Eternal Echoes: A Journey to Forever

By Randall E. Secrest

'ETERNAL ECHOES

A Journey to Forever'

A superb age, one hundred and twenty, the time will arrive to step off the cliff and 'go home.' Go home to be with 'Eternity,' everything the Creator has promised, everything!!!

A young man wondered what the meaning of life meant? What his parent's feelings truly meant? And, honestly, where his life would lead? Growing up through high school and fortunately through college and finally to a life headed for the coast... to find Scottsdale, Arizona, to be a perfect city for an architectural sculptor! A fascinating life led to twenty years creating, to friendship and to falling in love... Which in turn led to a traumatic brain injury -- what is next?

'ETERNAL ECHOES A Journey to Forever,' now is a true lesson, to share life's journey, written to give wisdom. The beautiful former Vogue cover model suggested it was time to 'go our separate ways.'

This book is telling, the writing style is being commended, being continued and protecting the upcoming movie.

Understand the new chapter, understand the beginning, understand the thrill...

Life Is A Gas...

• Language: English
• Publisher: eBookIt.com
• Release date: Apr 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781456610180

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Part I

CHAPTER ONE

IN THE BEGINNING

The idea of attending College was unthought of…

R E Secrest

1

At a young age did you ever have any specific dreams? Where dreams a function of the mental process? Were dreams of a glorious future considered? Were dreams of attending college ever contemplated? Could we imagine ourselves ‘becoming’? While meandering through high school, thoughts of further education was never a goal, in fact unlike others, was never really considered. For some, the thought of attending the hallowed halls of college was ruled out by the simple fact my parents could not afford those seemingly unnecessary expenses. At such a young age, participating in sports, finding a job as a senior, buying a car and chasing a few pretty girls were the highlights of the thought process.

Undeniably, sports were a wonderful experience and being a star player was intriguing. Not that what could be accomplished was truly a motivation, but the shear excitement of being a member of a team experience was a bonding experience and exhilarating. Football was always an animalistic pleasure, grunting and groaning, striving for a winning record, grueling, yet an exercise in manliness.

The concept of eleven players, of various sizes, advancing the pigskin down the field in order to score a touchdown… or conversely, an equal number becoming one mighty force to defend against that very same scoring drive… indeed a rough and tumble endeavor, yet a forever remembrance. And amusingly, when the film reruns of younger years are recalled, the awkward stances and inept hand offs and even running the wrong direction on the field are hilarious.

In addition, basketball was far different, formally played on an indoor court. Fortunately some teams are a great deal more successful playing basketball, and during a high school year we remained undefeated, 23 wins, 0 losses. As you can see, a team of five starters and seven substitutes can excel, and success predestined the team to the State Championships in the state capitol, Denver, Colorado.

Actually if any sports program is an integral part of attending high school, playing at the state basketball playoffs or state finals in any sport is an annual goal. Unfortunately, even though a successful team accomplishes a state scoring record, 130-60 against a rival, Trinidad, playing and winning against much larger State ranked teams is an insurmountable challenge, realistically impossible to actually win. Nevertheless, the basketball coach, Duane Lewis, referred to as, Sim, was a superb, always well-attired coach and will always be remembered as a fine man, a thoughtful counselor and a dear friend.

In fact within the el alarado, the 1975 Yearbook, the Journalism II staff dedicated the publication to Sim. As a coach his teams" records of 104-53 in basketball and two-time league champions in golf speak for themselves. As a guidance counselor, teacher and athletic director, he proved himself a valuable asset to our high school.

In addition, baseball and track were challenging and a great deal of fun, although also full of interesting stories. Baseball can turn out to be impossible if a player’s eyesight is not good enough to field, much less to hit a fast or curve ball. And track, when ‘on your mark,’ ‘get set,’ ‘go’ is shouted and the starting gun sounds to start the 100 yard dash, the runners dig out of the starting blocks, all is well. All is well is dandy, until momentum coming out of the blocks caused the racer to stagger and come very near falling. Well as for self-image, this proverbial ‘stumbling run’ is beyond embarrassing. Besides, in this case, winning the race was impossible.

Actually all sports are truly enjoyed, although in smaller schools, tennis and swimming are sometimes not offered, other sports need to meet a participants needs.

