Preparing for concrete

The next step in the process has been extremely complex. Dan Whittle, my excellent concrete specialist, (along with son, Ryan and grandson, Jacob) has been spending days and days building the inverse form of the pedestal shape that I want. The design continues to evolve even at this date, with improvements created and weaknesses discovered. It has been a LONG process because everything must be calculated and the final form is "backwards" or "inside-out" from what the finished pedestal will be. There has been a bit of angst regarding timing, the date for the unveiling has been set, invitations have been sent out, and we are all working to get our jobs done. It is a bit of choreography, trying to get each project, ie, sidewalks, electricity, irrigation, landscaping and a flagpole, all done around the monument. But there is no way to rush the form-building. It has to be right, or the rest is out of kilter. Dan Allen is working with one of the EagleScouts to lay the sidewalks,