Good News!

    Al and I were surprised at a family brunch before Christmas when our son-in-law handed us a small box wrapped in bright holiday paper.   “You’ll love this!” he said, watching as we opened it. He had thought of us when he saw a puzzle of Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, one of our favorite places for hiking, camping and backpacking in past years. The puzzle was made from a painting by Spanish artist Luis Rincón and was an interesting portrayal of the huge granite formation that looms over Yosemite Valley. Half Dome, with its sheer face, smooth top and rounded shoulder sloping to the valley floor, is the focus of the painting. Evergreens and golden grasses along the bank of a quiet stream make up the foreground. Although portrayed at night, the landscape seems to be lit up, perhaps by an invisible full moon, different from the nights we spent in Yosemite Valley when tent camping. I remember sleeping outside on a cot, looking up at the pitch-black sky with sh...