Let's start with some facts and some stories that I remember.  I was born on March 4, 1954.  I'm the last of 5 children of Floyd Lee Reed and Geraldine Hand.  I have four older sisters, Diane (Keyes), who is 15 years older than I; Dixie Lee (Taylor) who is 12 years older than I; Natalie, who is 10 years older than I; and Suzanna, who is 5 years older than I.  So as you can see, I'm the last child and the only son.  

My dad was just shy of 39 years old when I was born and my mom was about six weeks short of her 36th birthday.  Based on stories from my mom, she knew she was very near the end of her childbearing years, so she told my dad that if he wanted to try one more time for a son, he needed to do it soon.  So they tried once more.  Dad got his son.  Dad always said he got a son because Mom changed doctors.  In 1954, Dads were not permitted in the Labor and Delivery rooms, so Dad didn't know if he had a son or daughter until the doctor told him.  Mom, at every opportunity, would remind Dad that he didn't believe the doctor and had to make sure that I was a boy.  But I really don't remember.....

I'm starting to build my life story.  There will be lots of starts and stops and edits and updates.  I'm not sure what the final form will be.  I'll start by recording memories and pictures from my few years in Lark.  I'll get as much input as I can from my sisters.  Links to photos.google.com and some facebook groups like Lark Utah and You Know You Grew Up in Midvale UT if will also provide some color to the early years.  So, here we go!

Flowering Trees in São Paulo

You can still find some natural beauty in this metro area of 20 million or more.  I believe the trees with pink and yellow blossoms are called Ipê.  I haven't found any name for the tree with orange blossoms, but it may also be an Ipê.  And the close-up of the yellow flower is not on an Ipê tree. There are also lots of crepe myrtles in bloom, but y'all southerners know about them.

What does 98,624 + 1,724 equal?  It equals United 1K status.  I had accumulated 98,624 miles on United flights this year.  At 100,000 miles, I get four global and six domestic upgrade certificates, plus double miles credited to my account for all flights in 2014.  So, on Monday, December 30, I flew to Denver in a United 787 Dreamliner;, with an upgrade to First Class, and then flew back to Houston (not in a 787) - a total of 1,724 miles.  And the fare was a throw-back to 1990's fares.  My one crazy thing to do this holiday season!!!

Green Thumbs

This may not look like much, but it shows that MTB and I can actually grow something.  After two previous attempts at tomatoes, which ended in a total harvest of two or three tomatoes, we thought we could only plant and kill.  But no!  Look what we did!  And they taste great!!!

My New Toy

This is the final installment in my bicycle posts.  This is my new bike.  Thanx to Quinn and Andy and the great staff at Montgomery Multisports for all their help. Now I just need to improve the motor!!!

More About the Bikes

Everyone who knows me could not believe that I would buy two bikes, especially those two, which carry a total retail price of about $30k.  And the truth is, I didn't buy two bikes.  I purchased only one bike, and it was neither of the bikes pictured in the previous post.  But I did buy a bike, and here it is......

Pinarello ROKH with Shimano Ultegra Components