Greetings from Yellowstone National Park

As a 9 year old in 1950 I was fortunate to visit Yellowstone with my family. At that time I told my mother that I someday wanted to return to work at Old Faithful. In the summers of 1960-61 I served as a waitress at the Lodge–the best time of my life! There were students from 46 States and 22 foreign countries working at the park, and I learned so much about others’ lives, countries, and customs, as we all served the public. One rainy night I fell on top of a black bear as I ran, head held down while running up the hill from the girls’ dorm to mail a letter home. As I banged into its backside, my arms stretched forward to catch myself, and I grabbed into wet fur and was carried off on its back, as it made grunting sounds of alarm! I think I scared it more than vice versa. There were other close bear encounters as well as a moose munching grass right at the rock I was lying out on across the Firehole River from the dorm. Those were the days! I also met some wonderful people, one with whom I remade contact 50 years later–one of the student ministers. The Park is magical, and will someday receive a portion of my ashes to be scattered at Castle Geyser–my King Castle. We must fight any attempt to reduce the Park System for political or commercial gains–I would find that an unconscionable assault on all Americans. Thank you for all you do!

Sincerely,
Susan