Shores of Lake Kegonsa Between the time "Story- What's Yours?" was written, and today, for some reason got to thinking about the island of Japan. what drove the thought was its size. more specifically what if we were Japanese and decided to travel around the island and in similar fashion to the current situation in front of our windshield? Well consider the area of Japan is just slightly smaller than that of the state of Montana. That means our "adventure" would be exceptionally short comparatively speaking and we would be back at home, in our beds, before the World Series is complete..... just thinking out loud [chuckle]
Last we I left I had just finished dropping Summer off with the Ahlman's and headed back to the hotel for the day getting started for the girls. specifically Tiff, Franki. Mena, Sarah, Charlie (Chuck) and Kennedy (Chewey) nails, hairs, dresses etc. While Q, Evan, Brad and I chilled at the hotel. The wedding was to start at 3:00pm on the shoreline of Lake Kegonsa and the Kegonsa Country Club. Beautiful place and tremendously beautiful setup. One item very noticeable was the sun but also the "wind" out of the north (there that wind is again) and the temps?.... around 50 degrees not including the added chill. Chilly chilly chilly. And yes the wedding was outside under heavy shade from the trees. It was scarf weather! The week prior...80 degrees. Ouch.
Nonetheless the setting was beautiful. All those in attendance were sat and waiting on the bride to be. The younger attendants all came down first. Simply precious. my daughters and nieces..all 5 of them and deciding otherwise to wear their shawls. To see them fight through the weather, lips turning blue. clutched fists, eyes of inquiry to mom 'can I please sit down...' from a couple of them but man did they "girl-up" and fight through all 40 or so minutes. As did my sister the bride. She was so stoic and beautiful. It was really a captivating service; thought about more clearly once we were all thawed out by the fire post-vows. Dinner ensued and the normal accoutrement- pre-beverages, family pics (back outside mind you), dinner, dessert, dancing. To see all the ferchos, millers and New' Schmits' at one party was an exceptional.
For us the evening was a decently early one. We were quite a few miles from the hotel and had an early and busy day ahead of us. We needed to get back on the road heading to chicago. Q and I actually did sleep in the hotel which was kind of nice. The plan was for me to get up early and relieve the sitters of our pooch though not as early as when I dropped her off the morning before; having been 7:45am. So I hit the road to get there by 8:30am. none of the family desired to rise and shine to go with me. I was a bit disappointed because I really wanted the entire family to meet the Ahlmans.
I get to their home about 25 minutes later and no one but no one is up...just buddy the dog and all he did was stair at me through the window. No barking. Amazing. And guess what...Scott's phone was going directly to voice mail and low and behold their home also did not incorporate a door bell! how nice. Kind of like phones use to be without call waiting; a busy signal. "you'll just have to call back. Well that is essentially what I had to do having no other way to notify them I was in fact at their front door. Quite honestly it was the best thing that could have happened. Now I would be able to go back to hotel and when ready bring with me the entire family and the RV.
So we said all our goodbyes and got on the road once again back to the Ahlmans.
The kids and wife were in awe of the drive and certainly the drive up to their home. I believe we arrived at 11:30am or so. The plan was to meet, chat and then hit the road to chicago, only about a 2 hour drive, nice. It ended up we were there until almost 4pm! and oh what a time we had.
Their kids and ours were seen very little upon arrival and after first introductions. Girls went four-wheeling, Max showed Q how to play lacrosse, then they all switched activities, boys flying drones, 4-wheeling around the 20 acres, doing art work what have you. They had an absolute blast ...all of them. Tiff and I had no less a great time learning more about our new friends Angela and Scott. Truly neat neat people.
