This is the second time that I’ve been to Las Cruces, New Mexico. In the intervening five years, I think this town has more than doubled in size and population. It has definitely been discovered. I asked Uncle Ted what was bringing people here … there isn’t any industry or manufacturing here … so how were all these people making a living? Turns out he has been wondering the same thing himself. He is having cataract eye surgery today and hopefully will be able to see to drive once again.

Funerals are definitely family gathering times. I think that my dad’s family … his remaining two brothers and a sister … are getting together for the first time in more than five years. Yesterday as we were visiting with Nelma (Delon’s wife) and some of her family, dad’s brother Nate and his wife Sharon arrived from Yuma, Arizona. His other brother Ross and his wife were to arrive by air into El Paso late last night. Others from Nelma’s family were also arriving last night. It has been nice to meet some people whom I have only known through email or telephone calls and others whom I have only heard about. This group of people will never be together again as life and death will get in between, I’m certain.

Several of Delon’s coworkers have sent comments on my blog posts about Delon. I have been touched by their comments and appreciate their taking the time to express their sympathy.

The viewing will be at 10 a.m. this morning at the LDS Church that Delon and Nelma attended and the funeral will follow at 11. Delon’s body is being transported by air to Idaho for burial in the Cleveland, Idaho Cemetery Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. That allows enough time for the family to drive up there for the burial. Fortunately, the weather forecast maps indicate nice weather for the burial services.

I think that Delon and Nelma have liked living in this little corner of New Mexico. As we drove south from Albuquerque yesterday, I noticed that the Rio Grande river actually had water running in the river bed … a somewhat unusual circumstance as drought conditions for the past several years have dried up the river causing significant controversy over water rights in this part of the country between New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico. Perhaps this will be a year of adequate water in this area as well. The living here is very pleasant. Maybe that’s what is drawing so many people to Las Cruces, New Mexico?