Our end of year letter 2018

Two days before it is Christmas day. Tomorrow night, our family will be here to exchange gifts and a traditional dinner together. I am sure many thousand families will be doing the same. Our family is no different than other families. We have had our ups and downs, good times and bad, heart breaks and joys. This is my fond time of the year. No only being with my family, but celebrating the birth of Jesus. This may surprise some of my family and friends, but I am a very religious man. I just don't preach it or push it on people, like it was to me growing up. I have believed in Jesus since age 12, and maybe sooner. Of course, I have not been a perfect Christian, as I should be. I have sinned many times, and I have asked for forgiveness many times too. Ok, this is not about MY religion or how I believe, it is about Christmas and why it is what it is. It is a celebration. It is not about gifts, which that has become the key around Christmas. It is not about lights or decorations. It is rejoicing the birth of Christ. This varies from one religion to another. In our recent visit to a Muslim country, Egypt, we learned even they rejoice in the Virgin Mary and the birth of Jesus. It is even in their Coran. They even map the Holy family's trip to his birth place. Also, that 'Allah' means "love", not their God's name. "Allah be with you" means 'Let love be with you'. Surprised? I was. I have gone into Mosics and prayed along with Muslims, and for the same things...peace and love and rejoicing God, no matter what you may call him, or her. I believe ALL religions praise a God that we will find (someday) that is is the same God, by a different name. So, Christmas is NOT just for Christians, but for everyone. It may not be celebrated on December 25th, BUT, it should be celebrated EVERYDAY. Christmas, or whatever your choice of religion is, should be year-round. Everyone has or believes in creation, I just don't believe it came from the BIG BANG. Something created that big bang. Something started everything, it did not just happen. So the bottom line is celebrate your God, your family, life, love thy neighbor not matter what kind of creep they may be, be nice and forgiving, and lastly... MERRY CHRISTMAS. I love you all. Harrold and Nancy

A trip of a lifetime - Egypt and the Nile River

Before we left for South America back in January, I saw another trip we had wanted to do for years... Egypt. We called our friends in Oregon (which were also going to South America with us) and asked them if they' re interested and they said "SURE!" We left on the day before Thanksgiving and flew into London, and then to Cairo. Long flights. Arrived at our hotel at 2:30 AM. The Marriott Cairo was where we'd be staying for 2 nights. It was an old palace years ago. Over the top does not describe it. The gardens, a massive pool, luxurious dining and someone to wait on you hand and foot.

From our 7th floor balcony, we could see the Nile and the beautiful gardens. Only a hour or two away in Gaza, was the pyramids and the sphinx. We had seen them in books and on TV but that did not do them justice. So big, so massive and so old. Kids crowded around our group wanting to take 'selfies' with us, Americans, being asked our names and touching us with big smiles on the faces. So friendly and curious.

But that friendliness would continue the entire trip. Ancient temple after temple we would visit in several towns. The Pharaohs were all about themselves.From Cairo to Gaza, south to Aswan by plane and there we boarded our ship for a five day cruise. Only 16 people in our group on a beautiful ship styled like the one used in Cleopatra's days.

Several spots at night to anchor and mini tours of villages or tombs and temples. We visited a school where the kids went nuts over seeing us, ate lunch in a village with their elders, we had dinner with an Egyptian family and so much more.

We spent one night in a Eco-lodge (very minimal) and the next couple night in another old palace where Winston Churchill and Agatha Christie stayed many time. We crossed the Nile River from one side to the other to reach sights by a small boat ferry. My mind is filled with all the things we did and saw, but no way I can post all of my 500+ photos and videos, plus what Nancy shot. Egypt is a VERY old country with a deep history of take-overs, cruel foreign governments raping and controlling it. Now Egypt is a growing country with problems, like most countries, that is a center of the middle east culture but does NOT have a problem with America. They literally love us, and ALL religions. In one city block, we saw a Jewish church, next to Muslim, Catholic, and Coptic churches. Their all get along and help each others rebuild aging buildings. They respect each other, caring and no sign of ethic problems. So polite to everyone. The Nile River is the life-blood of Egypt and surrounding countries. Egypt does not tolerate violence of any kind. We ALWAYS felt safe walking the streets at nights. But we were escorts daily but an armed Police officer, just in case. We loved Egypt, but especially the people.

