleven hour night bus trip to Machu Pichu (It goes close, not actually there and they say the walk throught the forest is dangerous. The taxi driver said if anyone tries to stop us we should hit them with a large stick), the fourth night bus in a row, and the fifth of the trip.

We´ve stayed in a hostel twice. We´re hauling all over the place. Whatever. We´re going cheap and seeing a lot of things in little time. Happy birthday Neil. About staying longer, is it all that fun to travel alone and have no one to share your experiences with? We could go on some wonderfull adventurous backpacking trips which I´m hungry for since dad hates hiking. Another night in a bus, oh joy.

Shawn

Trujillo

We got up early and went to Chan Chan, a very large city of adobe of the Chimu culture. Most of what was there has been reduced to dirt or cleared by farming, but you are still able to get an idea for how grand the city once was.

We then went to a beach town. There were the best waves I've ever seen for surfing. I rented a board and had trouble getting out there due to my ocean paranoia and there being no surfers, though the water was warm and there were plenty of white tourists. I did catch a few waves which was fun.

I also rented a small reed fishing boat that has been used for thousands of years. It looked big and the fisherman manged them well, but when I got out there it was a different story. I left the beach and went over the waves well trying to figure out how to paddle the thing with my bamboo stick, during which a current pulled me far from where I started to some very large waves. When my boat barely made it over a very large wave, I lost all faith in it. I turned around and a wave crashed into me where I barely stayed up. A larger one came and pushed it like a surf board for a good little distance where the tip caught rolling the boat a bunch of times. I quickly swam back to the boat rolling with it to shore. It was a little damaged and its owner told me how I was the boat should only go into water like that with experienced fishermen, which I believe.

We then went to The Moche culture pyramid of the sun, which was the largest structure in the Americas of its time, also made out of adobe. We then took the bus to Chimbote and are taking the overnight bus to Huarez (Cordillera Blanca). The Coast is all one very large desert with sand and dunes.

Shawn

Dad's and Shawn's travels

After my family's time in Ecuador ended, my mom headed home with the four youngest kids (the girls and Sam) and Shawn and Dad set off on on month-long adventure through South America. Here is Shawn's account of their travels

Reeds in Salinas

Holo todos--

We finished our time at the orphanage on Sunday, amidst tears. The hardest part for me was to see Sam say one last goodbye to Andres, and then leave the room crying. I am sure it was not good for the kids there, either, to see us sad. They are such sweet kids, and I am sure it is really hard for them to see volunteers come and go. We have heard a lot of adoption talk in the past few weeks now that adoptions from the US are open again--hopefully someone will come and take them ¨home¨. I wish we were the ones taking Andres home, but we are too old. You can only be 45 years older than the child you want to adopt. I am sure there is some family who will eventually get Andres, or Carlos, or Ana, or any one of the others, and be so, so happy.

There was a new girl at the orphanage this week. Her mother left her at a church on Sunday. and the only thing the nuns knew was that her mother was very sick. We called her Juliana for a few days, until we found out her name is Nataly. I think she is about a year old. She was scared the first few days, but seems to be doing better.

We also said goodbye to the special kids. I just tucked them in and gave them a kiss. I didn´t go to the older special kids sala. I hear Martin there rips up the pictures of the old volunteers to help him deal with the fact they are gone. I know if was hard for Rachel to say goodbye. My favorite, Eddy, couldn´t do that, because he is too handicapped. He gave me one of his awesome Eddy smiles as I tucked him in.

It has been a great experience for us, to actually get to go to Latin America and do something so worthwhile. It has also been an opportunity, to get to know these kids.

We traveled yesterday from Cuenca to Guayaquil by bus, to save money. The scenery was beautiful on those windy, high Andean mountain roads, and I got a great view with my head outside the bus window hurling. I feel bad--the bus definitely needs washed.

From Guayaquil we took another bus to Salinas, on the coast. It is one of the ¨resort¨towns in Ecuador. It reminds me of Mazatlan in Mexico. We are just staying here today, then back to Guayaquil tomorrow, to hopefully see a few things there before we go home Friday. The bus trip here was not so bad, because the country is flat, and the roads not windy. We did have a really obnoxious Chinese war movie in the bus that we tried hard to ignore. They must like violent army movies here in Ecuador--on the first bus ride they played Cheyenne¨¨ with Bruce Willis in it. It was easy to avoid the words, since they were in Spanish, but it was hard to ignore all the screaming and gunfire, especially from the second movie--those Chinese filmmakers like big guns and lots of gore.

Our hotel here is nicer than some, so this can be a ¨vacation¨and does have an awesome view of the ocean, like Mazatlan. We have been out of the beach enjoying the sand and the water and the zillions of salespeople strolling by. We bought a ¨whalewatching¨tour this afternoon for a good price, so I better go, to take Dramamine and get ready for the tour.

Hasta luego,

Shelly

Another week in Ecuador

Hola todos-

Another week in Ecuador has ended. Last Saturday night we went to Banos for a swim. Banos is about 20 minutes out of Cuenca, and is a hot springs, part of the Andes vocanic system. It was a lot of fun. The water was nice and warm, and we had a good downpour while there, so cold rain falling on us while we were in the warm pool.

