Canyon de Chelly Reunion
Published on 8/22/2018
Canyon de Chelly Reunion, June 25
A highlight of life is that we get to live it together. When we have a reunion, we, together, recall those sweet times.
June 25, 2018 there we were together and recalling: Lettie Litson, sister Theresa Litson with granddaughter Jaynell, daughter Kay and husband Cletis Mark, and nephew Thomas Litson. This Navajo Nation contingent was together, again, with 15 hikers from Oregon with whom they’d shared days/meals/hikes/laughter over the past 30 summers on annual Chemeketan weeklong trips. Extraordinary! Lots of food and stories, lots of laughter and memories, fond recalling of some no longer with us, all recollections tied tightly with bonds of warm affection. Like being in Canyon de Chelly, it was a time of good medicine.
Our June 25 reunion symbolized those 30 years: Leroy Kline saw a CDC sketch he’d forgotten he made in 1988! Sylvia Kline found it and showed it to him. Ten year old Jaynell saw four photos of a another 10 year old girl made in earlier years … wearing the same colors she was wearing at the potluck. That former 10 year old girl in Canyon de Chelly at Lettie’s place? Jaynell’s mother!
Wanting a look at the Gorge, the next day our guests from the SW saw the Columbia River Gorge - especially from Troutdale to Stephenson/Cascade Locks - with able guidance both from Mike Dianich and Cloudy Spears.
George & Janet Adkins hosted the visitors. Dave Macmillan had his slideshow running of Canyon de Chelly. Carol Jacquet was the name tag lady. Kay Mark and Theresa Litson prepared Navajo frybread for all. Trish & Joe fortunately returned from TX in time for the reunion. Mary Coleman picked a gallon of blueberries for the group. Joan Zuber, Diane Roth and all were at first puzzled by the many hawks we heard. We quickly learned a recording was being played - along with the sporatic cannon shots - to keep the birds out of the nearby blueberry farm! Margaret King and friend Lee brought their R-POD and camped at Mt Angel for the reunion. Two display tables with photo books were available for the group to peruse.
Our reunion was on private property with a small lake near Amity. Mark Olson knewn the setting and made arrangements for us. He and his brother Phil saw to our every need. Without Mark’s appreciation for Canyon de Chelly and attending to all the reunion details, even the good weather, our get together would not nearly have been so memorable.
Walk in Beauty!
Hardin King