And he said some day I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dying
Like tommorrow was a gift
And you’ve got eternity to think about
What you’d do with it
What did you do with it
What did I do with it
What would I do with it
I went sky divin
I went rocky mountain climbing
I went two point seven seconds
On a bull named Fu Man Chu
And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter
And I watched an eagle as it was flying
And he said one day I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dying
Tim McGraw
Labor Day Weekend is our weekend to journey back into the depths of the Grand Canyon for another epic trip. Just a year ago, Carolyn and I journeyed to the Canyon on an overnight hike and breakfast trip to Phantom Ranch. This year, Jordyn has decided to join us on our adventure. As most of you probably know, Carolyn is the planner and she has everything laid out for our trip, from eats, to clothes, to hiking poles, and reservations for breakfast at Phantom Ranch. Me, not so much. I’m an on the edge type who waits to the last minute to pack and prepare so it adds to the anxiety of the trip.
We head out and of course, I have forgotten several things that I remember and we only have to return to our house twice before we actually get out on the road. The good news is we aren’t out of town when I recall what I have forgotten but I take a few hits from Jordyn and Carolyn on my ADD status of not being prepared. I attempt to convince them that it is a disability that not only leaves them frustrated but I’m frustrated that it sometimes overwhelms me, but that is for another day.
As we head towards Flagstaff, the frustration with me becomes more apparent as we get stuck behind a slow-moving RV. For miles we travel at the high rate of about 40 mph and the conversation goes something like, “Dad or Tim, (depending on who is talking) if only you had been ready to go, blah, blah, blah, we wouldn’t have got stuck behind this RV.” My continuing response is “oh well, we’ll be ok, or who knows maybe it is simply fate and that might be good.”
We arrive in Flagstaff and head to Smashburger. I like this place and this time they have added a Sin City Burger that is fantastic. You know, bacon, onion rings, cheese, special sauce, good stuff. We order to go since we are in a “hurry”. (But we change our mind–Jordyn and Carolyn this is since I have convinced them we have plenty of time) Add some fries and a large dark roasted Dunkin Donuts coffee with coconut and it is a fantastic meal.
It has rained off on and out during our trip and it breaks loose while eating. I mean it really rains. Temperature drops into the 50’s and it is cold and it is pouring. This leads to gloomy talk as we hit the road again. It rains most of the way to the Canyon and we arrive around 10:00 and the skies have cleared. It is an incredible sky, clear and starry. Despite my ADD moments in Payson, we have arrived safely and in plenty of time. Due to our arrival time, we actually find a place to park right next to the trailhead. So my ADD has quite possibly come in handy and we could not have found a better place to park. It is the time to check conditions and begin our preparation for a trip that surely we won’t ever forget.
The plan has now moved us to heading down the Bright Angel trail around 11:45. There is only one thing left to do, and that is to go and grab a Grand Canyon brew from Bright Angel Lodge. La
st year I broke the tradition and had a Deschutes and it didn’t go so well on the way down so I don’t want to mess with what has worked before and since Jordyn has turned 21, she agrees to join me. Carolyn, not going to happen but she does come and sit with us. They don’t have Starry Night Stout on tap so we split an American Pilsner. Bartender was not very good and not very friendly but oh well we can overcome attitude and tonight some altitude.
Last minute checkups and photo ops that go awry and we get on the trail around 11:50. Yes, our one camera breaks while taking photos at the top.
It is stunning to start down the Canyon with only our headlamps on and our camelback type of backpacks loaded with water and Carolyn’s carefully prepared munchies. It is quiet and the feeling of being all alone in this massive place is indescribable. This is some kind of wonderful. We always manage to find some scorpions and tonight does not disappoint except they are only the small ones. The clouds start to roll in and the wind begins to roar as we head down. We roll into Indian Gardens and finally see a human laying on a bench sound asleep. We rest up and continue down. The wind continues to blow dust, clouds block out the stars, we do not cross a single person on the trail. I’m feeling good (Must be the Grand Canyon beer tradition) and as we head down the corkscrew area, Jordyn is in the lead. Her headlamp catches a snake as we round a corner. I’m no fan of snakes but it is drawn towards our lights. Long and skinny and we avoid it at all costs including Jordyn doing some impromptu rock climbing. This is actually the first snake I have encountered on our trips and the first time I have never encountered any animals. I’m guessing it was the wind but it very unusual.
We finally get to the Colorado River crossing and the sky is completely dark. It is an eerie feeling crossing the river at night on the metal bridge with the water roaring and not being able to see much. We bypass the campground area and arrive at Phantom Ranch lodge around 3:30. We now have an hour and a half before breakfast so nap time is the right time for me. Arriving safe and sound is always a blessing since night hiking is a bit tricky trying to avoid loose rocks and injuring an ankle. That is the danger but we manage to make it without incident.
