How I Spent My Summer Vacation

OK, you may be thinking that a weekend trip to Stillwater doesn't *exactly* qualify as a summer vacation. To you I say, "Hush up, Lumpy!". We had fun. We'll try to go someplace a little more exotic next year. We might even cross state lines.

Anyway, I've learned an important truth about traveling westbound on I244 in Tulsa. Don't do it. Just don't even bother. Last week we drove past an overturned paint truck. Saturday, a truck carrying tree limbs lost part of its load. Small logs, branches, and leaves scattered everywhere. H'ray!... *sigh*

The rest of the road trip was less leafy. We cruised around Stillwater a bit, and then went to Fyrebaugh's wedding reception. The host home and cake were beautiful. Fyrebaugh and his bride look quite happy together. We had a good time.

Sunday morning, we went to our old church. Scruffy (our buddy in Owasso) used to go to church there too, so he said he'd meet us.

What he didn't tell us was that he was going to arrive at 8:30am (morning people, blah!). Church services don't start there until 10:30. During Scruffy's two hours of wandering and reminiscing, he also made it a point to tell everybody he saw that my wife and I were coming.

At 10:25 when we walked into the sanctuary, there was a shout. Suddenly, we were mobbed. It was a bit surreal. We felt like celebrities. Somebody would shout, "How have you been?!?", and we'd start to answer. Then somebody else would rush in like a linebacker and hit us with the same question.

These were all dear friends that we haven't seen in a year or more. Now, as far as any of them know, for the past year "...we've been doing great! Jeff has been... oh, hi!".

Thankfully, no one seemed to mind the lack of detail.

Sunday lunch was with a whole gang of friends from church. Most of them were also old work buddies from my previous job. Two of the couples have had a kid since we've been gone.

Now, I know that all kids are special and wonderful. Art Buddy, your little daughter is even better than that. She is exceptional. Hours later, my wife was still talking about how cute and sweet she is.

Usually a vacation takes you away from people and places that you know. This one did neither. And we loved it.