Farewell, Mr. Nimoy

Farewell, Mr. Nimoy. You made being named Leonard cool. Since a child, I've been a fan, and now my children are fans. May you pass warmly through the memories of future generations to come.

You weren't just the beloved Mr. Spock, but so much more...

Love this photo...I talk sometimes with William Shatner on Twitter, and it looks like he's doing one of his favorite things with you...eating. :)

And so glad this pic was taken.

You were adventure and mystery personified.

Forever a fan.

In the Beginning...

...was Dal's blog. It was the first place I found after learning of the treasure. I've met a lot of great people there. Most recently, Jamie. She emailed me after I thought I'd discovered something important, and we found we think a lot alike.

I don't know how we decided to partner up, but when we did, it was like a release of the floodgates via texting. We must've texted back and forth 50,000 times (that's one text for every foot you need to take skyward for your "blood to bubble").

Right before we set out for Montana, I think she began to wonder if I was an axe murderer, or someone else from the blog, or even Forrest. She asked me to take a picture of myself right then with me holding up a peace sign and text it to her. I did, and as Forrest says, "The deal was struck."

As I was getting off the plane, and heading to baggage claim where she was going to pick me up, I got a text that said something like, "I heard from someone on the blog that you were backstabbing me. Find your own ride."

I almost had a heart attack right there.

Then, another text came through:  Ha ha! Just kidding!"

Okay, so Jamie was a jokester.

I told her I was the one wearing a giant Daytona Beach sweatshirt and ugly black snow boots. We found each other and it was as though we'd known each other for years (in the sort of awkward way two people with Asperger's can know one other). We were in Montana. I'd never been there before, and I had no idea just how amazing it would be.

Anyway, we couldn't wait to start searching, so we headed toward where we were going. But, there were so many things to see on the way, we had to detour. However, just before we got off the highway, we saw this...

Yes, that is a train wreck. I wonder if we should've taken it as an omen? At the time, we thought it was a good omen, because if we hadn't slowed down to decide whether to take the detour, it could've been us that got slammed. The emergency vehicles were still there. I still haven't checked to see if the wreck was fatal. 

Here's a short video. I can't believe how dramatic I sound. I'm an idiot, lol. It's not something you see everyday, and I do hope everyone survived and is ok.

From there, we ventured on to more depressing things. We arrived at the site where Lewis and Clark had breakfast one day (more interesting than depressing). We saw the ruins of an old settlement with a hotel. I slipped through the fence and found an animal bone and a little shard of pottery. 

 

I thought these graves of pioneer children were incredibly sad. Can you imagine traveling in an unknown territory, and having to say goodbye and bury your children before you arrived at your destination? It's too heartbreaking for me to think about, but I think it's something important to think about. Those families sacrificed SO much in search of a better way of life. Or for greed. I don't think we can ever know why the parents of these particular children ventured to the Northwest.

I really hope it wasn't for greed.

The Largest Rabbit I've Ever Seen

I'm still working on videos, so please be patient. Here is one of the first things we saw when we arrived in Bozeman and started driving South.

We almost missed it, because there was so much else to see. I glimpsed it out of the corner of my eye, and told Jamie, "Go back! Go back!"

This is for my friend, Dal, who insists this is a rabbit.

And please don't call me Cindy Brady...I know I have a lisp. Lol.

The Totem Cafe Midnight Caper

I'm going to skip around a little while writing about my recent trip to Montana. On Saturday, which was my last day there, we drove to West Yellowstone to get a feel for how Forrest spent his summers.

The drive there was looonnng, but AMAZING. There was not much, if any, snow on the ground, but as we drew closer to Yellowstone, the landscape grew whiter.

There was so much to look at. We wanted to stop for pictures at a myriad of places along the way, but we'd been stuck in the snow for about four hours or so earlier, and the day was coming to an end. And we still hadn't been to our prime search spot. However, Jamie would be there for two more days, and she assured me she would search our special spot very thoroughly. And I REALLY wanted to see West Yellowstone.