Most people become interested in sports in junior high. At the time, football can be a favorite, and due to understanding the game, becoming a quarterback makes sense. Early in football season, as the starting quarterback, all seemed to be unfolding and the future looked promising. Unfortunately success in football and probably all other sports most likely will experience a major setback when a player in the eighth grade is challenged.

Early in the day, awaiting the start of Social Studies class, which the football Coach Holland taught, another student, Paul, created an argument. Coach came in to start the class and realized he needed to separate the combatants. After he broke up the fight he sent the hooligans to Principal Beckley’s office. On the way to the office, the realization the fight was not going to improve the shining hour, soaked in.

After listening to the stories about the dispute, Beckley ordered a three-day suspension from school for both participants as punishment. Imagine the phone call to Mother, to briefly explain the circumstance, ‘the suspension’, and could she please come to the high school?

So much for being a starting quarterback that year. Sorrowfully, sports paid the price and never again were starting positions obtained, any potential developing standing was destroyed and a career in sports declined from that point forward.

Also teasing, in general, by upper classmen intensified. Being hairless and in a lower class was pounded into younger students without end. Once again another student was coerced by upper classmen to start a fight.

On a particular day at basketball practice unwarranted harassment had to come to an end. As a result, defense ruled the day, after all winning has power and with one powerful punch the disagreement was over. There were two hits, and the second hit was ‘hitting the floor.’ From that point forward, upper classmen coined a new nickname, Mohammed, as in Ali.

Other interesting circumstances happed during junior year. Abilities in drafting classes from prior years should encourage and motivate the student towards a possible career path. A petition to the high school to allow classes in the morning and a bus ride to a technical drafting school in the afternoon made perfect sense. The idea of drafting school did seem logical. And the request made perfect sense due to talent.

Amazingly, only seniors were permitted to be involved at the technical school, the request was denied. Also, since the school had, at the time of the request, only accepted approximately half the allowed class in the drafting department, the decision was unbelievable and somewhat depressing. And yet another potential avenue was denied.

The next summer, between junior and senior years, was carefree, nothing to be concerned about. Life was casual, no pressure. The southern Colorado Mountains are spectacular, enticing and forever whispering their song. For example, the unusual fishing opportunity on Wolf Creek Pass came right out of a movie. Spending a day climbing over massive boulders to reach the ultimate mountain fishing hole is not only a challenge, but also well worth the effort.

Since at the time I did not fly fish the result was to have great patience, waiting for a beautiful streaking trout to notice the worm on the hook and strike. In high mountain streams the rainbow trout are small but terrific fighters, not a lengthy catch but still a thrill to catch. Finally, they are superb, cooked in nothing but a black frying pan with a little butter, rosemary and lemon.

The only true decision during the summer months became finding a reasonable job. However job hunting was not foremost on the list. Alamosa, Colorado is only thirty-five miles from the Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Regularly our family, with a picnic lunch and perhaps a tent, driving thirty-five miles northward on I-17 through the sleepy small town of Mosca and east to the ten square miles of the National Monument became a regular occurrence in the summer.

Envision the largest alpine valley in the world embraced on the west and east with fourteen-plus thousand foot mountain ranges, the massive, picturesque and mysterious Rocky Mountains. Also consider ten square miles of white sand, a God-given playground, existing in a more unlikely area. So since it is a playground, people from all over the world enjoy passing through.

And as for the dunes - the wind predominately blows from the southwest to the northeast, which continually brings the beautiful white sand to the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. On an airplane ride flying over the valley please look at the ‘unusual formation of sand.’ The difference between the massive mountain ranges and a seemingly rather small patch of sand is baffling. Also not to be believed, I confess, people honestly ride their bicycles to the dunes from all over the country!

On the journey east towards the towering mountains with the dunes at the base, the challenge is to carefully mentally mark the highest and closest dune to camp so, upon arrival, at a picnic spot or camping spot a group can head towards the chosen summit.

The souls who choose to stay in camp can begin sorting out the food, making a fire, thinking about what’s for dinner. Honestly all this preparation is a lot of fun and if it is done casually in no time the sand castle’ers will return exhausted and ready for a late lunch.