Through all of my years I have rarely met an individual who has said they knew, instinctually, from a very young age, who and what they wanted to be when they grew up. See Scott is a race car designer-engineer. A race car designer! he works for the likes of Indy Car, Nascar, Mr. Andretti himself, Rousch Racing. you name it he knows them and they know him. He highlights on numerous occasions the long work hours but summed it up profoundly how time passes quickly not feeling as if its "work". For him it was his dream and thus more fun than work. Pretty darn cool. At one point Scott and I were on the deck, over-looking their huge meadow, when we see Tiff and Angela walking the dogs down at the edge of the property 300-400 yards away. I can't tell you enough how at home we felt with the Ahlmans and in such a short period of time. It was certainly destined for us to meet them.
Next thing you know the gals are back and Angela asks of if we would like to stay for lunch. But of Course! I had honey bunches of oats it seems just the other evening. hahah. Lunch was wonderful and after, the tour of their home and having Scott talk through the intricacies and thoughts that went into the design were amazing. Scott and Angela actually both architected and engineered their own home-makes sense-their background and discipline).Further story and conversations ensued. Simply icing on the cake for the close-out of our week. I thought about this later....they actually missed the start of their beloved Packers game for our 'intrustion'! Sure they were taping it but....
It was now around 3:00 o'clock roughly 3.5 hours from our arrival time. Man time moved so quickly. Like we were destined to meet these amazing people and not stress ourselves with future destinations. Then Q jumps into the house "hey dad we got the drone stuck in a tree and its way up there!". Scott and I head outside and yup it was much too high to climb. We would chalk this up as a lost drone. Maybe it would come down some day. Then received a call from the camp ground in Marengo, Il. "Hey when were you planning to show-up today? The offices close at 4:00pm!". well there was no way we would make it but oh well. We did get the number of our temporary sight so we would get there when we get there.
It was still however a sad clarion call that we had to get going. Needed to say our good-byes and "hope to see you guys again". Count on it Scott, Angela, Mattie, Max and Buddy! Count on it. What an awesome wind that blew us in their direction. Couldn't have happened sitting home in KC.
We make the camp-ground at 5:30, setup, and get ready of the start of our new week. Week number 2.
I think I will stick to driving around our country--if it were Japan the 'story' would have ended to soon. At times I have wished we were only traveling a border just smaller than the size of Montana.... the winds of change still working on me i guess you would day. BTW Scott emailed the next day and the drone and fallen out of the tree...but still could not be located. someday...someday.
Last we I left I had just finished dropping Summer off with the Ahlman's and headed back to the hotel for the day getting started for the girls. specifically Tiff, Franki. Mena, Sarah, Charlie (Chuck) and Kennedy (Chewey) nails, hairs, dresses etc. While Q, Evan, Brad and I chilled at the hotel. The wedding was to start at 3:00pm on the shoreline of Lake Kegonsa and the Kegonsa Country Club. Beautiful place and tremendously beautiful setup. One item very noticeable was the sun but also the "wind" out of the north (there that wind is again) and the temps?.... around 50 degrees not including the added chill. Chilly chilly chilly. And yes the wedding was outside under heavy shade from the trees. It was scarf weather! The week prior...80 degrees. Ouch.
Nonetheless the setting was beautiful. All those in attendance were sat and waiting on the bride to be. The younger attendants all came down first. Simply precious. my daughters and nieces..all 5 of them and deciding otherwise to wear their shawls. To see them fight through the weather, lips turning blue. clutched fists, eyes of inquiry to mom 'can I please sit down...' from a couple of them but man did they "girl-up" and fight through all 40 or so minutes. As did my sister the bride. She was so stoic and beautiful. It was really a captivating service; thought about more clearly once we were all thawed out by the fire post-vows. Dinner ensued and the normal accoutrement- pre-beverages, family pics (back outside mind you), dinner, dessert, dancing. To see all the ferchos, millers and New' Schmits' at one party was an exceptional.
For us the evening was a decently early one. We were quite a few miles from the hotel and had an early and busy day ahead of us. We needed to get back on the road heading to chicago. Q and I actually did sleep in the hotel which was kind of nice. The plan was for me to get up early and relieve the sitters of our pooch though not as early as when I dropped her off the morning before; having been 7:45am. So I hit the road to get there by 8:30am. none of the family desired to rise and shine to go with me. I was a bit disappointed because I really wanted the entire family to meet the Ahlmans.