So, although we knew we wouldn't get much sleep that night, we headed out. Here's just a few teasers of all that we saw...

These Pronghorn Antelopes seemed curious of us.

By the time we arrived in West Yellowstone, it was dark, and getting late. We drove slowly through the well-lit streets. I was assaulted by a complex mix of emotions. I was excited and happy to see the place where Forrest spent so many summers, but also sad at the same time. West Yellowstone is now somewhat touristy and modern, with a McDonalds, a KFC, and even an IMAX theater, It didn't seem right to me. And when wen found The Dude, a motel that Forrest co-owned, my heart sort of...collapsed, is the best way I can put it. It was located on a dark street corner, out of the way...forgotten. Here are a couple pictures from the Internet of how I wanted the Dude to look:

But sadly, this is how we found it:

Jamie had a couple theories she wanted to rule out, so we headed to Dunbar Park to check out the Union Pacific pylon. It was covered with a tarp, but that didn't stop us. We got inside the heavy tarp, and just checked to see if there were any loose wooden parts or loose stones. A Mr. Underwood had contributed to the design of the pylon. Sadly, we were too busy trying to remain undiscovered to take any pictures. They would've been hilarious, though. Afterward, we refastened the tarp and made sure we left it like we found it.

This is how the pylon looks in the summer. Jamie thought maybe the blue shields hid a secret:

Then, we wanted to see if we could find the tree Forrest hid behind to eat the cherry pie "Grandma" had given him when he worked at The Totem Cafe. So, we parked, and at midnight, with out flashlights ready, we crossed the street and went into the woods, where Google Earth had shown us a clearing. It was easy to find, but hard to get through, as the snow was thigh deep. With every step, we sunk deeper, and got wetter. I thought I took pictures of it, but I can't find them. Jamie may have some pictures, too, so if I find them, I'll add them.

We looked for the oldest tree, and shined our flashlights on it, and there WERE two blazes on it--one high, one low. I dug around a bit, and we also dug in another spot as the distant sound of wolves howling in the distance heightened our sense of adventure. I could imagine Forrest sprinting back here with that cherry pie. plopping down behind this tree, and gulping it down before Frosty trudged back with a scowl and an accusatory pointing finger.

I like to imagine a blond haired Forrest giving Frosty a look like this:

When we were thoroughly wet, cold, and frostbit, we reluctantly left that special place. But before we did, I looked straight up into the sky, and was immediately shocked into an awed silence. The stars were immensely bright, and filled the sky tighter than the crowds at Disney World. The constellations were diamond-bright and immediately recognizable. The Big Dipper took up a giant portion of the sky. I turned in a slow circle, recalling the names of the constellations borne from a fascination with the stars...Orion, Aldebaran (the fiery eye of the bull), Scorpio, The Little Dipper... I was transfixed, and realized how small I was in the Grand Scheme of the Universe. But I also knew that God's thoughts toward me were more numerous than all the stars combined. I felt...warm. Happy. Content. I didn't take a picture here, but it looked very much like this:

People may mock us for going to West Yellowstone in the winter, Somehow, those that mock make me think they are only in this for treasure. They bide their time and wait for Spring. Then, when someone has the opportunity to make a short trip, they are quick to point fingers and say, You're dumb." How in the world was what I just experienced dumb? If I can make a trip in the winter to possibly pick up the treasure before the hordes return in the Spring, why wouldn't I? Especially if I can go in the Spring, too? And I'll go in the Spring with a wealth of information I didn't have before this trip. And trust me when I say that Forrest NEVER told anyone to wait until Spring. 

And really, who wouldn't rather visit Yellowstone before this happens:

There was also a comment on Dal's blog about the line between brave and stupid was very thin. To that I say, if men and women didn't continuously test that line, we would still be living in caves in the dark. Was Ben Franklin dumb to fly a kite with a key on the line in a lightning storm? Maybe, but we got electricity. Was Mr. Roentgen dumb for x-raying his hand so much he developed cancer and died of it? Maybe, but we have medical technology that saves lives because of it. (By the way, the person who made the comment is someone I admire and respect, and I don't think he meant to say that we were stupid; I'm just using that as a chance to encourage others to search, to explore, to conquer.)