So long Lance

On Tuesday, I received a call from a friend telling me one of my best friends (Lance Sr.) was in ICU after he was in a very serious car wreck. I went to the hospital to visit him. He looked really bad. So many broken bones that cause more damage. His son and a friend were there. We tried to comfort each other with prayer and talk to my friend as he lay there in an induced medical coma. Even tho he was unconscious, he fought the sedative with chewing and struggling to move, but he was restrained for his own good. At times I could almost see him mouthing his son's name and mine. It was painful to see him that way. Such a strong, handsome guy. At one time he won the title of 'Mr. Arizona' in body building. Lance was a 35 year veteran of the fire department and my Captain for a period of two years. He and I went through paramedic training together in 1980. He was one of the few who came to visit me many times in the hospital in 1998. Several years ago, Lance was diagnosed with Huntington's disease. A non-curable disease that slowly eats away your reasoning, your nervous system and your life. Many people commit suicide before they come to the end. There is no way to slow it down, or stop it. Most turn to alcohol or heavy drugs. Yesterday I received a call from the son (Lance Jr.) of one of my best friends. "Harrold, my dad has died." I asked, "What happened?" He replied "He chewed through his breathing tube and aspirated vomit and they could not get his airway cleared out. He was without oxygen for a long time and his brain suffered." Maybe that was the way Lance wanted to end his suffering or not face the ending of his disease. My heart breaks for the family and what they are going through and the terrible monumental ordeal of cleaning up Lance's affairs afterwards. Losing a dear friend is as hard as a loved one of your family. To me, Lance was like family, and I will miss him dearly. Rest in peace my brother. You are in better place now. Rest.

End of October 2018 update on AZ Shells

I learned a very good lesson on Thursday... you never turn your back on a piece of metal, ladder, big rock, or anything heavy, and you have just leaned it up against something. While I was cleaning my shop floor and wanted to sweep under some tools, I leaned my two creepers against a car in my shop. As I turned around to reach for the broom, the steel frame creeper fell on the back of my left leg. Of course I cussed (just a little) and turn back around to see what damage it did to me and anything else. This what I found. And this is what it looks like today, two days later. 24 stitches and bunch of steri-strips..

That is a flap of skin almost down to my ankle. It was a good anatomy lesson too. The doc and the nurse laugh when they saw me taking a picture of it. I said, "This is suitable for posting." Their eyebrow wrinkled but shook their heads with laughter. Anyway, I am fine and healing. Wine helps. I had a Water Harvesting System installed and with the first good rain, we now have over 5,000 gallons of water for plants. It's even plumbed into our drip system so all we have to do is turn a couple valves and start watering those thirsty plants. November 21, we leave on another overseas trip to EGYPT.Yes a big check-mark for this bucket list location. We have been wanting to go there for years, but with the conflicts going on in the region, tours where pretty much shutdown. Finally, after 8 years, they are open again. I will post pics and videos. I only thing wrong with these trips is the in-transit time. 10 hours to London, a 5 hour layover and then 3 hours to Cairo. Oh yeah, then another hour to the hotel. Coming back is longer by 2 hours. At least we have upgraded seats, lots of first run movies and plenty of wine. We'll sleep most of the way. We get back on December 7th. Watch out mummies.

I have another car in the shop, but one is not mine. I am restoring it for a client. A 70 Buick Gran Sport 2 door hardtop. Nothing fancy on this one. Totally stock. Should be fun. Well that's about it for now. Happy Halloween and Happy Thanksgiving. Fall is finally here in AZ. 70s in the day and 50s at night. Everyone take care. Harrold and Nancy

Life's little pleasures

Sometimes you wake up and wonder what the day will hold for you. As you may know, Arizona is very hot until after Halloween, when the temps drop into double digits, and hopefully into the 80's and 70's. This morning I woke up to RAIN! But that has it's consequences. When the ground is baked, and packed hard, water does not seep in easily, thus the rain flows into dry creeks and dry river beds and floods result. Years ago, Phoenix built a many of its streets and freeways below ground level which acts as drainage ditches and they flood. Roads dip into the dry creeks and then people try to drive across the rushing waters and some die in their cars. Unfortunately they don't understand how danger Mother Nature can be so unforgiving when a wall of water hits your car board side, washing your car/truck (with you in it) downstream. So, here's some advice from a retired firefighter who has rescued several people out of flooded creeks when they thought they could simply drive through a flooded road. DON'T DO IT. Turn around and find a dry alternative route. Leave early to avoid traffic problems. We typically have beautiful mountain views 360 degrees around us, but not today. They have all disappeared covered with clouds along with the sun. Have a lovely cloudy day. We are. Take care.

