I’m one day late, but I was able to call my son Nathan and congratulate him on his birthday — his birthday was the 5th, but we celebrate across continents so the timing worked out. Happy birthday again, Nathan.
Expecting Meryl in McKinney
I knew that Meryl was going to try to make it to McKinney this afternoon so we could get reacquainted. I had met her a few times when she was little because her parents lived around Seattle for quite a few years before eventually moving to Denver, where they still are now. Meryl was born in the Netherlands, so she holds both American and Dutch passports. Her dad moved the family a lot for IT jobs — Nokia, Microsoft, Dish, and similar companies.
Poolside Catch-Up
Meryl let me know she’d arrive sometime in the afternoon, and she did. We had a wonderful time catching up while sitting around the pool. She’s an absolute delight to be with, and it was fun to have dinner together.
Driving Out to Abdul’s
That evening she was going to stay with Abdul, another Peace Corps volunteer who lives a little bit out of town. I opted to drive her to his place, but it turned out to be further than I expected. By the time I returned it was already dark — just the way it goes sometimes.
The Bent Step
When I turned into the hotel parking lot I came up a little short and bent one of the steps on the right side of the car. It’s nothing serious and can be fixed, but worth noting.
A Swim and a Pause
I also ended up taking a swim at the hotel. It felt good not to be on the road for a change — a small respite even though there was still a little driving involved.
Thanks for Joining Me
Very well — thanks for being along. Catch you next time.