If we don't continue to adventure, continue to push the line, continue to test our limits, how can we continue to grow? How can we enjoy life if there's an invisible line that if we cross, we're labeled as stupid forever?

In a way, isn't Michael Scott a little bit right?

So, if anyone thinks I'm dumb for searching a certain state at a certain time of the year, go right on ahead. I don't see you holding the chest, either. Nothing is 100% until you have that chest in your hands. I'm convinced our solve is right, and if Jamie has a little luck on her side, she may pluck that chest from its hidey spot tonight. However, am I 100%? No, because I don't have the chest in my hands. There is a slim line between 99 and 100. However, it takes just one click off on your compass to end up completely lost.

I'm home now. Back to work. Here's a selfie I took on the way home from the airport--exhausted, without a shower or hairbrush, but smiling.

As far as clues solved, this trip helped to cement some of them. I believe we absolutely (99.9%) know where warm waters halt, the home of Brown, no place for the meek, no paddle up your creek, heavy loads and water high, the blaze, and brave and in the wood. I believe there is something more we need to know in "Look quickly down, your quest to cease." I believe we are within a 30 x 30 area, but for reasons I can't say, finding the chest in the seemingly small area might take a day or two. I believe if we can figure out the exact meaning of that one line, we could narrow it down much further. So, looks like another trip in the Spring!

I'm not sure what part of the trip I'll post about next. I'm still editing the videos to make them a little less boring. So please stay tuned...

Almost Ready

I am preparing pics and video...but, the bigger news is that my partner has reached our spot and we are more than ever convinced this is right. Time will tell. She doesn't have a lot of time, but she is a tough cookie.
Getting to the chest is definitely more difficult in the winter time, but it can be done. And you will be surprised, if we are right. :) And I do stress IF. And I have to say, even if you know a precise area, there are a lot of variables to actually getting to it. Such as losing six hours of search time due to getting your truck stuck in the snow.

Stay Tuned...

Boarding plane from Atlanta to home...

Montana--The Land of Worry-Free Squirrels

Tomorrow, I will be in a place I have never been--MONTANA. Yes, Montana in the wintertime. And yes, I believe I have a pretty good reason to be there. So, here are some fun Montana facts you might not know. My comments are in blue.

Giant Springs, Montana is home to the largest fresh water spring in the U.S. Lewis and Clark were mesmerized by the beauty of this area. I want to see it.

In Helena, it is illegal to throw an item across a street. 

 It is illegal to have a sheep in the cab of your truck without a chaperone. Luckily, my search partner will be with me, so if we decide to give any sheep a ride to Wal Mart, we'll be okay.

In Montana, it is illegal for married women to go fishing alone on Sundays, and illegal for unmarried women to fish alone at all. No worries there. I don't know how to fish. I don't even think I could touch one. 

The Roe River is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's shortest river. The Roe flows 200 feet between Giant Springs and the Missouri River near Great Falls. 

46 out of Montana's 56 counties are considered "frontier counties" with an average population of 6 or fewer people per square mile. 

The moose, now numbering over 8,000 in Montana, was thought to be extinct in the Rockies south of Canada in the 1900s. We will take a few pictures for our moose-deprived friend, Dal. :)

No state has as many different species of mammals as Montana. I'm sure to love it.

 The most visited place in Montana is Glacier National Park, known as the crown jewel of the continent. It lies along Montana's northern border and adjoins Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada, forming the world's first International Peace Park.

Miles City is known as the Cowboy Capitol. We will see about that. 

Montana has the largest grizzly bear population in the lower 48 states. Hopefully, they're all still sleeping.

Montana is nicknamed the Treasure State.  Hopefully, it will live up to that nickname!

And my favorite: In Excelsior, it is illegal to "worry the squirrels."
Maybe it's because they have good friends:

I got most of this info from www.legendsofamerica.com.  

