I Help My Friend

Written on 7-31-26.

        It’s the last day of what has been a very busy July.  It all started with the death of our dear friend and dog, Kody.  We still miss him very much, and we still see reminders, although they have become fewer.

We had our "summer camp" with Rowan and Benny near the end, and that was fabulous.  I told Belinda to soak it in.  He would climb up on her lap, and he would cry sometimes when she would leave the room.  When he would find her in another room, he would cry louder and hold his little, chubby arms above his head.  Adorable.  He is in the “crawl up on our laps” phase, and we will miss it like we miss Kody when it’s gone.  

Belinda and I are up at A’s and E’s cabin.  They are coming here tonight, so we will have some overlap.  I didn’t have to go to work yesterday, and I had already planned to play golf with Herman (not his real name) and Greg after work.  It was swell to have the whole day, and I was able to get to the course earlier to warm up a bit.  It’s so beautiful and relaxing here.  B took a picture of two bright orange butterflies on some of A’s flowers this morning.

I want to continue writing about...

A New Routine

Written on 7-26-26.

        We just took Rowan and Benny back to James in Cuba at the Del Prado Restaurant. That’s part of the new routine.  Belinda and I used to meet Bev at a small park in front of a bowling alley in Alamosa to do our exchange with our kids.  

Here are the details of our new routine: Matt and Becca will bring them to Cuba and drop them off with Eric and Amanda.  Our part is to bring them back, and that is what we just did.  It was great to see James, albeit briefly.  

Rowan and Benny were both such good boys this weekend.  Rowan is really growing and comprehending more.  One moment that was really funny to me/us was when I asked Rowan if he had seen the small, red car, and he shrugged and put his hands up in the air.  He also pretends to blow his nose.  He’ll hold the tissue up to his nose and make breathing noises.  It’s adorable.  He did that at church with me last night.  

We are looking forward to many other such Aztec Summer Camps here in Aztec.  That’s what we are calling them.  

On to golf…

Herman (not his real name) reached out to me last week to ask what I was doing.  I said I could play either Monday or Tuesday evening.  He replied, “That’s great, and I will play with you anytime, but I was wondering if you could work with my granddaughter on her volleyball skills.”

Oops!  I didn’t read his message very well.  Anyway, it worked out that I could help her on Tuesday night at San Juan College.  He had asked if I would be willing to work with her before, and I always said yes. 

She is a shy 8th grader (about to be), and her name is Ashley (not her real name).  I didn’t know what to expect, but she was a great listener, and she had a wonderful work ethic.  I put her through her paces, and I got an idea of what she needed to work on.  It was typical stuff for that age group: serving tosses, passing, and setting technique.

She said her mom played in Farmington, and she had learned some of her skills from her.  At the end, we played the ‘pepper game,’ because it’s a fun way to tie everything together.  We started playing it as a game with points when Kelly and I ran our Spike Doctor Clinics. 

My HUGE Comeback at Hillcrest

Written on 7-12-26.

        He duffed it!  He also double-hit it, and he quickly turned and asked if it was legal.  I told him that it was, but he figured it out at the same time.  That’s something I would usually do (a double-hit).  That didn’t help his situation much, though.  His golf ball skittered across the green and back into the deep grass.  He would have to manage a great up and down just to tie me now, so I felt a bit of relief.  I also knew that he could still pull it off.  He’s done some wild things like that before.

Thankfully, this wasn’t one of those times.  I had done it.  I had pulled off a HUGE comeback, and it was truly miraculous.  I surely thanked God afterwards.  

We went from not playing to playing, and I had gone from not winning to winning.  My, how the tables turned for this.  

I forgot to show Grant my favorite view on the course on the teeing grounds on #15.  I was so focused on our competition.  It didn’t matter.  He said he truly enjoyed the golf course.

Our Skins Game at Hillcrest

Written on 7-10-26.

        It’s a Friday, and I have no work.  B went paddle boarding this morning, and I went to Ancient Grounds, the restaurant on Main Street where Ramsey Realty used to be.  She joined me when she was done, and we have been relaxing at home since.  We watched a couple of more episodes of the Netflix show called I Will Find You.  It’s been relaxing, but I have felt a weight on me all day.  I am grieving.  

Rob chose to take Kody’s dog bed that we inherited from C.J.  It was great to catch up with him.  I called to see if he wanted it back, but he told us it was ours now.  I asked if he knew anybody who might want it, but he couldn’t think of anyone.  That’s when I texted Rob and Danielle.  Rob’s dog, Frankie, will get the use out of it next.

I should do more, but I need a day.  It’s a relaxing day, and I need it.  I am using writing to keep busy.

Back to golf…

I was one point behind when I wrote last time.  Thankfully, Eric and Grant pushed one point by tying each other on hole #16.  I struggled to a 7, but they both got double bogeys.

We came to #17, and I remembered the...

Dogs vs. RC Boats

Written on 7-5-26.

        It’s the day after our country’s big 250 year birthday celebration.  It’s 3:01 in the afternoon, and many family members have left.  James and Casey just texted to let us know they made it home.  Rob and Danielle, Char, and Kyle left close to the same time, so now we only have the Edgertons and the Frings here.  Matt, Becca, and Benny go home tomorrow, and so do we.  It was beautiful chaos, but now it’s quieter.  

I’m tired.  We stayed up until midnight last night.  We were sitting around the fire pit telling stories until the Frings came back from the fireworks show in Bayfield.  Kyle made tater tots for the diehards who stayed awake.  Eric and Amanda couldn’t make it and turned in early.  Thus, the grogginess I am feeling. 

One of the best activities this time turned out to be RC boats vs. dogs that I mentioned before.  I think the dogs won, but the firefighter boat I bought was a survivor.  Indie is really fast and has sharp teeth, so she racked up the kills faster than Paws did.  The boats with all of their damage got water-logged and slower, too.  Danielle said it wasn’t fair to encourage the dogs to chase the boats (not that it took much encouragement) and then yell at them when they would catch them.  I agree.

I compared it to King Kong grabbing biplanes out of the air and stopping them dead, although they would still roar and attempt to get away.  One quick chomp translated into a twenty minute break, inches of duct tape, or a possible prop repair.  It also included lots of laughter from all who witnessed the carnage.

Back to Kody again for a bit.  We gave James and Danielle the final inheritance money from Mom and Dad this weekend.  All of the kids got some monetary surprises this holiday.  Eric and Amanda gave each couple some fun money for their anniversary, too.  They said 35 years of marriage taught them that it’s great to go do something fun as a couple.  

We gave our kids the money, and Casey, with her special sense of humor, said later, “We can call this the ‘Kody Inheritance.’  She can have some great comments.  And, also very appropriate.

Until next time…