school et. al.

I think rangers are among the luckiest people in the world. How many people are really doing something they love and which is worthwhile? Add to that, it's a reasonable job- not impossibly hard (like brain surgery) or absurdly easy, like ___________ (you fill in the blank!)

Rangers are one of the major "groups" in Wawona.

I've read and believe that for a community to exist, it needs at a minimum, a general store, a gas station, and a post office. Well, we've got TWO general stores. The Pine Tree Market is owned by Paul and Kathy who are great, bedrock of the community. Their family and ours both lived in Wawona at the same time, when our kids were little. Great times.

Paul is the president of the Property Owners' Association. They keep the Pine Tree open all year.

Now what we really need is a restaurant where locals can get together comfortably. There is a restaurant in the hotel but it's high priced and aimed at the tourist trade.

This is one of the newest buildings in Wawona and was sorely needed. It has high-speed internet (quite accomplishment here). Turf squabbles have diminished the benefit to the community and hurt feelings; hopefully all of us will learn to share and recognize the dedication of some of its members -in particular, that of Miriam.

The history of the Wawona School over a period of more than 100 years could fill a book. One chapter at least should be dedicated to its teaching principal, Michelle. She is one of the most dedicated, talented and hard-working people I have ever known. One of my greatest regrets in moving away was depriving my children of her tutelage. We value her friendship a great deal.

This incarnation of the school is pretty new- maybe 10 years old. The school is still "one room" in the sense that the children (kidergarten through 6th grade) are all taught in the same area. If you think that school has to be dead, you must see this very vibrant counter-example.

This is the other general store in town, operated by the park Concessionaire. We have good friends who work there. The post office is attached to the store, as is a pretty well-stocked gift store.

If it wasn't for the history of the Wawona Hotel, this fountain picture would look pretty pathetic I guess. The hotel tradition here goes all the way back to Galen Clark and the Washburn brothers who actually built it, I think in the 1880s. Going there for dinner is a real treat, but expensive. I understand the rooms are pretty basic. My wife Donna worked there as a maid until we were expecting our first child, Josh. Be sure to hear Tom on the piano. Ask him to play "Texas Fox Trot", and lean back and enjoy a scotch or whatever it is you do to appreciate exquisite moments.

This school is constantly in flux; the children feel like they are part of a large family there. I remember my middle daughter Jess when we living there, she was three, screaming at Michelle, "Give me something!" Which she did. Michelle gives something to everyone.

At the end of sixth grade, the children go "down the hill" to the Oakhurst school. In the end, they leave, I guess from boredom. They say you should give your children roots and wings, but I see too much of the wings and not enough of the roots.

Ranger

Rangers are one of the major "groups" in Wawona.