Monthly Archives: May 2010

The Ground Drops Out

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Today, one of my tour groups ran into another tour group at the top of “The Barn”. We’re talking about 40 people here. That guide said, “Jerry, do you guys want to do a complete ‘lights out’ with us since nobody’s down below us? ”
“Sure,” I said.
The guide reached for the main breaker which is not supposed to be used for turning out the lights and was getting ready to flip it off. I yelled “No not that one!” as I ran toward her. “That’s the switch for the trap door where those people are standing!” I exclaimed. I heard some nervous laughter from the group. When we switched off the proper light switch, the lights below us were still on. It didn’t get dark. Not wanting to appear completely ignorant of the switches, I said, “Oh, somebody didn’t turn off the lights off below us. Nice joke.” With that our groups parted. Tour guides have more fun than you’ll ever know.

O the Beauty of Blogging

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National Children’s Book Week is ending on Sunday, the 16th, and I’ve been celebrating in my own way with Jerry Begly’s Blogathon 2010. I’m putting out one blog post every 2 hours until the end of the week. Whew! You readers are keeping me hopping. I’m looking out the window at an awsome crescent moon on the western horizon right now. What a beautiful way to work at night. Have you read even one book to your kid or grandkids this week? That’s a super way to celebrate this week, and your connection to the next generation. I still remember stories I heard from my grandfather, and the first time in my life that I ever read “The Little Engine That Could” was at Grandpa Begly’s house in Berlin.

Cave Love

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Today was a blast. I got to give 4 cave tours. On one of my tours was Phillip. He was in charge of the construction inside the cave a little over 10 years ago. He told me about 2 of the workers discovering over a mile more of unmapped passageways back when the construction was taking place. The “Wedding Platform”, is a wooden platform that was made larger than normal, so 2 cavers could get married in front of a stalactitie that was composed of 2 stalactites growing together to become one. Now that’s cave love. Also, over 10 years ago, the current owner, Steve Beckley, took what was then his 2nd date with Jeanne through an 8 ½ inch squeeze named “Jam Crack”. Later, the two got married, and bought Fairy Caves, opening up Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. You’ve got to come up here if you ever get a chance. It’s an amazing place, and I’d love to take you on one of my tours.

“And now on NPR…Here’s Alan Cheuse!”

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I was on the phone with Alan Cheuse, book reviewer for NPR. He sounded a little tired. Maybe he was doing a Blogathon 2010 himself. We talked briefly about my book. It reminded me of the time I was in New York with my comic strip Camp Pinetar, talking with the guys at King Features. New York, and Washington are really far away from where I live. Those guys and I have very different lives. But we all enjoy good books and good cartoons. I really believe that my new book “Dad, the Tooth Fairy Didn’t Come!” www.jerrybegly.com/tooth is a winner. How do I know? When a grandma comes up to me on a ski slope in Aspen and gives me a big hug because of the book, I know it’s a winner. When a parent tells me that she has read the book “about 18 times already”, I know it’s a winner. When a parent comes back 5 times in a month and orders more books to give away, I know it’s a winner. I hope you’ll try the book. You deserve a good laugh. Thanks. Jerry.

17th Blog Stretch

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Blogarooney, Blogmeister, Blogarama, Blogalooney, Blogglemania, Bloggenheimer. I think I’d better take a break.