The Teach-in
Flagstaff is a city made beautiful by its surroundings. Ponderosa pine, snowcappedmountains, clear skies, and the promise of the Earth's history in canyonlands only 2 hours from the city's northern boundary.
We arrived at the Glen Canyon Teach-in at the U. of Northern Arizona mid-day of the 13th. Excitement filled our lungs like oxygen for our brains. We were ready to get to work! To learn, to devour information and the energy of like-minded folks. Into the meeting room we passed tables of literature and pockets of Glen Canyon restorers deep in conversation.
Settled into our chairs toward the rear and listened to legal, historical and political presentations. The Reclamation Act of 1902 that started it all.
"Did he say more water evaporates from the reservoir than L.A.'s water district gets from the poor allocated Grand Canyon's watersheds each year?"
"Yep, sure did...900,000 acre feet every year."
Environmental attorneys, Steve Hannon, geologists, and an inspirational presentation of real hands-on attainable alternatives to wasted electrical energy. Not one minute of dead air apace...information coming fast & furious.
Suddenly up front and to the right a flash of bronze caught Jean's eye.
"Look...its Amanda and KIOT Dave!" she whispered into Michael's ear, pointing to the now-familiar red-haired girl of Abweb family fame. Somehow the air was immediately sweeter in that stuffy room. Amanda was sitting with her Dad, the two of them doing their dam(n) homework together. What a picture!
Then the now-unsubscribed (and hard-working Director of Field Operations for GCAN) David Orr was spotted behind the last row of dam students. Jean hopped up for a reunion greeting and pointed back toward Michael, identifying the other half of the newly formed Eco-agitating Team recently arrived from the California desert. Good...four Abwebbers and one was-one. Well represented, with the promise of more to come.
Break time. Dave and Amanda were seated behind us now. Time for hellos!
"Be sure not to let anyone know Michael is here," we implored. "We want to surprise Teddy at the BBQ."
"O.K.," said Dave with his cheery smiling way, keeping our "secret."
Amanda joined Michael and Jean for a walk to the parking lot for Shepherd-the-dog's R 'n R, side-stepping the bits of leftover snow piled here and there. What a delightful young woman. She sat through 5 hours of the teach-in, smiling all the while, being with Dad, and being a honey.
At the close of the presentation of various dam removal stories from three more capable and inspiring speakers, we stood to depart the confines of that poorly designed and energy-wasteful meeting room. Suddenly, a cheery couple approached and Peggy said "Hi, you must be Jean and Michael!" Yep, thats us. The usual now-familiar hugs of greeting and bonds of this Abbey-web-of-life were followed with our hushed caution once more: "don't say anything about Michael being here...we want to surprise Teddy at the BBQ." "O.K." said Peggy, wink, wink.
We returned to the Library Assembly Hall after a meal of Mexican food (#2 of the week of research into the best spots for salsa, tamales, and rice & beans). It was billed as An Evening for the Colorado with Katie Lee and Friends. And indeed it was.
We left the festivities with an UNCOVER GLEN CANYON bumper sticker and headed for a good night's sleep in preparation for the next day ahead, when we would meet Colorado Frank (and ask for his confidence to surprise Teddy at the BBQ, wink wink), see Peggy & Dave again, and become a part of the grassroots movement to give The Glen back to herself.
We arrived at the Glen Canyon Teach-in at the U. of Northern Arizona mid-day of the 13th. Excitement filled our lungs like oxygen for our brains. We were ready to get to work! To learn, to devour information and the energy of like-minded folks. Into the meeting room we passed tables of literature and pockets of Glen Canyon restorers deep in conversation.
Settled into our chairs toward the rear and listened to legal, historical and political presentations. The Reclamation Act of 1902 that started it all.
"Did he say more water evaporates from the reservoir than L.A.'s water district gets from the poor allocated Grand Canyon's watersheds each year?"
"Yep, sure did...900,000 acre feet every year."
Environmental attorneys, Steve Hannon, geologists, and an inspirational presentation of real hands-on attainable alternatives to wasted electrical energy. Not one minute of dead air apace...information coming fast & furious.
Suddenly up front and to the right a flash of bronze caught Jean's eye.
"Look...its Amanda and KIOT Dave!" she whispered into Michael's ear, pointing to the now-familiar red-haired girl of Abweb family fame. Somehow the air was immediately sweeter in that stuffy room. Amanda was sitting with her Dad, the two of them doing their dam(n) homework together. What a picture!
Then the now-unsubscribed (and hard-working Director of Field Operations for GCAN) David Orr was spotted behind the last row of dam students. Jean hopped up for a reunion greeting and pointed back toward Michael, identifying the other half of the newly formed Eco-agitating Team recently arrived from the California desert. Good...four Abwebbers and one was-one. Well represented, with the promise of more to come.
Break time. Dave and Amanda were seated behind us now. Time for hellos!
"Be sure not to let anyone know Michael is here," we implored. "We want to surprise Teddy at the BBQ."
"O.K.," said Dave with his cheery smiling way, keeping our "secret."
Amanda joined Michael and Jean for a walk to the parking lot for Shepherd-the-dog's R 'n R, side-stepping the bits of leftover snow piled here and there. What a delightful young woman. She sat through 5 hours of the teach-in, smiling all the while, being with Dad, and being a honey.
At the close of the presentation of various dam removal stories from three more capable and inspiring speakers, we stood to depart the confines of that poorly designed and energy-wasteful meeting room. Suddenly, a cheery couple approached and Peggy said "Hi, you must be Jean and Michael!" Yep, thats us. The usual now-familiar hugs of greeting and bonds of this Abbey-web-of-life were followed with our hushed caution once more: "don't say anything about Michael being here...we want to surprise Teddy at the BBQ." "O.K." said Peggy, wink, wink.
We returned to the Library Assembly Hall after a meal of Mexican food (#2 of the week of research into the best spots for salsa, tamales, and rice & beans). It was billed as An Evening for the Colorado with Katie Lee and Friends. And indeed it was.
We left the festivities with an UNCOVER GLEN CANYON bumper sticker and headed for a good night's sleep in preparation for the next day ahead, when we would meet Colorado Frank (and ask for his confidence to surprise Teddy at the BBQ, wink wink), see Peggy & Dave again, and become a part of the grassroots movement to give The Glen back to herself.