Behold the power of Grandma...

We had our annual (OK, more like sometimes-annual) visit to my parents. The boys needed their yearly spoiled-by-grand-parents visit so I scheduled it to overlap the weekend of my 35 year class reunion. Out visit was short, sweet, and memorable.

As I get older, more grizzly, and tempered by life I find these visits more important. We all need to connect, maintain connections to family. My kids don't live near their grandparents, it can be difficult to get them to see, connect, and (hopefully) love the people they don't see. Those people are their past, and a guide for the future. But I do reserve the right to change my mind when the kids get old enough to hear stories of my childhood...

Just like last year, we visited Turkey Run State Park. This time the suspension bridge was open, we were able to hike the other side, the one with the awesome gullies, ravines, and trails. It was here that both children learned that I'm not full of shit when I say, "crocs are not appropriate hiking shoes." But they were troopers, up and down wet, slimy, rocky trails, sliding through mud. Grandma did pretty well too.

Kids being kids, they weren't content with a just trip to Turkey Run, nor sit on the porch and talk. They needed more "fun." Back in the car we went and off to Indiana Zipline Tours. It was the first zipline experience for all of us, and it was excellent.

There was also the matter of my reunion. I have been to several, and I do see some of them through social media. But just the same, it was great to see, to talk in person. And I had some good conversation. I'm not sure if I really miss living in Danville, but I do miss many of classmates. They are a big part of my past, who I am. We all went through a common experience and are bound by it. Thankfully we seem to be a robust class, but age will soon start taking it's true toll. I was glad to be there.

And then there's the departure. It usually takes anywhere from ten to eleven hours to make the drive. We've tried the drive halfway and stay at a hotel trip, it's OK. But there's not really anything we want to stop and see. Maybe if we incorporated a visit to Chicago, but that should be it's own trip. But I digress, with the long day I like to start early and hit the road. Two years ago we traipsed out to the car and found it dead - as in the battery was a huge paperweight. Having an early departure allowed us the time to purchase a new battery, hit the road, and get home at a decent hour.

It happened again. At 7:15 AM I go out to load stuff up and find a dead car. So dead that the key fob remote wouldn't unlock the car. I knew this routine; jump start the car, let it sit and wait for the battery shop to open. And props to them. I arrived at 8 AM, tech was looking at it within minutes, and by 8:20 I was driving back to my parents. Out the door, new battery, no costs. Thanks Interstate Battery for your warranty and quick change.

I wonder, departure day 2 years apart, dead battery, is grandma up to something?

Pictures here