No matter what some people say...We lost a hero

Not many times in your life do you really get the opportunity to meet a REAL hero. I was fortunate to do that twice. Both times with the same man, and I had my doubts at the time, until I had the time to talk to him. Senator John McCain was who I was seated next to a two different ceremonial dinners by two different organizations I was involved with. We met and shook hands. I was a little taken that he was fairly tall after all the hell he went through while a POW in Vietnam. And he's grip was pretty strong. he had to raise his shoulder to shake, probably from the injuries he endured during that time. We sat down and he quizzed me about my life, since his was so publicized. I told him about my fire department career and then he asked if I had served my country. I told I had in 1966 through 1972 in the Air Force. I then asked what did I do and when I told the whole story, we REALLY connected. He asked me what he always asked other vets who were in Vietnam, "Why didn't you come rescue me?" I was at a lose of words. Yes I would have if I could, and knew where to come. On our second meeting he remembered me as if we had never left each other. We picked up where we left off. But this is not about our meetings. this about a lose to me, our state, and mostly to our country. John McCain was an American hero, no matter what some stupid President says. John love this country and would DIE to save it and our save our rights as Americans. He almost did. He fought for three decades to do the right things for us. You know, DO THE RIGHT THING? He did. Him and I did not always agree, but in many ways he said what I would have said to the Senate and to that stupid president. Arizona is known for the mavericks and rebels in politics. I don't know if that is a good thing, but it has stuck to us like a cholla cactus. One other one you may remember was the late Senator Barry Goldwater. I never met him, but followed him a lecture rotation. What an honor. I did not really agree with him all the time either. Both ran for president and neither made it. I believe they both did more as a torn in the side than as a president. They both made changes and changed the way people think. John McCain was a very honorable man with high standards that willed the people to be better than what the present government foresaw them to be. He believed if you did not like government the way it was, than you should tell your representatives and take it to the ballot box, not just in anger and along the party lines, but in good common sense. I love this statement by him, “Nothing in life is more liberating than to fight for a cause larger than yourself, something that encompasses you but is not defined by your existence alone.” ... John McCain, I will miss you. My love, prayers and many thoughts are with you and your family during these tough times. I will try to be somewhat like you in your efforts encouraging the ideas of doing the right things for everyone, not matter what your color, religion, sex or party. Hope everyone can do the same.

Occasionally I have to blow off steam about our society and my observations

Yes, I am human, and I have view that MAY not meet yours, but are MY views and you as friends/family or acquaintances should just accept. Now this article may offend you, but just hear me out. I totally dislike the present presidency and his vice president. I REALLY respect the Office of the President and all its responsibilities, but this guy is a total JERK. He is a bigot, he is bias to to anyone who has a disability, anyone of color, or anyone that disagrees with him. Then he just says, "You're fired." Like the TV show he was such a jerk in. How can ANYONE believe this man can help our country be great again. He has killed friendships with countries that have been loyal to us for decades, and has begun to wreck the world economy which will cause lose of jobs in the USA. He believes building a wall between Mexico and America will stop the bad guys from coming here? Hey, Mr. president, bad guys fly into our airports daily without climbing over a wall or cutting border barbwire. People come here for work that white folks will never do. And God bless them for that. I picked cotton as a kid and it is NO fun, believe me. Those people just want to make money for their family like every white family in the USA. And that fact, every family of color too. We ALL want to have a descent life, and that means work that is not always sitting behind a desk and not sweating in the hot sun. You may think they are sucking the benefits and not giving back. Well, how about rent they pay for apartments, and food they buy to feed their families, and gas and insurance for the cars and trucks they drive. We as Americans, are SO lucky to have been born here. You really don't realize how lucky you are until you travel to third world countries and see their reality. Children walking 3 miles to school barefooted, carrying water on your head for 2 miles...4 times a day, swinging a pike chipping out coal in a mine 12 hours a day 7 days a week for $10 a month. So picking cotton and fruit from a tree, or hoeing vegetables from a field sound bad? NO! But would you do it? Hell NO! Yes, we have large industries to foreign countries because Americans want to make the big bucks and some Unions have gotten greedy. Steel, textures, electronics, automotive parts, health caregivers, clothing and so on. Trump has made that worse putting tariffs on goods coming into the US, when he should be giving tax breaks to industries trying to build a business within the USA. Cheap labor is why industries move overseas. Get a clue Trump! You're a business man (living off your Dad's money). Before any company can make a profit, there are hard times. Cutting back labor costs is part of the struggle with workers. Either you cut wages somewhat or lose your job to another country. This a big pill to swallow, and a tough one to endure but that is what we need to do to MADE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN Mr. President. Of course he'll never read this, but you did. So let your representatives know it at election time. Make them well aware that you care about our country and this president, or any other president that has no common sense of economies, can see they are killing our great country should not be in office, nor should any representatives, or senators. Use your power as a citizen and vote OUT the bad folks and get good folks in office. Look at yourself as a citizen and utilize your constitutional power and VOTE!

