Tag Archives: Keams Canyon

The Hana Chronicles: Month 7, Day 19

0
Posted by on in Assistance, children, collaborating, Community, Education, Entertainment, Family, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

August 9, 2026-

The day “started” just after midnight, with several gunshots audible, across the alley. All four of us awoke to the noise. Hana was looking around but was being very quiet. Aram and I stood watch upstairs, and he called the Plano Police to report the n=sounds. It appeared that a cruiser came by later, but as we heard no further sounds and only saw a neighbour girl’s boyfriend dropping her off a bit later, then all lights in the nearby houses go out, we went back to bed.

Hana, Yunhee and I got up around 6:30. Aram slept in, then we enjoyed Yunhee’s chicken and waffles around 10. Hana expresses a wish that she could eat them, too. That day will come, but for now, it’s all puree. We do make it a point to have her sit in the high chair and have something at each meal. Lunch and dinner are the big meals for her.

I made a huge dent in the remaining pile in my storage unit, this afternoon. One more good load will empty the unit and save several more dollars each month. I can then start culling my excess items in earnest, once more.

HANA’S NOTE- I did not like those banging noises last night. Something told me to keep quiet and not cry. Mommy stayed with me, so that helped.

YEAR IN REMEMBRANCE-1992 We made the hard choice to not renew our visas, and so Penny and Aram flew back to Arizona in late January. They stayed with her parents, in the RV that they had driven across country, settling at a park in Prescott. I stayed behind, to complete my contract, taking seven of my freshman students on a circular field trip around Jeju. Their task was to prepare English-language mini-guides to each place we visited. After that was finished, I took a personal journey, mostly by bus, around the Korean mainland, starting in Kwangju and going up through Cheonju, Taejon and Seoul, then over to the east coast, including Soraksan and one last visit to the Demilitarized Zone, then down to Geongju, the ancient fortress town, with its impressive tumuli.

I flew out on March 1, having left a lot of camping equipment behind in Jeju. The University ended up giving it away to students. We had the bulk of our household put in a storage unit in Prescott, until we found a permanent place to live. I arrived “home” on March 2, and we settled into a residential motel. We stayed there for about five weeks, and during that time, I struggled with reconnecting to American life. There were a couple of auto-related mishaps, though neither involved other drivers and only one involved another vehicle. I was able to immediately get on board as a substitute teacher, in three school districts. Penny also did so, and we took turns staying with Aram. In April, we got a town house, in a nice neighbourhood on the west side of Prescott. Her Dad came and stayed with us for a week, while he made arrangements to fly his dog, Buddy, back to New Jersey.

In May, I was hired by Penny’s old boss in Keams Canyon, as school counselor at the newly opened Jeddito School. In August, we moved up to Keams Canyon, Aram entered pre-school, which was a half day. Penny had to go back to New Jersey for an operation, so Aram went with her for the two weeks. They also went back in November, for the Second Baha’i World Congress, which was held in New York City. I stayed behind and focused on my job of tending to the needs of 900 students.

By year’s end, I was finally regaining my equilibrium.

Amen To All That

6
Posted by on in Community, Family, Personal goals, Striving

May 17, 2016, Prescott- Things went better at work today, as I knew they would.  Contrition replaced stridency, and my supervisor announced, at the start of the day, that no one would be allowed to talk politics in class.

My son had a successful laser eye treatment, this morning, and is now at his home, enjoying renewed clarity of vision.  We had a fine conversation, this evening, as usual. He is proactive with his personal affairs, so I feel a firm foundation was set, both with our guidance and with our mistakes, from which he learned.

Preliminary job feelers have come out, regarding next academic year, from my current department.  It’s nice to be again making a good impression.  I would be primarily responsible for helping a young autistic man, with academics and life skills, and, by extension, working with others who need academic assistance.  The process should take not much more than a week.

I have been admonished by some who feel I am too busy.  Well, there is always a lot going on, but here I am with the free time to write, in clear-headed fashion.  There are end-of-year events, this week and next, along with a charity dinner for the family of a woman who died from childbirth complications.  I will need to get my vehicle serviced on Friday, and head to an old stomping ground, Keams Canyon, on Saturday, to support Baha’is who have moved there recently, at a devotional meeting they are having.  Then, once school is done, it’ll be time to help a friend in Reno move to Carson City.

Busy, somewhat, but feeling productive is a good thing, for me.

NEXT:  Another hike along Prescott Circle, this time in Granite Basin.

 

 

 

 

May’s Agenda

8
Posted by on in Matters of Faith, Personal goals, Social, Spiritual, Striving

May 1, 2016, Prescott-  Yes, I shall certainly backtrack and tell of my ten-mile round trip in Black Canyon, yesterday.  I will do so tomorrow, or Tuesday.  Today, though, bear me with me, as May unfolds itself.

I certainly had a good start to the month of amazement- enjoying a breakfast at Zeke’s, where I sat at the counter, surrounded by the constant motion and banter of beautiful women who were working hard, very hard, as I enjoyed my Chorizo Scramble, with sourdough toast and coffee.  Zeke’s is always packed in the morning, on Sunday, particularly.

Then, it was off to Montezuma Well, about fifty minutes from here, for a brief meeting with Baha’i friends who were gathered for sacred readings, followed by a picnic lunch.  I ate enough to be polite, of course, but the real reason for my being there was to connect with those who have taken up residence in Keams Canyon, where we once lived.  There is an in-gathering, of sorts, taking place.  I am again connected with some of my former students, now adults with their own families- gladly telling me of their ups and downs. I will go back up there on May 20-21, and join in a devotional meeting.

Back in Prescott, shortly after 2, I was able to attend most of our own community’s Twelfth Day of Ridvan observance, again with sacred readings, commemorating the departure of Baha’u’llah and His entourage from Baghdad, onward to Constantinople (Istanbul).

This month will find me largely at Prescott High School, with four days at Mingus Springs. Travel means a day in Phoenix, for a wellness check; the aforementioned jaunt up to Keams Canyon- and Holbrook; and at the end of the month, a drive up to Reno, to help an old friend move from there to Carson City.

Reading-wise, I continue with “All The Light They Cannot See”, “The Billionaire’s Vinegar”and begin “Moral Tribes”, by Joshua Greene, which explores the concept of Us and Them, as well as “Gravel Ghosts”, a recent anthology of poetry by Megan Merchant, about which, more tomorrow.  Those will be my May reads.

Well, work will be beckoning soon, so time to get to sleep.  Merry May, all.