I get to their home about 25 minutes later and no one but no one is up...just buddy the dog and all he did was stair at me through the window. No barking. Amazing. And guess what...Scott's phone was going directly to voice mail and low and behold their home also did not incorporate a door bell! how nice. Kind of like phones use to be without call waiting; a busy signal. "you'll just have to call back. Well that is essentially what I had to do having no other way to notify them I was in fact at their front door. Quite honestly it was the best thing that could have happened. Now I would be able to go back to hotel and when ready bring with me the entire family and the RV.
So we said all our goodbyes and got on the road once again back to the Ahlmans.
The kids and wife were in awe of the drive and certainly the drive up to their home. I believe we arrived at 11:30am or so. The plan was to meet, chat and then hit the road to chicago, only about a 2 hour drive, nice. It ended up we were there until almost 4pm! and oh what a time we had.
Their kids and ours were seen very little upon arrival and after first introductions. Girls went four-wheeling, Max showed Q how to play lacrosse, then they all switched activities, boys flying drones, 4-wheeling around the 20 acres, doing art work what have you. They had an absolute blast ...all of them. Tiff and I had no less a great time learning more about our new friends Angela and Scott. Truly neat neat people.
Through all of my years I have rarely met an individual who has said they knew, instinctually, from a very young age, who and what they wanted to be when they grew up. See Scott is a race car designer-engineer. A race car designer! he works for the likes of Indy Car, Nascar, Mr. Andretti himself, Rousch Racing. you name it he knows them and they know him. He highlights on numerous occasions the long work hours but summed it up profoundly how time passes quickly not feeling as if its "work". For him it was his dream and thus more fun than work. Pretty darn cool. At one point Scott and I were on the deck, over-looking their huge meadow, when we see Tiff and Angela walking the dogs down at the edge of the property 300-400 yards away. I can't tell you enough how at home we felt with the Ahlmans and in such a short period of time. It was certainly destined for us to meet them.
Next thing you know the gals are back and Angela asks of if we would like to stay for lunch. But of Course! I had honey bunches of oats it seems just the other evening. hahah. Lunch was wonderful and after, the tour of their home and having Scott talk through the intricacies and thoughts that went into the design were amazing. Scott and Angela actually both architected and engineered their own home-makes sense-their background and discipline).Further story and conversations ensued. Simply icing on the cake for the close-out of our week. I thought about this later....they actually missed the start of their beloved Packers game for our 'intrustion'! Sure they were taping it but....
It was now around 3:00 o'clock roughly 3.5 hours from our arrival time. Man time moved so quickly. Like we were destined to meet these amazing people and not stress ourselves with future destinations. Then Q jumps into the house "hey dad we got the drone stuck in a tree and its way up there!". Scott and I head outside and yup it was much too high to climb. We would chalk this up as a lost drone. Maybe it would come down some day. Then received a call from the camp ground in Marengo, Il. "Hey when were you planning to show-up today? The offices close at 4:00pm!". well there was no way we would make it but oh well. We did get the number of our temporary sight so we would get there when we get there.
It was still however a sad clarion call that we had to get going. Needed to say our good-byes and "hope to see you guys again". Count on it Scott, Angela, Mattie, Max and Buddy! Count on it. What an awesome wind that blew us in their direction. Couldn't have happened sitting home in KC.
We make the camp-ground at 5:30, setup, and get ready of the start of our new week. Week number 2.
I think I will stick to driving around our country--if it were Japan the 'story' would have ended to soon. At times I have wished we were only traveling a border just smaller than the size of Montana.... the winds of change still working on me i guess you would day. BTW Scott emailed the next day and the drone and fallen out of the tree...but still could not be located. someday...someday.
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