As I lay my head down for some shut eye, I’m thinking that I’m glad to be living like I’m dying. The Tim McGraw song reminds me that life is short and I do what I do because I want to live life like I’m dying. Just the chance to enjoy this trip with Jordyn and Carolyn speaks to my heart. Life is good and I’m enjoying the things in life before life is no longer.
Sweet dreams of breakfast enter my head as sleep comes in the Canyon. Living the dream continues.
t overwhelming since there is no way you can have them all. But every place has some that are memorable. The first standout for me is the Pumpkin Ale from 
to the Costco on Elliott. They had a new brew the Koffee Kolsch. It is a seasonal and it is fabulous. If you like coffee, this one is a real winner in a lighter brew. To make things better, an old hangout that Chuck Hardt introduced me to in the early 80’s: the 
e eat up and head out to the beach f
or a nice sunset and listening to the ocean. It is awesome. The weather is fabulous and we get to hang out on the pier for awhile before we catch another Uber back to the hotels. Taylor Swift just so happens to be in town rocking the Petco Park so it is a lively evening with fireworks and people everywhere.
rds Coron
ado Bridge, and I am exhilarated. I pass by a 5k run that is in progress and I sure wish I had known. That would have been a great run to participate in but I missed out. Four miles later, and I’m ready for breakfast. Jordyn has mapped out our breakfast spot in the Gaslamp District so we head off to 
ck down the mountain after about 20 minutes. Going down is much worse on me then going up. We are the ones who get passed as I am slowing us down. We hear thunder in the distance but it seems to be staying in the distance. Both Jordyn and I have slippage issues (you know like slip and fall down stuff) and I end up with multiple pains. My hip is really on fire from the pounding going down and I twist an ankle which hurts my left leg and I’m pained and still have a long ways to go. I struggle on down and the rain comes but no thunderstorm. I’m just about as beat up as I can be but I am exhilarated as we roll on down to the beginning. I have done this. As I travel on the road That You have lead me down You are here with me Yes, You are here with me I have need for nothing more Oh, now that I have found That You are here with me
ave accepted the challenge and for Father’s Day, this is most appropriate. I hope to have raised the standard and so far so good. As Caitlin told me about Bryan when she started dating him, “Dad you will like him. He’s a lot like you”. That really sobers you up quickly.
I can actually remember the moment you were conceived. I know that might sound weird but I can pinpoint the time because I just knew something special had occurred. Your mother and I had discussed children and thought we were ‘mature’ enough to have and raise a child so it was a natural progression in our life. Words came down from above and told me that I was going to be a dad. I just knew…….
n easy dad, but you know that I loved you more than life. You were and always will be my pride and joy. Your abilities in so many areas were simply amazing.
I can never forget the excitement you had when Mom and I told you we were expecting another child. Oh my, you were all excited about becoming a big sister. And along came Jordyn and what a great big sister you were and are. You were such a natural. You were so protective of your sister and grew up very comfortable with children. You had all these instinctive motherly attributes that I can see why you were such a sought after child sitter. You had the touch.
no immediate access to find Bruce in my stash at home. Well I get home and bring Bruce out of his storage bin (a coming out story of another kind) and find that he is in great condition with running clothes on. I look up on eBay and I discovered that this thing was selling like a hotcake and some were getting 100+ for an item that you could barely give away. Monday morning I had Bruce up and running and anyhow he ended up selling for $43.00. That window closed rapidly as many people put Bruce up for sale and all of a sudden the supply surged past the demand and his price on eBay has dropped like a rock. Some are still asking prices of $2,500 but the sales just don’t add up to asking price. 
I have sold a Lamborghini and a Corvette on eBay, items I couldn’t sell at my last yard sale about 5 years ago. These actually brought in some cash but my advertising related soft bean bag items 
didn’t bring in much more then 
99 cents. I have sold items to Russia, Canada, and Nicaragua. So it has all been fun and my stuff has been reduced. That makes it all worth while even though the time and effort seems futile at times. I even sent a Winnie the Pooh with a diploma overnight to New Jersey 
so they could have Winnie for a college graduation party. USPS got it there in one day on time and the lady was ecstatic and her shipping was only around 20 bucks for an item that she paid 7 bucks for. It is a beautiful thing to be able to meet those needs in a timely manner. It gets addictive. My soon to be son in law Bryan and I might have lunch or a drink but believe you me, we are checking our eBay apps on our phone. Bryan can tell you, there really is no rhyme or reason on why something sells. Over a bourbon, he decides to re-list things for a buy it now price and one after the other sell while we just sit back and laugh since he couldn’t get rid of some things at a 99 cent beginning price but by golly put a buy it now at 4.99 and bam sold!
timfruth 