Scenic Helper

We spent the weekend in Helper. That's Helper, Utah. What, haven' heard of it? Here, it's right here:


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Just after a time wherein I was feeling worried about family, this was good remedy, a great reminder of what I'll always have in family, even if a split does occur down the gay-friendly divide.

First, one must admit that Helper has seen better days:
Nevertheless, it has a good deal of historical character and has become a hang out for some talented artists. We go down to to help my cousins during Helper's arts and music festival. They've bought a home and a couple buildings on main street, I'm sure at a surprising bargain. My mother's side of the family all come from that area, and my cousins are trying to help revitalize and redefine the old town.

Now you may be thinking what I was thinking. Helper? Isn't that just a place to get gas and a stick of beef jerky on your way to Moab, or, heck, Price even? In all honesty, while the town is not ever going to be a showcase city of Utah, the arts festival there is a great event and some of the galleries are well worth a visit.
I know I may be an irrational sucker for such community events, but all in my family agreed. You can find a good time and great art in Helper, and next year keep them in mind; bringing some tourism dollars would, um, assist them a good deal.

During the heat of the day we went to the Dinosaur Museum in Price:
That's their terrified-because-I'm-being-chased-by-a-dinosaur face. We had a good time there; while Alan was walking around he told me, "When I have a son, I'm going to name him Random." Cool huh? Where do they get such ideas?

Almost lost Alan there to a Utahraptor.

That night was the big reception and art competition. Rob was asked to arrange the flowers for the reception... What can I say? He's good at arranging flowers; sometimes you just have to admit to a stereotype or two. They ended up being used in an artist's still life, for their so not-gay beauty.

Brian took his job of punch-cup-refiller with a purpose and focus usually only seen in men who disarm land mines:
And me, I was just a manual laborer, my talents not being in fancy dinner parties. I was also the Alan Wrangler:
It's more difficult than it looks (or maybe just as difficult?).

Anyway, another great weekend. The nice thing about having a huge family, is that, by the statistics alone, there will be a good number you connect with and can trust with every bit of your self and your family. A split in our family would break my heart, but last weekend reminded me that there'd still be plenty of family to go around, more than most people are blessed to have, even if they're all heathens ;-).