Valerie and Vicky with the family dog, a miniature schnauzer named Penny, in Illinois, December, 1960.

While in Denver, several friends and I went up to the mountains west of the city. Above the tree-line, we walked out over the rolling, grassy hills. Sitting on one of the slopes, I was suddenly overwhelmed by the feeling that I was indeed sitting on top of the world. As far as I could see there were green-capped mountains that fell away to nowhere, and covering it all was a big blue bowl. In the middle of the azure was the bright bulb of sun. I felt intoxicated with joy over the beautiful world beneath me.