great visit

Bry, Terra and the kids just left and I am sitting alone in the quiet. I wish Lena was here very very bad. I thought I missed her before, but this makes it much worse.

For many years of my life I was used to being the one with all the power. I was the one who left. There is nothing worse than being the one who is left behind. I still remember hating that part of being the youngest brother. I couldn't wait to grow up and get bigger so I wasn't left behind anymore. This might explain a major part of my behavior over the last decade.

I had a great time with everyone. We had Chinese food the first night and took the kids and the dogs out to our prospective property. Then we snuck the dogs into the house, because we aren't allowed to have them in the park. Thank God the dogs were good the whole time. We built a fire and had some smores. Parker hung out with Bryan and I for a little while after the others went inside. I can't believe how old he is now, and how fast he is growing up.

The kids slept on the couch, chair and ottoman, and cot in the living room. Collin said it was the coolest thing ever. Bryan and Terra slept in my bedroom and I slept in our guest room. I was amazed how fast that family takes over a place. Like a tornado going through a trailer park. We slept in and I cooked a big breakfast while Terra did laundry and the kids watched disney. Something I am not used to, but no one else seemed to think anything was strange but me. After that I took every one fishing for perch at a secret spot.

I always get a little stressed when I am taking people fishing or hunting, especially my family. I want to show them the best time I can and I put a lot of pressure on myself. The kids pointed out that I can get grumpy. Duh. I don't do it on purpose! Thank God the fishing was great. We killed em. Terra lost what is becoming a legend. Perhaps the biggest perch I have ever seen (for sure), if not some kind of record. I say this with all honesty.

I had so much fun watching them all enjoy catching fish, especially Terra. She gets intense like my wife and puts the game face on. She also gets pissed off when she isn't catching them and someone else is. The kids were happy just putting the fish in the bucket, or netting them. I didn't think anyone would want to leave, so I bbq'd in the boat. Parker and Collin thought it was lucky to pee in the water. Collin peed every ten minutes. I enjoyed the whole circus very much.

The kids, the dogs, and Bryan, Terra, and I filled a five gallon bucket with tasty perch and returned home to feast on a batch of my special fish tacos. We also shared a very expensive bottle of wine. It was a great day and great night.

Today we slept in and had pancakes. They packed up the Griswold van and we went out to the Skytop. We rode horses a little, shot some gophers, and enjoyed the beautiful views. Collin did this with his hand in his pants nearly the whole time. The kids started out afraid of horses, and ended wanting to ride everyone of them. My gift to Parker for his tenth birthday was to go shoot gophers. All the rain has made the grass really high, and the gophers weren't out in force today...But... Parker ended up shooting one. I will never forget his face! Lilah wanted to inspect every one, and actually she through a fit when she couldn't go look at the dead ones.

We ended the visit with some good ole' greasy Saloon food.

I know why my mom feels depressed when people leave. I know why my dad keeps himself busy in the yard. I liked to be the one who left, instead of being the one who got left behind. There is a quiet loneliness that comes when you drive away from what you are leaving behind. Solitude and a purpose, albeit uncertain, like a man riding off into the sunset. Once again I feel like the little brother left behind while the others go off on an adventure. Through it all I will never forget what a lucky man I am.