Along the way to the dunes another rather strange part of the Park reveals itself. During the spring and early summer a stream comes out of the mighty mountains and playfully runs between the picnic- camp grounds and the endless dunes.

The stream obviously comes from a snow bank, thus is extremely cold, although very refreshing, however while watching the stream it appears to undulate? Between a craggy range of mountains and an unexplainable snow white field of dunes and the stream seems to have waves? What is up with that?

A somewhat observant answer might be, the stream gathers sand and as the weight increases the stream slows, finally the sand falls and the stream increases speed only to gather sand once again and to slow and drop the next gathering. This phenomenon happens in short order and probably this is the reason the water appears to flow as if there are waves. And curiously the waves are in semi-circles, much like the pools formed at Havasupai Falls, halfway to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

Since the great mountains are directly east of the dunes, there is a mountain trail, which leads up into these peaceful, majestic friends. With a comfortable hike, the Continental Divide is reached in a mountain valley.

If you choose, a long earned and deserved look out over the endless grass plains of North America is enjoyed. What an incredible sight, miles and miles of waving grasses as far as the eye can see. Meditate for a time; perhaps Black Elk’s Native American camp will materialize out on the incredible magic of the plains… The in sync native ‘way’ was one of peaceful existence with each other and other tribes and definitely with nature.

Climbing to the top of the magical dunes and climbing the equally impressive mountain trails, looking out over the once buffalo covered Great Plains, playing in the cool stream and building temporary dams to redirect the water was a meaningful and cherished childhood.

Camping out in the foothills towards the mountains, and then hiking onto the dunes at full moon… God is everything, God is everywhere. All this magic, and in person, perhaps only a child can appreciate such mystery and such joy.

One thing I failed to mention, climbing the dunes is a challenge and a gas, the sand is fluid like water. And seemingly going straight up is not only an effort, but also the preverbal two steps forward and one back is true. Due to the moving sand, after two steps forward the hiker is in a fight to overcome the sand and will slide one step backward.

Two forward and one back is a quest while climbing this ancient monument. And it is an effort to reach the chosen top, but the view, looking out over the San Luis Valley to the San Juan mountain range and back to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains… it is well worth the climb.

Also, along the journey, the idea of dragging an inner tube up the dunes, climbing inside and spinning at incredible speed down the sand, was unbelievable, absolutely the cat’s meow. No problem, being inside the tube with legs stretched outside, on either side, would provide brakes, right? The first rotation was exhilarating, but legs used as brakes propel the tube up into the air and in about three revolutions the tube is at breakneck speed, the speedometer is bouncing, stomach is beyond upset, oh my gosh!!! HELP!!! The only solution, BAIL OUT!

In any case, the tube rolls to the bottom, while the supposedly fearless captain lies motionless, as still as possible, trying to allow equilibrium to calm down, or maybe allowing the earth to slow down just a bit. Truly, it was hilarious! Although, during ejection, make sure to watch out for the air valve or it might due damage to your bare leg…

And finally, if this is not enough excitement, just another fifty miles north, a few miles off I-17, the Hooper Swimming Pool materializes. And as the saying goes, I’ve never had to much fun. A simple pool surrounded with changing rooms and a snack bar, built over a natural hot springs is truly a unique place.

Playing games and relaxing is ‘par for the course,’ and the pool even has inner tubes and a low diving board. However, ‘warning,’ if a friend suggests a game requiring time floating and wrestling while inside a tube, particularly if you are a male, wear a t-shirt to protect your chest… otherwise it might be days before your ‘nips,’ feels good, but if all else fails, have fun!!!

And if the formal pool is not satisfactory, an additional drive with a little increase in elevation will produce another less formal hot springs experience, sans bathing suit at Valley View Hot Springs. Mmmm, a fuzzy belly button, where parts are parts is the beautiful attire of the gathering. Ok, with all these soulful experiences, what can possibly be the next adventure…

Speaking of adventures, on the way to Durango, in the winter, stop at Wolf Creek Ski Area. Certainly the ski lifts have graduated from Palma lifts, a disc to straddle, to chair lifts, which lift the skiers off the ground.

However, many moons ago, as a young man the then final lift, which took skiers to the Continental Divide, sometimes was an extremely difficult lift to remain on. Even with stacked wooden shoring to heighten the ski path, just before going up a steep incline to the Divide, a lightweight skier was lifted off the ground and had a devil of a time keeping the tips of the skis in the two tracks.

