Roadtrip #2: A Visit to the Mile High City

Our second road trip of Summer 2009 began with the reunion of Ririe High School's Class of 1959! Of course, Dad/Ed couldn't believe he actually knew any of these old people . . . and even when they introduced themselves, he still couldn't believe he was their same age. Ririe, Idaho looks a little more prosperous than it has in prior visits. The reunion was held on Ririe Pride Day, so there was a parade, booths and a very impressive car show happening at the same time. The old log gymnasium where Dad played basketball has been renovated, but his high school was torn down in 2003 and replaced with a nice, new building. On our way to the reunion, we stopped in Pocatello to visit his grandparents home and their gravesite; in Idaho Falls to visit his parents gravesite and in Shelley, Idaho where his brother Robert is buried (we were shocked to realize Bob passed away 25 years ago!!!)

The second leg of our journey involved a drive through Idaho and Wyoming (a whole lot of green nothing!) Thank goodness the wireless connection to my laptop works just about anywhere - even when we are barreling down the I-80 freeway toward Denver.

Idaho in five words or less: grain elevators and spud cellars, golf course quality green grass, beautiful rivers and friendly people.

Wyoming in five words or less: wide open prairie land, big cities which are actually teensy, tiny (Rock Springs [18,000 population], Laramie - the home of the University of Wyoming "Cowboys" [28,000], and Cheyenne [55,000]) . . . and entire communities made up of double wides and modulars!

We finally found our way to David and Jan'L's house in Denver where we enjoyed 3-4 days of chit chat and play with the boys. Miniature golf was a fun way to wile away a hot July day. Kole got a hole-in-one at the first hole of Buccaneer Bay. Dad was a bit miffed that it took him 68 years and Kole did it at age 7! Kyle struggled a little with the whole concept of how the club was supposed to work, but had a fun time just the same. Kaler particularly enjoyed the "do-overs" which "real" golfers in our party informed us are called "mulligans." During my three days of (boring) Medicare training, Grandpa took the boys fishing. They didn't catch anything, but had a fun time together. And, Grandma and the boys joined forces to make a big batch of Grandpa's waffle mix! There was flour and sugar everywhere which stressed David and Grandpa out, but we were "making memories," and the next morning the boys enjoyed their waffles all the more, because they had "a hand at making them." David did not take any time off from work while we were there because his family had plans to travel to Lake Powell for four days on the Jones' new houseboat.

As we were getting ready to leave, all three boys got into our car declaring loudly and in unison that they wanted to go with Grandma!!! All three gave us big hugs while begging Grandma to come with them to the lake (I'm not sure how pleased Ron and Clarelynn would have been to have us show up unannounced). A few minutes after we drove away, Taisley called to report we had 89 tomatoes and 4 watermelons in our garden . . . and, to ask, "when are you coming home?"

We looked forward to getting home to see what Kendi got for her birthday (she turned 13 on July 19) and to enjoy the bounteous harvest of our garden. We leave on August 6 for our 3rd and final roadtrip . . . this time to Seattle and Alaska. Stay tuned!