Our friend and companion is gone

In May of 2007, we found the cutest ball of fur. We never owned a small dog, but with RV traveling and very tired of shedding white hairs from our past Dalmatians, we got a Miniature Schnauzer. We named her "Senorita Scooter Concha" (Miss Scooter Shell in English). Scooter, as we commonly called her, was lively, VERY smart and loved to play. She won my heart quickly and totally. She accompanied us on many trips around the country and would curl up the back seat of my truck until we stopped, and then she'd let us know she had to "go". She was always my football watching buddy, in my chair, which she would try to take over.

In August 2017, she suddenly went blind, and that was the downward spiral Scooter went. It was as if she just gave up. The dog that would dive through the dog door to catch-up with Nancy in the yard, and bark at visitors to greet them, she would play with the grand-kids for hours ... now bumped into walls, laid in her bed all day, and lost the sparkle in her eyes. After returning from another RV trip, her caretaker called may times saying Scooter would not eat. We thought she was just too concerned, but arriving home, we saw how bad Scooter was. After witnessing Scooter's condition for few days, Nancy and I knew Scooter's quality of life was gone. I took Scooter to the vet..... We will miss you Scooter MORE than you can imagine. I loved that little dog SO, SO much. Find our late son in heaven, Tony, he'll play with you. He is the one with the Dallas Cowboy jersey on.

Have you ever stopped to notice...

Boy, when someone says, "Take care of myself." I don't think they realize what we are all told to do to do that.let me just list the things our parents taught us. Brush your teeth daily (dentist say twice a day), change your underwear daily, take a shower, blow your nose and don't suck it back it, wipe your feet, wash your hands after you go to the bathroom and before meals, comb your hair, take your vitamins daily or meds as prescribed, don't burb or fart in public, cover your mouth when you sneeze and cough,eat all your vegetables, and carry a clean handkerchief at all times. I am sure there maybe more. Then there are the things the EXPERTS tell you to do. Go to the dentist annually, get a physical exam annually, go to church on Sunday (whatever day you may worship), sweep your carpets at least once a week, don't throw trash as your drive, drive responsibility and obey the traffic laws, respect your elders (especially your parents), change the batteries in your smoke detectors annually, never play around with poisonous creatures, watch your budget so your don't go into debt, change the oil in your vehicles every 5,000 miles unless you drive on dirt then do it more often. OK, THAT'S ENOUGH!! You get my drift, right? There is a lot of STUFF to taking care of yourself and (yes) others too. Most of this comes as second nature to you, but the TV and radio and newspaper give us reminders daily. Living ain't easy, as one of my friend says. But it is probably better than the alternative. So TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. Love you all.

Our latest trip started on Jan. 21st and flew into Buenos Aires Argentina. It was the most active trip yet. Lots of hiking in mostly calm, hot to cool weather...until we hit the Andes. Then it became a mountainous wind tunnel of a continuous blast of 35 to 45 MPH winds. NON-STOP, day and night. But besides all that, Argentina and Chile was amazing in views, creatures, food, wine, and people. We adventured up an active volcano to hike, ate unfamiliar foods, drank local customary beverages, saw unique creatures, witnessed breathtaking views, experienced the lifestyles of local native people, and ate their foods, took part in their traditional rituals, and had discussions about the horrible past of these countries. We laughed, we felt sad, we cried, we were horrified by some stories, and was told about the Nazi influences. All of our emotions were touched. The group of people we traveled with were also amazing. They were great. I'd have to say the best group of any trip we have had. I felt sad to leave them at the airport as we all went our separate ways home. For a little over two weeks, they were family. We arrived home on Feb. 7th after being in transit for 23 hours, tired, wrinkled, and with a lot of dirty laundry. It was a great trip, as all of them are. many good memories. People ask,"Why do you want to go there?" To understand what those cultures are like, to share our views on many different scopes, to sample their foods, and mostly, to see the part of the world we never could experience in history books and National Geographic. Open your mind. Travel is good for the views you'll never see on the 6 o'clock news.