I feel really, really good about this trip. AND I found my snow clothes in the garage. :)

Let's get this day over so we can start tomorrow.

The End is Drawing Nigh...

In my opinion...wait...I don't have to say that on my own blog. Correction: The poem has been solved.

That being said, the chest will not be easy to find. The poem does lead to an exact spot, but the chest isn't in plain view. That is why a couple people have walked past it. They didn't know what they were looking for.

 The story that got me and my partner to this area has been fun, entertaining, heartbreaking, nostalgic, exciting and magical. Forrest has definitely crafted a way to ensure his name will never be taken from him.

I believe someone else may know where it is. I also believe more than a few people think they know where it is, but are looking in the wrong state. All the solves are well thought out, and many people deserve to find it. However, I do now believe that it will be me and my partner that do. If the weather holds out for us.

That's all I can say. I'll bring my GoPro and we won't be in any danger, and I know for a definite fact that now is the time to act.

Dad, Diamonds, and Foghorn Leghorn

I had a dream last night about my dad, who died in 2005 at 65 years old. I wish he was still here. We were one of those families where my dad worked all the time, kept a nice roof over our heads, food on the table, and presents under the Christmas tree. Yet, he was very much under-appreciated, even by me, the sensitive one.

My mom had a cleaning lady keep the house. She cooked dinner and owned a hair salon, where she worked maybe an hour or two a day, mostly just to socialize and smoke. I look back and see how easy she had it, and maybe I shouldn't feel this way, but I'm a little...well, angry isn't really the word, it's more like disgusted. She got everything she wanted. Closets jammed full of clothes she never wore, fur coats, gold, diamonds...and not no little one carat diamonds. She has three diamond rings over 4 carats. One is worth $80,000. Never once did I hear her tell my dad she loved him. Never once did I hear her thank him for anything.

What I did hear was a lot of bickering over things that didn't matter, and complaining. A lot of threatening to leave him. Once, when I was 13, my dad grew weary and said he was going to leave. That surprised my mom, because she immediately burst into tears and clutched his arms and begged him to stay. He did.

My dad seemed to sort of glide through life in his workaholic way (I'm glad I inherited my work ethic and just about every good quality from him). When I grew up, went to college, and joined the Air Force, we started talking more, usually via AOL dial up email. He bought me my first computer, my first car. He didn't pay my way through college. He didn't go to college, but made it to the top of his field by working his way up. He didn't believe much in college degrees. It's too bad things are different now. It's easy to get a college degree. Anyone can learn a skill, and if they're a hard worker, they're worth more to a company than a 22 year old spoon fed kid holding a piece of paper.

Over the years, my dad became a heavy drinker, probably because of the way my mom treated him. He had a few heart attacks, then a quintuple bypass. I took leave from the AF to come home to care for him after surgery. I remember making him dinner while my mom sat in her recliner and complained that he was getting all the attention.

During one of my dad's last hospital stays, my mom complained that he was getting the royal treatment and "great" meals, and being waited on hand and foot. She said she wished she could be in the hospital. She truly has never realized how good she had it. Well, maybe now she does, because she has end stage COPD and is basically home bound. But still, she shifts the blame. She can't blame my dad anymore, so she now blames God. And me. Thank God I didn't inherit my dad's tendency to drink.

Even when my dad was dying, lying in a hospital bed in his family room, my mom refused to give in and help him with anything. He NEVER complained. My mom hired a nurse to take care of him so she could sit in her recliner and smoke. She would say, "Oh, stop. You aren't going to die."

Finally, he demanded that she call me and tell me to come, because he wouldn't survive the week. I was living in Issaquah, WA at the time, and I caught the next flight home. I walked into the front door at around ten pm. The nurse was there, and my mom had gone to bed. I walked up to his hospital bed, and told him I was there.

He was mostly out of it,but nodded. His eyes were closed.

I repeated, "Dad, it's me. I'm here now."

He was quiet.

I asked, ""Who am I, Dad?" I wanted him to be sure it was me.