Also, one thing about Lift #3, if you need assistance the operator will stop the apparatus in order provide an explanation as to how the lift operates. And as luck would have it, the previously mentioned skier was well pressed to stay on the lift when the lift was temporarily stopped. There is forever, another adventure to practice telling.

Wolf Creek happens to have an impressive amount of snow each ski season, upwards to 800 inches. Sometimes driving over the pass can be treacherous, in fact, skiers are likely to ski on almost 200 inches of snow as the base, so once the season begins never is there ‘just below the surface’ obstacles.

As a result, skiing through the trees, out in the powder, is a gutsy way to stir up the adrenaline, try your best, do not die, and eventually return to the log cabin lodge. If for some reason a skier has a chill, an

enormous, warm, pot bellied stove and something to eat and drink is the perfect cure. Oh, but please beware of low-lying branches while skiing through the pines, or you will require braces, if not worse.

Speaking of Durango, there are fantastically unique original narrow gauge trains, complete with coal car and billowing black smoke from the smoke stack pulling passenger cars, headed north to Silverton and on to Ouray.

The narrow gauge is a relic of the mining trade of the 1880’s thru 1930’s; the train is world famous since it is one of the few narrow gauge railroads left in existence. Of course Silverton and Ouray are comfortable old mining towns in the Rockies and a great place to have lunch and maybe stay.

If the spirit moves, properly prepared, and adventure calls, tell the train crew to stop halfway to Silverton at the Needleton Stop. After about a twelve-mile hike to the east into the mountains a pseudo open glade with old mines all around will be your heart-stopping destination.

This area is called Chicago Basin and massive mountains surround. Just to name a few, Windom Peak, Needle Ridge, Snowdon Peak, Glacier Point, Twin Thumb, Mt. Eolus, Sunlight Peak, Jupiter Mountain, Peak Eleven and Peak Twelve. Many of the mountain summits are above fourteen thousand feet in height, if the heart suggests it, four, yes four, Peaks can be accomplished in one day.

Hiking through Weminuche Wilderness in the Uncompahgre National Forrest is an indescribable experience and actually only the beginning in this wide-open land of mountains.

One other fascination is the open mine shafts with tailings ponds located around the Basin. With a flashlight and an overdose of bravery, a venturesome soul can go underground into the mineshafts. We did not bring a canary so going deep was unwise for many reasons.

Also, a description of huts maintained by the Suisse Alpine Club in Switzerland, at the base of many inexpressible climbs, will be discussed later.

Back to the east side of the valley we travel. All along the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, from Mt. Blanca in the south, to the mountains surrounding Crestone, the possibilities are endless. To mention a few just outside Crestone, Crestone Peak, Crestone Needle, Shadow Mountain, Mt. Bryant, South Maroon Peak, Kit Carson Peak, Challenge Point, Mt. Cleveland and Humboldt Peak.

Climbing either in the summer months or in a completely different fluffy period during the winter months, the mountains forever call, always challenge the wild at heart to ‘come up to the top,’ if you dare. Only one suggestion, always bring the correct equipment because the mountain man can be merciless… but the views are serene and peaceful. In addition, many ‘across the board’ people will be met along the way. As always, good luck, may the sun never blind you and may the wind be forever at your back.

And finally, at a young age and living in the country, a massive cottonwood tree became a second home. Scrounging in old barns, old lumber piles, just about any location, boards of whatever thickness and width with a reasonable length were found and a three-story tree house was built. With relatively thin, short boards as a stepping ladder into the upper reaches of the tree a three-sided fort became a secret place to hang out.

Interestingly enough, to enter the fort it was necessary to reach out to the side and partially pull up in order to unlock the up-swinging entry door. Each story was gained by crawling through an opening in the corner of the ceiling to appear on the floor of the next level. And finally, above the third floor existed a flat observation deck, a place where the commandos could plot out their next mission, and also a keen place to spend the night.

Thinking about what the monstrosity looked like hanging way up in the tree, kind of unique but a little scary made me wonder. Fortunately the last visit was a relief; someone had taken the treasured fort down. It was a sad moment, but nevertheless necessary.

