When do California artists retire? Beats me.
When do the husbands of California artists retire? How about after 37 years with Sequoia National Park. That’s a lot of years of getting up at dark-thirty, putting on green pants, driving miles on mountain roads in his own pick-em-up-truck (called his “rig”), and then driving big yellow machines. Faithfully going to work. Faithfully serving the public. Faithfully supporting his California artist wife. Persevering, persisting, day after day and month after month and storm after storm.
When does Michael The Road Guy retire? TODAY!! (Not officially because he works for the federal government and everything with those people is very complicated but don’t get me started because this blog post is about Michael The Road Guy, not those people.)
Impressive, yes? (thank you John Elliott of the Kaweah Commonwealth for this photo and the next)
I am not kidding about the miles on his rig. This was last year.
Doesn’t he look tired?
Thinking with a marshmallow on your head is really hard work. And working when you’d rather be hiking takes a tremendous amount of discipline.
One with the Stream, oil on wrapped canvas, 24×30″
Congratulations, Michael Botkin! No more dark-thirty, green pants, marshmallow head or big yellow machines!
6 Comments
Diane and Sharon, thank you! That is pretty funny about your Mom breaking things, Diane! And Sharon, I’m guessing he will be even more available and involved but as a VIP now.
Congratulations, Michael! Kudos on a job well done. We will miss you!!
Congrats to Michael … well done faithful servant. Jana, do you have your honey-do list ready? I had to remind dad, when he retired, that he retired but mom is still ‘working’. I honestly think she broke things for dad to fix and keep busy. 🙂
Cheryl, this means no more 2 a.m. phone calls to go rescue the road from snow!
And Brian, he’s been practicing at retirement for a few summers and is the model in this painting. Thank you for liking it – supreme compliment coming from you! (He named the painting for me)
Congratulations, indeed! I remember my father’s “dark-thirty” risings of 3:30, etc. (I agree with Cheryl, great terminology.)
So will he be “One with the Stream” soon as well? Lovely painting!
Congrats to your husband, Jana! Will be interesting to see what this new era brings to you both. By the way, love your “dark-thirty” terminology 🙂
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