Day tripping

Sometimes you get lucky during the summer and everything comes together for a day. Friends visiting from out of town, a summer festival and the opportunity to road trip were the elements that converged recently on a Thursday for Greer and I. A chance to hop in the Bug and ramble south to Eugene for a reunion with my old college buddy Ryan and his family.

After a bit of a stutter-start, we breezed south through the Willamette Valley. Greer was amped at the change of scenery and only needed one potty break on the journey....that and a bag of his new favorite roadtrip snack, Corn Nuts.

After a short visit and burgers at his parent's house, Ryan and I hauled the kids over to a nearby park for a runaround....a chance for Greer and Reed to bond. As the boys chased each other around the playground, Ryan and I tried to catch up on everything. Since the Campbells moved to Connecticut, our circles are limited to the occasional phone call. Our most recent conversations came following the passing of the twins, so we did our best reconcile the last couple of years.

Another child had arrived...a beautiful girl, Lucy. More teaching stories, new personal interests, and plenty of parental lamentation about the growing up of our young boys. There was still much of the man I remembered, but we had changed together. As fathers and working (or not working) men.

Time passes though...as quickly as the boys' competition on the monkey bars. A goodbye popsicle and a few bear hugs later, and Greer and I were back on the road - headed north for a visit with another older friend in Junction City.

Brennen goes back a ways...almost 16 years now. A southern gentleman with a cajun streak and prominent tenor voice, B is now a Lutheran pastor to a congregation with a decidedly Scandinavian lineage. Coincidentally, Friday marked the beginning of an annual town festival that features all things Swedish, Finnish and Norwegian. Vikings wander downtown - next to booths selling pastries, meatpies (mmm...) and authentic Nordic-wear.

After meeting up with the right Reverend, we pushed into the festival - stopping to visit his wife, Michelle - who was helping serve up delicious puff pastries in appropriately traditional garb. A few Swedish dance numbers and a meatpie later, we were officially in the groove. I had picked up the necessary horned headgear (albeit plastic) for the boy and I, and Greer had temporarily exchanged lids with friendly viking.

After all of this, we piled back in the rig and headed home. In the 15 minutes it took to get back to I-5, Greer was nodding....by they time we hit Salem - he was out....pooped beyond everything.

Mission accomplished.