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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #128
September 20, 2002
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Dear Subscriber:

What was it someone once said about combat?

Hours of boredom mixed with 15 minutes of pure horror.

Life is a fight. Yesterday, during life's combat, I experienced
15 minutes of pure horror.

Yesterday my day was filled with little tribulations. A neighbor
was upset with me. The stock market was down. I got a rock in
my shoe. It seemed my whole day was a matter of the square pegs
not fitting into the round holes.

The phone rang at around 6pm. Peggy answered it. It was a
friend of hers.

As I sat there listening to Peggy's end of the conversation,
all color emptied from her face. She slammed the phone down.
Her hands were shaking.

"Don," she almost cried. "Something has happened to your mom."

Peggy was almost hysterical. Peggy doesn't get hysterical.
More proof that this was not going to be a good day.

Peggy grabbed me and hugged me. "Try and be strong," she said.

Peggy's friend had told her my mother had been in a bad car
accident in Lubbock. Peggy's friend lives in Dallas. She had
heard the news from a close relative in Lubbock.

Peggy was freaked. I was in total shock.

Peggy gathered herself. "We have to call your brother."

My brother Dick lives in Hobbs, New Mexico.

"Not yet," I said. "We have to know for sure."

Peggy picked up the phone and called the Lubbock Police
Department. She came close to screaming into the phone.

"There's been an accident there," she yelled. "My mother-in-law
may have been in it. I have to know. I have to know NOW!"

I was useless. Peggy had taken over the crises. She called our
daughter in Lubbock. She re-called the Lubbock police.

Meanwhile I picked up the cell phone and called Mom's home phone
number. I knew there would be no answer.

Mom answered.

"Hey-low," Mom said.

"Mom?"

"Don?"

Peggy's face brightened as she watched me talking to my mother
on the phone.

"Mom...it's so good to hear your voice."

Then I lost it.

I cried like a baby. Mom, not knowing what the situation was,
probably thought she had a crazy son on her hands.

Between sobs I explained to her that she was supposed to be dead
and that I was glad she wasn't and how much I loved her.

It turns out a person died in a car wreck in Lubbock that day.
It was the mother of another "Don." A friend of mine. Don
Caldwell. Since we were both involved in the entertainment
business in Lubbock, wires got crossed and my mom was the one
that was thought to have died.

Don Caldwell's family is dealing with a profound loss today.

My mom is still alive. She's going to her club tonight and
they're having pizza.

Our 15 minutes of pure horror is over. In those 15 minutes my
life moved violently from the depths of despair to the unworldly
heights of relief.

I wouldn't wish that kind of experience on my worst enemy.

Don Vanlandingham
Cloudcroft.com

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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
2. SPECIAL -- LOST HOUND PUP
3. VILLAGE NEWS
4. INSIDE THE SHOP -- TOY TRAIN DEPOT
5. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- HOT AIR BALLOON FIESTA
6. Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
7. COMING EVENTS
8. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
9. CONTACT INFORMATION
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LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
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Cooling. Still frequent afternoon showers. Windy late in the
week. Highs in the low-70s. Lows in the low-40s.
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SPECIAL -- LOST HOUND PUP
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Dear Newsletter:

I'm not certain if you have a lost and found, but we found a
young hound pup in Twin Forks on 9/12.

Thanks,
Rachelle

[If this is your puppy, contact us and we'll put you in touch
with Rachelle.]

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VILLAGE NEWS
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A special session of the village council was held on Thursday
to discuss and obtain villager input on capital improvement
projects.

Since The Newsletter goes to press on Wednesdays, there will be
a brief on the meeting in next week's issue.
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INSIDE THE SHOP -- THE TOY TRAIN DEPOT
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Fun for kids of all ages! Located in Alameda Park, 1991 N.
White Sands Blvd in Alamogordo. Open Wednesday through Sunday
12:00 noon to 5:00 pm. Our 16 Gauge Train Ride runs every 30
minutes. Visit our Model Train Display and Museum!
(505) 437-2855
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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- HOT AIR BALLOON FIESTA
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Beginning October 5.

http://www.aibf.org/

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Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
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Q - The mountains usually get more rain than the valley areas.
Why is there a water shortage in Cloudcroft?

A - I'm no expert, but here is what I have been told.

Of all the precipitation that falls on the mountain, much of
it runs off into the valley. A lot of it is absorbed by the
mountain vegetation. Some of it evaporates. A significant
amount of it trickles into isolated aquifers underground.

Those aquifers (or underground pools) are hard to find...
especially in the mountains.

I have been told that drillers can drill a dry hole in the
mountains and move 6 yards away and hit a major pool.

While there is technology involved...a lot of finding a good
source of water is luck.

So far, luck has not been with the village of Cloudcroft as
they search for a new water supply.
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COMING EVENTS
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September 20-22 -- Gathering of Circles Healing Hearts event.
Call 1-915-550-3302 for details.

September 21 -- Lumberjack Days. Chainsaw and ax competitions.
Zenith Park. For more information, call (505) 682-2733.

September 28 -- Mountain Garden Club Fiesta of Fashion style
show. Middle School Cafeteria. Mexican buffet. Tickets
12.50. Proceeds go to local student scholarship.

September 28-29 -- Aspencade tours (fall foliage at its best).
For more information, call (505) 682-2733.

October 5, 6 -- Oktoberfest. Juried art show. Zenith Park

October 5, 6 -- Aspencade tours

October 19, 20 -- High Rolls Apple Festival. High Rolls, NM.
For more information, call (505) 682-1151.

October 26 -- Harvestfest. Pumpkin carving, hay rides.

