My father, Bob Robertson (1928-1995), and brother, Pat, confer on the Sunday NYT crossword, Stinson Beach, California, around 1993. They always made it look easy.
Fireworks, Rio Puerco-style
My father, Bob Robertson (1928-1995), and brother, Pat, confer on the Sunday NYT crossword, Stinson Beach, California, around 1993. They always made it look easy.
Most days …
Bob Heberle and I met and became friends on fire and trail crews out of the Inyo Ecology Center — now Owens Valley Conservation Camp — near Bishop, Ca., 55 years ago. Still friends today but better suited to laughing in my backyard about sharp tools, smoky nights and crazy camp cooks.
Bob, wife Judy and their dog Casey visiting from California with me and my guy Cowboy 2 in Placitas, April 29, 2026.
Just about a week after Bob and Judy’s visit, Roger Bergmann, the former Inyo Crew 1 leader and later International Gay Rodeo Association president, stopped off on his frequent Western travels. The kid from Kalispell now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, and has been honored by the IGRA Hall of Fame.
Roger is retired from a career with the U.S. Forest Service. Bob is retired from many years of school teaching and Judy is retired from the University of California at Davis. Everyone seems to be enjoying life after professions, although Bob is remembered by former students and stays in touch with many old friends and Roger stays busy as the IGRA archivist and president of the Gay and Lesbian Rodeo Heritage Foundation.
Cowboy2 giving me privacy while I cheat on a crossword puzzle before a morning walk.
Looking at all the people who put it together and made it work, I started thinking we’ve been great all along. We just need leaders who encourage hope instead of fear.
I can’t seem to fix politics, war or a neighbor’s computer problems, let alone get it to rain or snow, so I am easing my frustration with an old photo. Here’s Cowboy 2 greeting a wet day a while back. Only a 15 percent chance today but we remain hopeful.
dream ranch 