This night is such a special night for us because we really love each other more and more. To me love is what makes the world spin and what also can make your head spin. Linda still makes my heart skip beats and everything is perfect when she is around. When I am with Linda I feel like nothing bad can happen, I'm home, it's perfection. That's what loveing Linda is to me.
I thought it would be nice to let you read what we did on Linda's birthday ten years ago. Here is what I wrode about that event.
July 24, 1998
Camp this night, mile 119, consisted of a strip of sand with Tamarisk up against the face of the canyon wall. We had plenty of room for our group and the area gave the boys a million lizards to chase. Austin kept real busy collecting Linda's birthday present and the rest of us kept quiet about the big celebration.
Steve and Lynnel cooked dinner this night, and as it turned out mostly by Lynnel because Steve was working on Linda's gift. When dinner was ready it was time to try to keep Linda out of camp. We had brought decorations to hang from the tamarisk and place on the tables so Linda needed to be out of the area for an extended time. Dean's plan was to tell her that everyone was concerned about her being mad at them and that she was acting different today. Not the best plan, but at least we could go have a person to person chat away from the rest without her getting too suspicious. We walked down river out of sight of camp. Dean started the conversation and they were just getting into it when Linda looked up and said, "Jesus, look at the size of that Lizard!" Just to their left on the rock face sat a huge Chuckwalla, chomping down on a piece of greenery. We called Neil, Austin and the rest of the group. Everyone agreed that it was the biggest lizard of our trip thus far.
Once the critter noticed us he moved off into a crack in the rock. The rest of the group headed back to camp. Linda and Dean returned to their faux talk. Dean held out as long as he could but Linda was catching on and we had to head back to camp before the cover was blown and Linda figured out the ruse.
We entered camp to a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday". The decorations strung around were Gecko's with party hats. There was a Gecko centerpiece for the table, Gecko napkins, Gecko party favor whistles and of course Gecko party hats. With all the lizard party decorations it is surprising the chuckwallas, side-blotched lizards and tree lizards didn't invade us. The first one to approach us was Austin. He ran up as soon as they entered camp and presented Linda with the first gift. Linda looked at the present, a container with a lid. She removed the lid and immediately a big green grasshopper hurled itself out and smacked Linda in the face. She let out a scream and dropped the can to the ground. Everyone started howling with laughter. Austin thought it was the greatest thing in the world. Later Linda said something about plotting to get back at him, but she never did.
Gina gave Linda a beautiful bouquet of dried flowers and grasses she had collected through out the day. She has some real artistic talent and this gift really displayed her creativity. Neil made a Lizard catcher for his present and we even tried it out immediately after Linda received it. Brandy and Mike's gifts consisted of river bootie; a beer and some Chap Stick. Steve had made a Monkey's Fist; a complex knot tied in a piece of rope, and presented it to the birthday girl.
Steve and Lynnel cooked dinner this night, and as it turned out mostly by Lynnel because Steve was working on Linda's gift. When dinner was ready it was time to try to keep Linda out of camp. We had brought decorations to hang from the tamarisk and place on the tables so Linda needed to be out of the area for an extended time. Dean's plan was to tell her that everyone was concerned about her being mad at them and that she was acting different today. Not the best plan, but at least we could go have a person to person chat away from the rest without her getting too suspicious. We walked down river out of sight of camp. Dean started the conversation and they were just getting into it when Linda looked up and said, "Jesus, look at the size of that Lizard!" Just to their left on the rock face sat a huge Chuckwalla, chomping down on a piece of greenery. We called Neil, Austin and the rest of the group. Everyone agreed that it was the biggest lizard of our trip thus far.
Once the critter noticed us he moved off into a crack in the rock. The rest of the group headed back to camp. Linda and Dean returned to their faux talk. Dean held out as long as he could but Linda was catching on and we had to head back to camp before the cover was blown and Linda figured out the ruse.
We entered camp to a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday". The decorations strung around were Gecko's with party hats. There was a Gecko centerpiece for the table, Gecko napkins, Gecko party favor whistles and of course Gecko party hats. With all the lizard party decorations it is surprising the chuckwallas, side-blotched lizards and tree lizards didn't invade us. The first one to approach us was Austin. He ran up as soon as they entered camp and presented Linda with the first gift. Linda looked at the present, a container with a lid. She removed the lid and immediately a big green grasshopper hurled itself out and smacked Linda in the face. She let out a scream and dropped the can to the ground. Everyone started howling with laughter. Austin thought it was the greatest thing in the world. Later Linda said something about plotting to get back at him, but she never did.
Gina gave Linda a beautiful bouquet of dried flowers and grasses she had collected through out the day. She has some real artistic talent and this gift really displayed her creativity. Neil made a Lizard catcher for his present and we even tried it out immediately after Linda received it. Brandy and Mike's gifts consisted of river bootie; a beer and some Chap Stick. Steve had made a Monkey's Fist; a complex knot tied in a piece of rope, and presented it to the birthday girl.
As if this was not enough, they made Linda close her eyes as they brought out the final present. Now, because of the trip down the Grand Canyon Linda missed a concert in Sp
okane, Washington by one of her favorite singers. She was very disappointed that she could not attend, but how can you miss a trip of a lifetime like this one. So the final present was a visit from the performer she missed in Spokane, Garth Brooks. Actually Paul had dressed up in his cowboy hat, wore a little black microphone like Garth does, put on a shirt that said "Garth Brooks Family Reunion," then sang the only Garth song he knew. By the end of the serenade Linda was in tears. You can talk to Linda about her 40th birthday and she will no doubt tell you that it was the best birthday party she ever has been given. At the end of all this we ate a delicious birthday cake that Mike baked in the Dutch. Night moved in and we spent the rest of the evening learning to tie Monkey's Fists and planning the next day's big hike.
okane, Washington by one of her favorite singers. She was very disappointed that she could not attend, but how can you miss a trip of a lifetime like this one. So the final present was a visit from the performer she missed in Spokane, Garth Brooks. Actually Paul had dressed up in his cowboy hat, wore a little black microphone like Garth does, put on a shirt that said "Garth Brooks Family Reunion," then sang the only Garth song he knew. By the end of the serenade Linda was in tears. You can talk to Linda about her 40th birthday and she will no doubt tell you that it was the best birthday party she ever has been given. At the end of all this we ate a delicious birthday cake that Mike baked in the Dutch. Night moved in and we spent the rest of the evening learning to tie Monkey's Fists and planning the next day's big hike.
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