He whispered, "You're Mindy." He hinted at a ghost of a smile.

"Yes, I'm here. I'll see you in the morning."

I didn't. The next thing I knew, my younger brother burst into my room and said, "Dad's dead."

I came out to the family room, and the nurse was going through my dad's medications as my mom SAT IN HER RECLINER AND WATCHED TV.

My dad looked gaunt but peaceful as I shed my tears of grief over him. I turned to my mom and screamed, "WHY DIDN'TYOU WAKE ME UP!?" That startled everyone, because I NEVER yell.

She, without a tear in her eye, said, "I didn't want to wake you up. You had a long trip."

I couldn't believe it. She didn't want to wake me up so I could hold my dad's hand as he DIED, because I had a long trip?

Today, I look back, and I cry foul (instead of using a worse word). She didn't wake me up because she was jealous, once again, of the attention my dad would get, instead of her.

I am glad I didn't inherit her selfishness. And I am thankful of a talk my dad and I had a few months before he died, while we waited in the car for my mom to finish shopping. He said he was proud of how I turned out. He was proud of my accomplishments. And I got to finally say, "Thank you," for all he had done and sacrificed for the sake of me and my brothers. I told him I loved him.

My dream last night was a good one. There was sunshine, and he was healthy, and he was standing beside a convertible. That's all I remember, but I know he will be back. I dream of him often.

I wonder if he tells God about Foghorn Leghorn, his favorite Looney Tunes character, like he used to tell me on Saturday mornings when I was glued to the TV watching that iconic hour of Roadrunner, Wile E. Coyote, and Bugs Bunny.

I bet my dad thinks it's great to be able to talk to someone who will listen without interrupting to complain. :)

Seeking Jupiter

I told you about my son's new telescope earlier this week. Well, for the first two nights we had it, it was too cloudy to see anything. Then, a couple days ago, J said he hoped it would be clear that night because Jupiter would be visible in the night sky.

J got his wish. The night was clear. So I hauled the telescope (it's heavy!) I to the front yard, and we looked around. We found Jupiter, which at this time of the night was in a position just above the roof of our two story house. So, I pulled the telescope further away from the house, and we worked for about ten minutes trying to find Jupiter in the viewfinder (or whatever it's called).

Then, it was there! And extremely clear. It took some practice to hold the telescope still while I tried to press the lens of my cell phone camera up against the viewfinder of the telescope.

But I did it, and got this awesome picture of Jupiter and it's moons.

Is that not one of the coolest things you've seen all week?

Today, I'm at home, trying to find my partner to discuss my research, but she's nowhere to be found. Since we both have Asperger's, we find it easiest to communicate via texts and email. We both seem to work feverishly on different ideas, then find a common ground between them, and go from there. We each seem to find strings that link to a common thread. She's an extremely deep thinker, and it will be an honor to share the contents of the chest with her (IF we find it). She deserves it.

One day this week, I'll tell you about something that happened on Friday. But that story is not for today...

Progress

I was going to post about something that happened yesterday, but I'm deciding to post something happy today.

I subscribed to newspaper.com or something like that that allows you to read old newspaper articles from way, way back.

Newspapers from the 1800's and early 1900's are so different than they are today. Whereas most of our newspapers focus on negative news, many newspapers back then had a lot of articles that many would consider "trivial" today.

One thing that stood out was the focus on social activities. "Miss Ford visited the home of Mr. And Mrs. Frosty on Sunday, and delighted the hosts with a wonderful rendition of "Spanish Eyes," on the grand piano in the parlor. Tea and crumpets were served, and Mrs. Frosty brought out her best lace doilies for the occasion." Those kind of articles littered the newspapers back then.

Today's equivalent is this: "MILEY CYRUS SPOTTED SNEAKING INTO JUSTIN BIEBER'S WINDOW AT MIDNIGHT! Our photographer was there to catch the couple yanking each other's clothes off by Bieber's 20,000 square foot swimming pool. For the inside scoop, subscribe to our online magazine for just $29.99 per month."