At the time most buddies, including Steve, were younger in age but still good friends. Steve’s dad had a motorcycle and drank too much, however they had a great maple tree, which we built a nice tree house in its widespread branches.

This tree fort was so much nicer, much more accommodating and comfortable. Being architectural minded and having access to 4x 4 lumber from my Dad’s workplace, the size of the fort was doubled. The heavier lumber formed an extension truss.

And since a neighborhood was being built not far away, supplies were readily available (in the middle of the night)? This was not kosher, yet it provided great necessities such as boards, plywood for the sides as well as a pitched roof, Celotex insulation, shingles, windows and carpet. Once again, honesty was not a strong part of the formula, however…

Anyway, we had a trap door with an upside down orange ‘warning’ cone as a simulated restroom. We managed a large cooler box against the tree in a secluded corner. This tree house also had a difficult entrance requiring the adventurous night crawler to pull out to unlock the padlock and then shimmy into the fort.

If adventure is your thing, particularly at this age, the William’s fort was a great place to spend time dreaming, hanging out. Many nights were spent talking about the next exploration, sports, girls and the future, what are you doing this summer? What a summer’s eve!

Running the rails, shooting a duck on the reclamation pond and   waiting for it to float into shore, climbing up inside the elevator in an old manufacturing plant to capture pigeons… As a matter of fact in the plant there was a metal frame for a one-man helicopter, just think of the different possibilities!

And a dangerous afternoon on the property we started a D-7 Caterpillar bulldozer. Imagine a bunch of kids driving over everything imaginable. A serious problem developed; how in the world do we turn it off? Finally someone decided to put dirt in the diesel fuel tank? No one knew if this choked the life out of the machine or if someone actually pulled the correct lever or turned the right knob, who knows, the bulldozer stopped. All present, left post-haste for cover, a friend’s home. We developed great friends and had many laughs and a whole lot of fun. Those were the days.

Honestly, it is without a doubt easy to recognize the great state of Colorado. She is marvelous and adventurous, intriguing and has a ‘never-a-dull-moment’ landscape and untold excitement to offer. From Aspen to Boulder, Vail to Breckenridge, Steamboat Springs and Glenwood Springs, Durango to Mesa Verde. Central southern Colorado, surely if an adventurer does not live within it’s borders, time should be spent becoming familiar with some of the spectacular scenes Colorado offers.

Another interesting story includes a Great Grandfather, Eugene Secrest, an industrious frontiersman, known as Papa. Papa was a tall healthy man with tremendous spirit. His curious spirit took him to many different locations.

While wandering through the San Juan Mountains, on the west side of the valley, perhaps herding cattle, he found an abandoned copper mine high in the mountains. During the early days the mine was successful and truthfully, no one knew what the many colored stones coming out of the mine were. They simply threw copious amounts of gorgeous turquoise ore into the tailings ponds.

Much to his surprise, when Papa came across the mine and discovered the incredible amounts of turquoise lying around, he and his brother decided to file a claim and renamed the old copper mine the Villa Grove Turquoise Mine.

Not only did they gather the turquoise from the tailings pond, which was relatively easy, they proceeded to mine the old fashioned way. Much like the former copper miners, they mined out of a shaft and produced large amounts of turquoise.

Consider the time spent at high elevation, living in one-room log cabins. Yes, it was hard work, but the stories told of good times made it all worthwhile. Think about living just below tree line in the Rocky Mountains, living a spartan miners’ lifestyle, incredible times of struggle, trying to stay alive. Finally, the tremendous enrichment, both have probably forever been forgotten, maybe even lost.

Finally, for whatever reason, the decision to sell the mine came to pass and everyone thought the profit would be similar to the ‘luck of the Irish.’ Imagine the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy in Papa’s mind. To his dismay, he found out when his brother originally filed the claim both names were not placed on the deed. Weren’t they supposed to be? No one can determine why, but unfortunately his brother placed only his own name on the deed. As a result, sadly Papa received absolutely nothing from the sale of the mine. Should we wonder if they ever spoke to each other again?

To bring this story to somewhat current times, my family, upon occasion would wander into the high forests of the San Juan Mountains and visit the place of the Villa Grove turquoise stone. It was always an exciting