Sunday 29 September 2024

Sunday the 22nd  |  Monday the 23rd  |  Tuesday the 24th  |  Wednesday the 25th  |  Thursday the 26th  |  Friday the 27th  |  Saturday the 28th  |  Sunday the 29th  |  

Sunday 29 September

Nothing happened on Sunday... not even sure why I included it here.

Actually, that's not true. We didn't really arrive until very early (about 6:00 am Cincinnati time) on Sunday morning, and my brother was in town. It's a long story, and there is no time, so let me sum up...

My brother (David) and I graduated from Monroe High School in the 1980's, and the week we were in the canyon they (class of 1984) were having their 40th High School Reunion. So, Dave was flying in on Thursday and leaving on Sunday evening. This would give us about 8 hours to catch up, if I didn't go to sleep.

So, yea, we landed, grabbed our bags, drove home, I threw a few things into the laundry, grabbed a shower, and ran upstairs to catch up with him, and see how the reunion had gone. Sounded like a good time, and his good buddy Bruce was kind enough to drive from Dayton to CVG to pick Dave up and save him an Uber fee getting to the house on Thursday even. Bruce is good people.

So, we chatted it up a bit, then ran up to Monroe - the old stomping grounds - for a Cassano's pie, just around the corner from our old house, and actually just a bit from Johnny's folk's place too. You can't beat a thin, salty pizza from The Pizza King, Vic Cassano (and Momma Donisi) had that right back in the 50's (they claim on their website that they were the first pizza made in Dayton!).

All too soon it was time to drive Dave back to the airport - that I'd just left - to head back to Houston. Vacation was over, so I hopped in bed... at literally like 6:30 pm, and slept to the next morning. I did take Monday off work as well, figuring I'd be worse for all of the wear, and spent it getting my things put away and caught up on a few essentials and got back to the grind on Tuesday.

Thanks and Dedication

I would be remiss if I didn't say that the last year has been a bit transformational for me. I am a bit goal-oriented, and having something to target, and inspire, has really been great. I've been on a healthier-living journey for several years, which has involved fasting and keto diet, since before Covid - and Elizabeth and I were already walking extensively before Covid as well, but we ramped it up during the 'pandemic'. But setting out to do the hard thing, and challenging myself to do something I'm not 100% certain I *can* do, can really add something to life. This was one of those times, and to my good, life-long friends, John and Tammy Trenaman, I thank you for the inspiration, idea, and memories we created here, it was an honor and a treat. Because of you guys I've taken up the new hobby of hiking, walked a lot of miles and climbed a ton of steps, seen a bunch of nature, and taken my health to a new level.

To my better half, "Unit 2" - Elizabeth, thanks for letting me buy a bunch of gear, spend a lot of time away from the house wandering the many high quality parks in our little corner of Ohio, and being OK with "doing it right". I'm not sure if or when we'll be back to the canyon, so I really wanted to drink it all in, spend the week doing everything... I wanted to see both rims, ride the mule, get the helicopter ride, just EVERYTHING. And you kept saying yes, and did it all with a smile. I know burnt the candle on both ends for the week, and crammed more into a week than was probably reasonable, where the next question was always "what time is it there? how long will it take to get there?... we better go now...", but it was an absolute joy to share it with you. I hope to go back and hike it with you, sooner rather than later, and make more memories.