Shiza, I can’t believe Solstice just passed! This summer is flying!
I have wanted to put my fingers on the keyboard; however, the Bright Orange Ball AKA BOB AKA Sun has been out calling for me.
I started June by catching up with a longtime and newer friend. We enjoyed a great meal at AJ’s (I had an incredible Copper River Red salmon; they now have an on-staff baker, and she made a badass tort!). After dinner, we went to an overwatch point at the entrance to Homer Harbor and flew kites at midnight. Gotta love Alaska!
The next day I was heading to Seward with a good friend to go ziplining with Stoney Creek Canopy Adventures. It was an absolute blast! A super good team from Stoney Creek (one led/other followed as last on the station) took us through eight zipline legs, a couple of rappels, and some bridges of friendship or doom if you hang out with me. I want to go back one more time this season!
A few days later, I had even more fun hanging out with my grandkids and getting in some Papa Joel time. We rode bikes, played at various playgrounds, visited various lakes, etc. There is minimal downtime when Papa Joel is around! Admittedly, I’m as smoked if not more smoked than the kiddos each day!
I get it now regarding Granny and Grandpa. All their trips each summer to Canada with us grandkids. Grandpa prized his lawn, trees, and home and loved his garden. I got hooked on digging holes at a very young age. I found digging the holes miraculous and loved seeing the different soil layers. Grandpa always saved me a section in his garden for me to dig holes.
There are so many unique experiences that I get to have with my grandkids that I never had with my kids. I was working my ass off throughout my kids’ lives. I preached “Importance vs. Urgent” but did a poor job of following it. There is nothing I can do about it other than enjoy every moment I get with my kids or grandkids.
Being retired, having a healthier mind/body/spirit, and being much happier have all made my experiences and interactions with my grandkids so much more amazing!
One of the best parts of the visit was sharing the gift of experiencing fishing. I did a first-in-a-lifetime event, I hired a guide. A guide service has always been cost prohibitive for me in the past. I also had a boat in the past, so the need to hire was more of a luxury, whereas now, my options are limited. I’m beyond stoked that I went with a guide service.
Kiddos and I were playing at Nancy Lake, and I kept watching a boat with its bow gently beached, a guy working on the boat, and a guide sticker. I finally couldn’t take it any longer and asked him if he was guiding. He said yes, and to me, it was a meant-to-be event, and the next day kiddos and myself were out fishing! The gentleman I spoke with is Ben, the owner of Miller’s Riverboat Service.
Ben has the same enthusiasm Granny and Grandpa had for youth fishing and I was stoked! The following day we went with Ryan (a rockstar guide for Ben), a phenomenal person in junior fishing. Ryan made the experience beyond exceptional. I could focus on the kiddos that day, sat back, and loved every minute! Thank you Granny and Grandpa for being such awesome grandparents!
Lastly is that, tattoo season started two Tuesdays ago. We started on my back with a light outline and just a few days ago, Rachel added in my lower section and started working on my mid-section. I must admit that getting the back tattooed is an entirely different game than my sleeves or shoulder caps.
The best part about tattoo season? Needle therapy! Not only do I get peace from my chronic pain when I’m getting inked, but I also work hard on breath work and disassociating the pain, which helps me in daily life.
I hope you’re enjoying summer!
Looking forward to seeing you on the road, creekside with me, or camping near me. Thanks for joining me on my adventures!
Joel
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