Oh, and check out this cute snippet:

Things were simpler back then, and while I enjoy the comforts and technology of today, I often yearn for a simpler time when everything was about tea and crumpets. Or in my case, Coke Zero and cookies. And Poptarts.

Astrophysics and Secrets

What do astrophysics and secrets have to do with one another? Ummm, nothing.

My son, the future greatest astrophysicist who will ever live, got this little treat in the mail yesterday.

It was not a treat to put together.

Second topic is: secrets. We all have secrets, right? Some things we don't want anyone else to know. It took years for me to be open enough to talk about my Asperger's. 

But some secrets people have are deeper...darker.

For example, my brother took over my dad's business when he died. My dad, I mean. However, my brother had no idea how to handle a multi-million dollar business, and it started to go South pretty quickly. My brother made a lot of enemies, enemies that wanted the pie my brother seemed to be feasting on. Soon, my brother got word that a hit had been placed on him. Yep, someone put out a contract for the death of my brother. I'm not sure how my brother found out, but it terrified him. 

He moved three different times, and didn't tell his family about it. They thought it odd that he suddenly switched careers and moved suddenly to a different part of the state. He constantly checked his car, only drove if he had to, and he found every excuse possible to keep his wife and three young children at home. He didn't want to frighten them, but his behavior was frightening, too. He finally admitted to my other brother what he'd found out, and my brother did some searching, and found the person responsible, who was arrested. I'm not sure what ever happened to the guy, but my brother feels safe again. His life is normal again, and he's doing well in his new career.

But secrets sometimes aren't the best things to hold onto. For my brother, his secret caused him to gain forty pounds (stress eating), and go gray way prematurely. It almost cost him his marriage and family. 

I try to be an "open book," but doesn't everyone have a secret or two?

Lewis and Clark

I just started reading the journals of Lewis and Clark, not because I think it might hold any hints to our missing clues, but because it's really entertaining.

I can see why Forrest wanted to follow in their footsteps as they explored the West. If you can look past the rain and Mosquitos in Louisiana, you can almost hear the wonder in the writing as Clark sees a badger for the first time. And I had to laugh out loud as he describes pursuing an antelope:

"...we found the Antelope extreemly shye and watchfull insomuch that we had been unable to get a shot at them; when at rest they generally seelect the most elivated point in the neighbourhood, and as they are watchfull and extreemly quick of sight and their sense of smelling very accute it is almost impossible to approach them within gunshot; in short they will frequently discover and flee from you at the distance of three miles. I had this day an opportunity of witnessing the agility and the superior fleetness of this anamal which was to me really astonishing...I made the best of my way towards them, freqeuntly peeping over the ridge with which I took care to conceal myself from their view... I got within about 200 paces of them when they smelt me and fled; I gained the top of the eminence on which they stood, as soon as possible from whence I had an extensive view of the country the antilopes which had disappeared in a steep reveene now appeared at the distance of about three miles on the side of a ridge, so soon had these antelopes gained the distance at which they had again appeared to my view I doubted at ferst that they were the same..., but my doubts soon vanished when I beheld the rapidity of their flight along the ridge before me it appeared reather the rappid flight of birds than the motion of quadrupeds. I think I can safely venture the asscertion that the speed of this anamal is equal if not superior to that of the finest blooded courser."

I can picture Clark trying to sneak up on the antelopes, peeking over rocks, only to be frustrated when they inevitably "smelt" him and took off. 

I also love the way he describes the prairie dog as a "barking squirrel." He seems to take a delight in all the animal he sees, almost like a child as he makes notes in his journal. "I saw a buffalo, and a beautiful bird, and a lot of barking squirrels, elk and antelope and..."

Anyway, I am fascinated by both the beauty and danger of their adventure. The reading is not difficult, but strange, as many of the spellings are more phonetic than "correct." For me, it's fun to read about a time when places and animals are being discovered for the first time. If I didn't have three kids and a mom to take care of, I could totally see myself out there, exploring. As long as I had a hot bath and warm bed at the end of the day. Lol.