The "regular" volunteers here usually stay 10 weeks. We are not "regular" volunteers, as we are not 18-23, female, and are staying "only" 6 weeks. A new group, usually of 7, comes every 5 weeks. This week the "old" group left, and 7 "new" volunteers came. It is fun to get to know them, and be a "veteran" in knowing what to do at the orphanages. It helps us to feel more a part of things.

There is more talk of kids possibly being adopted. We have heard four possibly are, and hopefully it will come about. That would be awesome. Every day we are at the orphanages we fall more in love with the kids. It will be very hard to let them go, and so much easier if we know there is someone who will love them as part of their family.

Today I got a lecture from one of the orphanage workers. We got Sam up to go at 7am, because the rest of us were going for the morning (7am-12pm) shift, and I did not want him to stay home alone (not really alone, because there is always someone here, but without one of us). About an hour or two into the shift I realized he was sick, with a cough and a cold. Now, he very possibly could have gotten this from the kids, because five of them saw the doctor for colds just yesterday, but if I had realized it, I would have had him stay home. Midway through the shift I had him lay down on a little couch. I could have taken him home, but that would involve a taxi, and we were already short with the change in volunteers. The worker came in to the nursery and told me Sam was sick with a fever and cough. She wrapped him in a blanket, and lectured me for not having him in a sweater (his sweatshirt was in the closet, but not on him). She then fed him a cup of something (which I did not know about until after), but I figured he would probably survive because the water in Cuenca is supposedly drinkable, and the best in Ecuador. He had to have a piece of bread I brought after, to get the taste out of his mouth. Then, when it was time to go, she told me to take him to the doctor because he was sick. I told her I thought he had a virus, like all the kids there who were sick. (She also has no idea my kids usually have to convince me they are pretty sick before we go to the doctor--ask Neil, who had whooping cough for nine days before I would take him in).

Sam was doing better this afternoon. I think he has a cold.

It just illustrates some of the cultural differences. First, they dress those babies in their diapers, with a media (thick tights), a Onesie, pants, then one or two shirts, and then a sweater or thick shirt over the top. The weather here is like Spring everyday, probably 50's at night, and 70's in the day. However, they do not heat the buildings here, so dressing the kids warmly is a good thing. They think kids get sick from the cold.

Breakfast every morning is warm milk (sometimes chocolate or strawberry flavored) with pieces of bread in it (Yeah--like "milk toast", Mom!). Midmorning is "papilla", a snack consisting usually of fruit, and for the youner kids, liquefied fruit. Lunch ALWAYS consists of soup for the younger kids, with "colada" after. Colada is sweet, flavored and boiled milk. Dinner is soup again, with colada after. The littlest kids are put in their cribs with bottles propped, or if they are big enough, they hold the bottles themselves. The workers do not do this because they are neglectful, but just because there are not enough people to hold a bottle for each baby. We, therefore, make sure those kids get their teeth brushed twice a day. Other than the colada, they never have anything sweet. This week there were several exceptions, because the "old" volunteers made cupcakes, had parties, at just about every place we go. The kids surely did not eat their healthy food as well as they usually do.

This afternoon I got to go to the orphanage out in the country that we go to just once a week. After a month of being here, their mismatched clothes, runny noses, and sometimes rotten teeth didn't bother me. It is so much easier to love them, because that is what they need, and the other doesn't matter. They are just kids, and need love.

I also got to go to the old ladies home this week. We did an activity with them, then went and fed some of them dinner. My old lady ate her soup and juice right up, and was so much easier to feed than the kids at the orphanages. The lady a couple of bed away was the best, though--she sang some awesome hymns, none of which I had heard before. She did this instead of eating her food like she should. We leave Cuenca in just 10 days. We have learned a lot while here, some Spanish, a lot about love, and espcially about what is important in life. I had an great experience which illustrates this. In Casa Esperanza, the younger "special kids" orphanage, there is a boy named Eddy. He is probably 9 or so, with cerebral palsy. He can't talk or do anything for himself. But, he communicates in other ways, like in cooperation, or with a smile. I was in Esperanza a lot the first few weeks. After we finish up at the other orphanage, we come over to the special kids orphanage to help feed kids before going home. Shawn tried to feed Eddy, but Eddy would not cooperate. I traded, and sure enough Eddy ate for me, and with a smile. He did the same for me again today. I teased him about being my special friend, and ticked him a little, and got his great smile, with some eye contact to go with it.

It is the same with Jorge, one of the older special kids, and Mike, or Shawn--the younger "normal" kids are so easy to love, but these special kids love us back, and unconditionally. We are so lucky. If we hadn't come, we wouldn't have had this opportunity.

This afternoon Mike, Shawn, and I finally had some time off together, so we went to the chompa (sweater) market, and bought some Alpaca sweaters, and then walked home because we had spent all of our money (it is only about a 15 minute walk). Cuenca is beautiful, with the cathedrals, old buildings, and the stone paved streets. Again, we are so lucky to be here, and for so many reasons.

Hasta luego,

Familia Reed