NOVEMBER 22, 1963

Exactly [almost] 46 years ago, I remember being in Blue Lakes Elementary School when the principal came over the loudspeaker and announced that the school was closing and everyone was being sent home. There was no explanation – only that we would be told by our parents when we got home. It was the day that President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. Even though I was only 8 years old at the time, I remember the day like it was yesterday!

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

President Kennedy was travelling on Elm Street

in Dallas, TX when he was assassinated.

Today, I visited Dealey Plaza, the place where the President was shot. Dealey Plaza is a significant part of Dallas history; it marked the birthplace of Dallas and served as the major gateway to the city from the west and was a symbol of civic pride. On November 22, 1963, the focus changed when President Kennedy was assassinated in the heart of the Plaza. Instantly, the Plaza became known as an internationally recognized murder site. Grief-stricken citizens began to bring flowers and mementos to Dealey Plaza the day after the assassination - and it transformed the area into an unofficial memorial site to honor the slain President. Three decades after the Kennedy assassination, Dealey Plaza was designated a National Historic Landmark District. Each year on the anniversary of the assassination, hundreds gather in Dealey Plaza to pay their respects to President Kennedy. The brownish/orange building on the right is where Lee Harvey Oswald shot JFK from a 6th floor window. (The grassy knoll is to the left of the photo.) The window from which the President was shot is the one on the end - one floor down from the top. THE GRASSY KNOLL

There are two "X"'s in the street; one marks
where the first shot hit JFK, and this
one - a couple feet further - that marks the fatal head shot.
(Personally, I don't see how Oswald acted alone! There had

to be a second shooter! Who investigated this homicide?)

The building that Oswald shot from is
now a museum.

Someone defaced the plaque by scratching

an underline under the word "allegedly".

(Obviously, they were not convinced Oswald killed JFK!)

A sweet photo of Caroline Kennedy (taken in

1961) is in the museum.

This is a memorial to JFK, located 2

blocks from the assassination site.

It is very simple - just a concrete box

with a block inside that has his name

engraved on it.

This is a beautiful building in downtown Dallas.
This fella had an unusual backpack!

GHOST TOWN (Glenrio, Texas/New Mexico)

I went through a real ghost town today -- Glenrio, TX/NM. The town was born in 1903 when the railroad came through two years earlier, and it bordered the state lines of Texas and New Mexico. It was a popular stopping place for Route 66 travelers. The post office was on the New Mexico side, while the train depot was on the Texas side. In 1938, The Grapes of Wrath was filmed there for 3 weeks. At that time, the population was 30. When the interstate opened between 1968 and 1984, the town and highway both died, like so many other Route 66 towns. By 1985, only two residents remained, along with the post office (now closed) and a convenience store (now also out of business). You can travel on decrepit asphalt down the remains of Route 66 (once called Main Street 66) through Glenrio.

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

The Post Office. The motel.

I think this was the convenience store.

The filling station (now called gas stations).

CANYON de CHELLY

Canyon de Chelly is a beautiful national monument near Chinle, Arizona. Unfortunately, I did not venture down into the Canyon, as you need a guide to take you.

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

This is the Canyon.

Those are cows grazing down below.

There were several areas of cliff dwellings

throughout the Canyon.

These people sprung for the $15-an-hour

guide, so they were able to go down into the Canyon!

There were some great pictographs on the walls.

MORE SNOW!

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

This was a beautiful Colorado sunset last night!

However, in the morning, I woke up to THIS!
Pretty, yes; but, sooo NOT fun to drive in.
They look like they need sweaters.
This magpie didn't seem to mind the snow!
I blew out of that town for somewhere warmer.
Saw a nice, full rainbow along the way.
Crossed the Continental Divide to a
place with no snow. Finally - a blue sky!

And, beautiful fall colors!

Albuquerque, New Mexico

MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK (AGAIN!)

I returned to Mesa Verde National Park today because

last time I was here, I had missed a part of it. I know it seems

that alot of my adventures involve ancient ruins. That's because

I find them so interesting, and they are plentiful in the Southwest.

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

This dwelling is known as Spruce Tree. You can go

down into it with a Park Ranger.

It is the best preserved dwelling in the park.

Take note of that stick coming up out

of the ground - that's a ladder.

I climbed down the ladder to get inside

one of the rooms in the dwelling.

It was very small, dark and cozy!

(A little dungeony)

This was another dwelling called Square Tower

(the reason for the name seems kind of obvious)

And, this was a wild horse in the park, just

standing around. He was so pretty!