Easter in Joshua Tree

Flirtatious: "Honey, they gave me this really fun story to do? I think you'll like it."

Real Mood: Forthcoming

Prediction: A whole bunch of TV reporters and photographers will have to work on Easter.

I've got a lot to get to this day, so this may be a reading adventure. I'll try to break it up into logical pieces so you don't have to be patient, too!

So tommorrow is Easter?  Isn't that some sort of Christian Holiday where the religion's namesake, a guy named Jesus Christ, wakes up from a comma, walks out of this cave, puts on a jet pack, and motors up to some place called Heaven?

Growing up we even get Dad to go to church with us on Easter. While he writhes in discomfort in his pew, because mom nagged him into wearing a tie?  The rest of us have our spirits filled with music and words of love and sacrifice.

Then, while he gripes about it? Dad, with this mysterious gleam in his eye? He takes us all out to dinner, which is really lunch. (growing up in Chicago during the depression, Dad never found an excuse not to be frugal. Another story.)

But times have changed. I really had to scratch my cerebrum to come up with some of these holiday memories. Holidays just don't seem to be what they used to be. Please let me explain.

[IF YOU'RE HAVING A BAD DAY..GO AHEAD AND MAKE THIS YOUR FIRST BREAK]

So Peggy is out visiting her mother and sister in Duarte, California (just down the road from Pasadena). They all decide to drive out to look at some property Esther, Peggy's mother, bought a billion years ago.

The undeveloped property is in the High Mojave Desert near the town of Joshua Tree, population 10,000. ( I think Joshua is the guy who fought the battle of Jerico, isn't he?). a Joshua tree is nature's largest form of Yucca plant. (Yucca Valley is the next town over.) All Yuccas are kinda cute, but not big on shade production.

Anyway, you'd think a town with "Joshua" being part of it's name would really be into Easter?  Well apparently that is the case. Peggy tells of a very large temporary sign sitting next to the City Limits marker. It Reads:

FREE EASTER EGG HUNT

I'm surprised they didn't follow that up with ONE TIME ONLY. DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS ONCE IN A LIFE TIME OPPORTUNITY!

[OFFICIAL BREAK POINT 2, GET YOURSELF A DRINK OR SNACK]  I'll be here. I'm not going anywhere.

Look at this student newscast production up top.

The female anchor sitting there, is Melany. (That's Wonderful Walter sitting next to her.) Melany, for one, is getting ready to go out into the real media world. She's going to do well.

But there are lessons to be learned and here's an early graduation present for you Melany.

"EASTER? What's Easter."

"MEMORIAL DAY? What's Memorial Day?"

"JULY 4TH? What's July 4th?"

"COLORADO DAY? What IS Colorado Day?"

"LABOR DAY? Hmmm??

"HALLOWEEN? Something about treats?"

"THANKSGIVING? Something to eat?"

I'll pause right here and give you the answer to all those questions. If you are in TV News?  Those are all days you WORK!

Before you get too excited? The answer also applies to MY BIRTHDAY, CHRISTMAS, and NEW YEAR'S EVE and DAY in that order. It applies during, KWANZA, CHINESE NEW YEAR, PASSOVER, RAMADAN, DAY OF THE DEAD, HANNAKUH, BOXING DAY, CINCO DE MAYO, JUNETEENTH, and sorry Melany, SPRING BREAK.

"Raise your right hands! Now gently wave goodbye to holidays."

[BREAKTIME: RINSE OFF YOUR DISH AND PUT THE SALSA BACK IN THE FRIDGE]

I stop at Thanksgiving so I can tell you a little personal story. Peggy and I get married in September of 1990? She has just moved here from Chicago?

Now I don't know if you ever try to juxtapose events by TIME that seemingly have no connecting relationship?  And then later you find out that they do?  Well, anyway, you might remember that September of 1990 is when Saddaam Hussein decides to invade Kuwait?

Well King George the Elder (Bush) says, " we'll have NONE of that."

"LET'S GO GET 'EM BOYS AND GIRLS."