October 31 -- Trick or Treat. Costume contest. Burro Avenue.
5-7pm.

November 23 -- Santa Town at Zenith Park. 5pm-7pm.

December 7 -- Santa Town at Zenith Park.

December 14 -- Santa Town at Zenith Park.

December 21 -- Santa Town at Zenith Park.

December 31 -- New Year's Eve torch light parade at Ski
Cloudcroft.

Cloudcroft Art Society meets the second Sunday of each month,
2-4pm, in the Old Red Brick School House. Call (505) 682-2494
for more information.

Mountain Garden Club meets every third Monday of each month.
Call (505) 682-2910 for more information.

Senior Van from Timberon to Alamogordo leaves the Timberon
Lodge promptly at 8:30am every Tuesday morning.

Free Vitals Clinic. Third Tuesday of each month starting at 6pm
and last Thursday of each month starting at 12 noon. James
Canyon Fire Department, 2346 Highway 82.

If you have news of public events in the Cloudcroft area, email
us.

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For an online calendar of area events, click the Events Calendar
link in the left column of our home page:

http://www.cloudcroft.com/index.html

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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Dear Newsletter:

This past weekend my wife and one of our daughter-in-laws made
the trip to Cloudcroft and then down to High-Rolls and passed
under a pedestrian bridge (I suppose), and they wondered what
it was for.

I guessed that it was for the trail system up there.

Would you tell us for sure what it is? Thank you, and we enjoy
your letter as much as ever.

Shelby Dugas
Carlsbad, NM

[The pedestrian bridge over Hwy 82 is a part of the hiking
trail system. For more information and for a map, check with
the Sacramento office of the Forest Service: (505)-682-2551.
Don]

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Dear Newsletter:

I have been reading your newsletter for quite some time now
and thoroughly enjoy it. I too have very fond memories of
Cloudcroft (my father was born in High Rolls) and reading your
newsletter just warms my heart. 

Thanks,
B. A. Nogales
Round Rock, Tx

PS. Oh, by the way, I too have hesitated on occasion when the
store clerk has forgotten to ring something up. But I've always
returned to pay for it.

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Dear Newsletter:

We (Robert & Cindy of Comfort, TX) would like to extend a
heartfelt appreciation to the incredible residents of
Cloudcroft, New Mexico.

When the Chevy Avalanche Club discussed where the regional meet
should be, we knew there could be no other place then to suggest
Cloudcroft.

Members from all over the country traveled many miles to go to
a place they had never been, but Cindy and I knew that they
would be very pleased. Every one thanked us over and over for
letting us share our special place with them. Members have
already spoken of going back at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Things that were mentioned were the incredible beauty and
peacefulness of the area and the down-to-earth and kind people
of Cloudcroft.

Names that kept popping up in our meetings were: Ron (Summit
Inn), and thanks for not kicking us out for all the noise and
taking up all the parking spots, Mona (Gypsy Wagon), you and
your family are in our prayers, Tom and Linda Olive (Olive
Branch), after having an incredible breakfast there every
morning, Cindy & I decided that if we ever have the opportunity
to work for them, we would work for food, Bill and Mary Miles
(Cats Canines & Critters), the wonderful Nancy at Julienne’s,
and last but not least, the incredible Gloria Wood of the Copper
Butterfly.

All of you made us feel welcomed and we hope to one day call
Cloudcroft our home. You have made many new friends who will be
returning. Take care and hope to see all of you soon.

Your friends,
Robert and Cindy of the Spirit Winds Ranch.

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Dear Newsletter:

My wife and I have just returned to Memphis, TN from a week
visit in Cloudcroft. We met our good friends, Jess and Norma
Parrish, in Midland, TX and drove to one of the best kept
secrets of the West. The Parrishs have a place at Ponderosa
Pines, overlooking the golf course, and are a most gracious
host and hostess. This was our 7th visit to Cloudcroft after
falling in love with the beautiful surroundings.

Friends in Memphis ask us what we do at an elevation of 8200
plus feet. We tell them we must first get acclimatized to the
elevation so as we sit on the deck in late afternoon, enjoying
our drinks and appetizers, without becoming winded.

Nah! We tell them that we walk the mountain trails, we shop,
we eat, we rest and just enjoy the beauty of the mountains above
and below us.

Who can go to Cloudcroft without having lunch or dinner at The
Lodge, a chicken fried steak, that is too large for the place,
at The Western Grill, the hamburger with green chilies at the
cafe in Weed, the wonderful sandwiches at several downtown
delis, returning to The General Mercantile Store, and shopping
in the well stocked shops on both sides of the street. We return
with pockets lighter but the car is loaded with more than when
we arrived.

Sitting on the deck of the cabin the beautiful hummingbirds
flutter around our heads as they position themselves to control
the nectar our hosts have provided in two large feeders. It is
not unusual to see 8 to 10 birds at each feeder throughout the
day. Other birds, especially the Stellar Jays, fly to the
feeders surrounding the deck to partake of the sunflower seeds
placed there for their and other birds enjoyment.

As darkness approaches we look up into the heavens and witness
a beautiful sky, filled with brightly shining stars. We finish
our cocktails and snacks and move inside before the raccoons
come to share the seeds in the feeder. The nights are cool and
that makes for a comfortable respite from the day of just lazing
around enjoying the beauty of Cloudcroft.

As our friends told the server at the Weed Cafe, when asked why
we came all the way from Memphis, "We invite them down for a
visit and they keep accepting." And, we hope the invitations
keep coming because my wife and I can relax with the best....

Kay and David Collins
Germantown, Tennessee (a suburb of Memphis)

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