Welcome Back to OTR!  (Let's Reunion, right!!)

Where indeed did the year go? I never unpacked from OTR last year - no surprise there … right, Tim? 

"Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today."

One minute, we're cleaning up OTR 2001, makin' the rounds, scourin' every inch of the campsite, and then The Lutz Rock arrives. It was Tuesday following the close of OTR. The small group still on-site watched in awe as the crane rumbled up Back Road and positioned itself adjacent to the Registration Pavilion swinging that magnificent huge-ton stone every so slightly up and over the creek. It guided into place by some very brave and trusting ("hope the chain don't break") souls. And now there The Rock sits at the top of the TRA property -- absolutely majestic in the late afternoon sun -- keeping watch over all of OTR's frivolity, future and past, and reminding us of those who've been. Thanks most especially to Ray Garton and leecee molina deem for helping to make it happen.

And one week later to the day and almost the hour, the chain of events burst our very psyche as 9/11 changed lives forever … and we all … stood … still.

It's been a tumultuous year for our country and for cavers, filled with dreary news at all levels. But the one eventuality we all can look forward to, almost with certainty now at fifty-three continuous Labor Day weekends, is the return of autumn's lovely hues at the reunion of ol' timers and friends. Treasure this!

For all of my fellow cavers who just couldn't say "No" to my "Please", I raise a toast to each and thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping to resurrect Old Timers Reunion each year for the masses. I have been proud and humbled to serve as your Galactic Goddess and Madame Chairma'am. So now, let's make merry mad marvelous mischief, take A Look Back and begin, yet again, a BRANEWPARTY!

Live! Laugh! Look! Love Muchly!
Life is DEEElicious - savor every morsel! 

^V^ ^V^ FANG ^V^ ^V^
Madame Chairma'am OTR 2002