Meantime I'm trying to get Peggy excited about Halloween. It's to no avail. For a reason she will not reveal, it's her least favorite holiday.   In 1990 and every year since? Halloween consists of me handing out all the junk food (and trying to be cute), while Peggy hides out in a litless room.

So I'm out doing local stories on Kuwaiti's living here, Iraqui students, local doctors being forcefully recruited  to serve, and American famlies being seperated by war.

Peggy, while admittedly light on cooking experience, is looking forward to the next holiday.  It will be quite a spread, AND Peggy's daughter Rhonda will be joining us. While I know I'll be working part of that day? I'm looking forward to our first THANKSGIVING dinner together.

So its the day before the grand feast? An entire National Guard unit in Cortez, Colorado gets called to duty. Thanksgiving will the last meal shared with families before the Privates, and Sgts.and Captains head East.

"What a great human interest story.  Who should we send over there to tell the story. What's Reinertson doing?"

About this time I may have been going to the airport with Peggy to pick up Rhonda, but that's just a memory guess,  and it helps "advance" the story.

" Let's see that map. So here's Denver right here....and you draw a straight line for three hundred fifty miles, as the crow flies, and you find Cortez, here!"

"Pack a bag Paul. You're outta here!"

"Honey, about Thanksgiving and that big meal you're working on? I'm sure glad Rhonda is here. Do you know anybody at all in town you can invite over? "

"WHY!"

You'll hear that question/exclamation a great deal over a carreer in TV news. I think that's why so many reporters and photographers marry each other.  They know it's the only way they're going to be with their loved ones on HOLIDAYS.

[NOW THAT WAS A PRETY LONG RUN. GET UP AND STRETCH...NOT MUCH FURTHER TO GO.]

Peggy and I adapt in what I believe to be a unique fashion. On the big eating holidays? We just go find ourselves a big hotel, preferably near an airport. We don't even make dinner reservations. We just show up. (I'm probably crazy for sharing this with you.)

Most people, especially business people, don't travel on holidays. That leaves these hotels, some 5 star, mostly empty? But for the few who are there? The hotel CHEF feels an obligation to do THE BIG DINNER.

One thanksgiving the Chief Chef ( really big hat) actually comes out and "BREAKS BREAD" with us.  And before we can leave? Two huge brown paper grocery bags (remember them) show up. They are chock full of turkey, and ham, and potatoes, and yams, and cranberrys. So, hey, we don't even miss out on the left overs.

This is not the first time I've revealed this little secret. I did the story twice for TV. WHEN? On HOLIDAYS WHEN NO ONE IS HOME WATCHING TV.? You ARE a NEW audience. There is a chance you're the FIRST to know.

[OKAY STICK AROUND. TAKE A DEEP THORACIC BREATH. HERE COMES THE EXCITING CONCLUSION.]

Now here's some things I learned on that trip to Cortez? I think I should pass them on to Melany and anyone else starting out? Make sure you take along a box lunch if you are covering a family's thanksgiving dinner. Eat it before you go into the house. Drooling all over the camera lens is not advisable.  (They invited you to tell their story, not to dinner.)

But here's the big lesson.  On your way back from Cortez on your first Thanksgiving apart? Don't take the long way home so you can get some pictures of this water fall on the Roaring Fork river starting to ice up!

You know, just about everytime I think I've forgotten that lesson? Someone reminds me of it.

I can't remember how much DAD had to pay to get us into those Easter Egg Hunts? Knowing him, he probably found some FREE ones. What's the going fare in your town?

NO CHARGE, by the way, FOR BEING HERE ON THE 28TH OF APRIL, THE ANNIVERSARY OF PAUL'S MODEST MUSINGS.  THAT POSTING WILL TUG AT YOUR HEART STRINGS, TICKLE YOUR FANCY, RING YOUR BELL, SING YOUR SONG, capture YOUR CLICHE.

Oh, Joshua Tree has it's own National Monument if you're ever out that way. Take your sunscreen.

i was hoping to take the anniversary of PaulsModestMusings off...guess not...i gotta work...maybe next year. right!