Late summer 1959.

       At my age memory stretches back a long time. In late summer 1959, enlistment in the Marines was looming. Enlisting in the spring for a September 19, report date, gave me enough time to wonder what I was in for. My life to that point was as provincial as provincial could be. Minneapolis/St. Paul was as far from my South Dakota home as I had been.

    On the day I left for Boot Camp, Dad took me to Arlington to catch a bus to Omaha. Meeting several other recruits, we were taken to taken to the airport. Boarding DC-6, for the flight to San Diego we had our last freedom until after graduating from Boot Camp. Enjoying my first airplane ride was tempered by wondering what awaited at the end of the flight.

   In the San Diego airport, we were met by a Marine Seargent who quickly demonstrated that the honeymoon was over. At Marine Corp Recruit Depot, we were formed into platoons and housed in Quonset Hut barracks that would be our home for the next twelve weeks.

  At the recent family reunion, I was asked why I chose the Marines. The military draft was active in 1959. Wanting to take a break from college the draft would have come for me. Army, Air Force and Navy were also options. The Marines had a provision that recruits with two years of college could enlist for three years instead of the standard four years. Navy and Air Force were both for four years. The Army was two years but didn't appeal. The challenge of the Marines appealed foe I enlisted for three, and the rest is history.

Takk for alt,

Al

The Marines were not all 'spit and polish' but there was also some of that.  Okinawa 1962

Four Followers?

       Perhaps the number of blog followers has doubled.  At the recent reunion at least two persons said they were going to follow my blog, thus doubling from you two faithful followers to four. WOW! So, this post will attempt to bring them up to speed on the need to cut cedars.

    Much of my hobby farm is planted to native grasses. Near these fields are rows of cedar trees planted for the benefit of wildlife. They have several advantages for this. Deer do not like to graze on them as they do on other coniferous trees. Their bushy growth provides winter windbreaks to shelter pheasants and deer. Pheasants often roost is them at night safe from predators such as fox and coyotes. Their berries provide nesting habitat and food for songbirds.  

    It's that later reality, food for songbirds, that prove to old adage that "no good deed goes on unpunished."  Birds consuming the berries defecate the seeds over the grassland and many cedars take root. If they are not removed the result is compromise of the grassland. Cedars growing randomly in the grass destroys the integrity of the grass for ground nesting birds such as pheasants. Prior to white settlement cedars were controlled by bison, who will not tolerate them, and prairie fires. With the bison removed and fires suppressed cedars are now a major problem on western grasslands. 

   Today, Odie and I, walked a section of grass near rows of cedars. This grass was cut for hay in July. When cedar seedlings were found I cut them off below the bottom branch. Coniferous trees cut that way do not grow back. Deciduous trees, on the other hand, will simply resprout.  

Takk for alt,

Al

Some of my grass.

Success!

       The Bergh Family Reunion came to a successful conclusion this morning.  Joy Ranch, the retreat center with a western theme, about 20 miles NW of Watertown SD, is an ideal setting. The family members attending chose between two alternatives. Some, such as I, arrived Friday afternoon and stayed until Sunday morning. Others, living in some closer proximity, spent Saturday at the Ranch.

    Odie spent the time at doggy camp, aka., Canine Country Club Kennel in Brookings. Apparently, it was a good experience for him. While he greeted me warmly when I recovered him, he wasn't wildly enthusiastic. The kennel staff reported that he did well with the other dogs. 

Takk for alt,

Al

One of the Ranch staff took this picture of those of us who remained until Sunday. She did a good job of ascertaining every person can be seen. 

Joy Ranch

       The bi-annual Bergh, my mother's maiden name. reunion is on at Joy Ranch 25 miles northwest of Watertown, SD. There must be almost 100 persons here. A contingent came from Seattle, a couple form FL., a couple from MI, many from Minnesota and south Dakota

    There are five surviving grandchildren of my Bergh grandparents, four of whom are here. I'm the youngest of the five. Four generations are represented. There's no drama and all happily relate to each other. Perhaps the harmony in enhanced by it being alcohol free. Joy Ranch is a great retreat center and has been the site of the last several reunions. Joanne and I sponsored the first one, perhaps thirty years ago and they've been held every two years since.

Takk for alt,

Al

This plaque is in my bedroom ar Joy Ranch.

Book Report

      

   Thanks to Peter and Sandy giving it to me, I read a book I would never have found. It was delightful, thanks! NORDIC TALES; FOLKTALES FROM, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark, illustrated by Ulla Thynell is organized by Chronical Books. Interestingly no editor is credited.

   None of the tales were familiar to me. They are delightful reading and have similarities from country to country. Magic is common to them all. Trolls appear but are not as ubiquitous as I expected. Likely some of these stories were known to my grandparents, all of whom grew up in Norway. 

Takk for alt,

Al

Tree Picture!

       The tree picture below was taken at the very southern tip of South America. It was on Terri del Fuego, Argentina. L had been in the northernmost city of the world, Hammerfest, Norway, so in Argentina he wanted to visit the world's southernmost city, Ushuaia. From there we travelled south to the southern tip where the tree picture was taken. Obviously, there was prevailing wind to shape the tree, and it was blowing while we were there.

   We began our trip in Buenos Airies. From there we bused through Patagonia to El Calafate. After hiking a bit in the Andes, we continued by bus through Patagonia to Ushuaia. Only once on the trip, when I aksed the same question once too often did L say, "Welcome to elder hostel."

Takk for alt,

Al

We also visited a penguin colony is southern Argentia.

The Gift Of Rain!

      After breakfast. as I was reading the paper online, it darkened outside.  A rain shower moved in and blessed us with the gift of rain. We've had a couple of light showers, .2" or so. This was a bit more serious than that. My gauge, and the one downtown, both showed .7". That's not enough but certainly enough to do some good. It was gentle and very welcome.

   Perhaps it's time to do a reveal. No, baby is due, but a reveal of the picture below. MKV took it in, of all places, Iceland. When I saw it, I thought it so untypical of Iceland that no one would guess it, and no one did. Though I've not been to Iceland it certainly doesn't fit my image.   

    Now, does anyone want to guess where that windblown tree pictured a few days ago was taken?  No, not in South Dakota.

Takk for alt,

Al 

Perhaps If there had been sheep in the picture it would of been a helpful clue. MKV said she took the picture out her hotel window in,,,,,,,,,,,,,ICELAND!  😀