But even names were changed pretty often. My own ancestors spelled their name L-U-C-K-E, like I do. But they also spelled it L-O-O-K-E and L-O-U-K and L-O-O-C and about a half-dozen other ways. Then the census takers came around and heard what they wanted to hear, and they spelled it L-U-T-E and L-O-O-D. Sorry, I'm on one of my hobbyhorses again. I've forgotten what you even asked."

"So have I," Jane said, "but it's interesting anyway."

"Anyhow, that's why we have our meetings here. Bill isn't interested in being Doris's Tsar, but his nephew Pete encourages Doris and got us to meet here about four years ago for our annual meeting. The place, completely apart from the connection with Bill, suited our needs down to the ground, so we keep coming back."

"You don't think it's sort of hard to get to?" Jane asked, remembering the long, dark drive up the mountains the night before.

"Well, we plan for that. Of course, a lot of people at the conference are local — we sponsor all sorts of general genealogy classes at our conference and a lot of people from Colorado come year after year. As far as the members of the Society go, we book all our flights to come in around the same time and hire a bus to bring us all up here at once. That is sort of a nuisance, but one we're used to. Anybody who has to come in later or earlier can fly to Vail."

"Vail? There's an airport at Vail? That's close, isn't it?"

He did the "so-so" motion again. "As the crow flies, yes. But there's a mountain between here and there that you can't drive over except in the summer with a four-wheel drive. In the winter, you have to backtrack a long way to get from there to here, so we just stick with the Denver airport and the hired bus."

Shelley had been listening with interest. "You have classes open to other people? Any for rank beginners?"

"Sure. You interested?"