Have you ever walked away after spending some time with people and think, “Man, they are just really GOOD people”? Like they are the people that feed your soul. You smile because you have the fortune of knowing them. They set an example for you and your kids on how a person should treat others. They want you to be better, do more, love harder. Lucky for us, we had two amazing groups of folks we spent time with during our week in Arizona, and we are even more privileged to call them family.
Ryan’s biological father passed away from an undiagnosed heart condition that provoked a heart attack at 30 years old, and about a week before Ryan was born. I met Jason when Ryan was just shy of two years old, and he has been the only father Ryan knows. Jason stepped in and stepped up to fill some very big shoes, and he has done it with grace, perseverance, compassion, and a whole lot of love. Ryan’s biological dad (also Ryan) is spoken of often and stories are told, especially when Ryan does something exactly like his Dad Ryan would. Because absolutely no one in my family, nor Ryan Sr.’s family asked for this, we’re all trudging through life together, making it up as we go. Special events, holidays, and birthdays are recognized. Gifts, texts, emails, and visits remain a part of all our lives so we stay close and remain a family for little Ryan. Also, the Bowe family are GOOD people. Why wouldn’t we want to keep them in our family? Larry and Kelly Bowe (Ryan Sr.’s dad and stepmom) are no exception. They are on the top of the list when it comes to good-hearted, kind, cheerleading people. Grandpa Larry and Nana Kelly have continued to love on me like their own daughter, despite their own grief in losing a son. They continue to keep in touch, visit, and send thoughtful cards or notes. I am proud to know them and strive to be as giving and loving as they are to my own kids and future grandkids. We had the absolute delight in seeing Grandpa and Nana while in Arizona. They have recently moved to the area and are currently awaiting their house to be built. They gave us a tour of the model home first, then we were able to walk through the progress of their own home. As we walked through the home, they pointed out where we would be staying when we visit, as if it were a no brainer – we were welcome there. Always and anytime. Just GOOD people, right?
After the home tours, we headed to the neighborhood’s community swimming pool and had lunch. The boys, because swimming is life, took a dip in the pool before and after eating. While the boys swam and showed us all their trick moves, Kelly and I had wonderful conversation about life. About getting older, our fears and worries for our parents, what’s next for us on the road, remodeling, interior decorating, and keeping family close. Kelly is a kindred spirit, and I find myself talking and crying with her as easily as a lifelong friend. I’m so thankful for her.
Upon leaving our time with the Bowe’s, we agreed we would see them again while in Arizona. So, a couple days later, we met back up with them at the Goldfield Ghost Town. The place used to be a mining town but was deserted when the gold dried up. Then the town actually burned down, but a local resident spent years rebuilding the town until is what we see today. What a fun spot to go! Highly recommend. There are tourist shops full of trinkets and who’s-a-what’s-its, an old-fashioned candy and ice cream shop, a saloon where we ate lunch,
a train ride that makes a full circle around the town, tours down into the mine, and the crowd favorite for our group: the snake and reptile room (yuck). I walked two steps into the room, saw the 90lb python, and promptly took five steps right back on out of there. To say I have a fear of snakes is an understatement. Every iota of my being rebels the thought or any physical proximity to one of those slithering satans. Of course, with every shiver of fear I have, there’s a squeal of excitement from one of the boys. The boys were in serpentine heaven. I believe the lady said there was something like 35 different species of snakes in Arizona, and probably over 20 of them were in that room.
Yep, I’ll wait right here next to the exit, boys. No, I will not come get a closer look. Oh, the snake is poking the glass with it’s nose? Neat, I’ll take your word for it. This snake is non-venomous and totally safe you say, shopkeeper? Not buying it, nor do I want to know which one would make the best pet for my son. Not happening. There would be no remorse if we never did another snake room as long as we are on this trip. Or any trip. Or ever.
After our lunch in the mining town’s saloon, we got our pictures and said our goodbyes (for now). We all know we will see each other again. Larry and Kelly have made it clear they will join us on our catamaran as soon as we send them our location. And I know they will always be two people I want in our lives. They are family, and there’s always time for family.
The Gentner family were top-notch hosts to us for the full week we camped out on their curb and on their floors. The second half of our week with them was no less busy than the first half. I took it all in and loved my time with them. Stephanie and I were friends as kids, and now we have kids that are friends, too. Makes my heart burst. Secretly, Steph and I are totally plotting for Ryan, my oldest, and Maddie, Steph’s youngest, to marry and live happily ever after. But we’re going to need to play it a lot cooler than we did this last week. We were far too obvious about our giggles and “Aww’s” when one of them would do something that we knew the other would absolutely adore. There’s going to need to be more happenstance meetings in the next 15 years if we’re going to make this work. But Steph and I understand the assignment and are up for the challenge.
Movie nights became a tradition at the Gentner home. One giant family lounging around the TV to unwind for the night after another awesome home-cooked meal by the Gentner patriarch, Justin. I miss the food already. I was able to see, hug, and catch up with my entire Gentner/Steelman childhood family while in Arizona. Steph’s parents, Pat and Jim, opened their home and pool to us so we can visit. Jimmy, the little brother that drove me nuts, but secretly enjoyed the pestering, stopped by a couple times to say hello, and fill me in on his crazy life lived so far. And then little miss Britney. Steph’s little sister.
She was my little sister growing up, too. But now she’s grown, married, and with four kids of her own. Britney’s become one of my closest friends over the last few years and I’m so thankful for her sharing life with me. That girl loaded up her four kids (2,4, 6, and 14) and drove 30 minutes just to come have dinner and see my family. GOOD people. That whole family is GOOD people.
To end our time in Arizona, we went to Stephanie’s oldest daughter’s cross-country meet. Witty signs
in hand, we were Ryndi’s loudest, biggest fans. It was so fun to see her run and excel in the sport. Steph named her daughter, Ryndi, after me. I’ll never forget when Steph was pregnant, and I asked if she had any name ideas yet. Steph paused a minute and said, “If it’s ok with you, I was thinking Ryndi, if it’s a girl. Same spelling and everything.” I was floored. How amazingly cool is that? I can count on one finger how many
people I know that named their daughter after their best friend whose name is pronounced completely different than how it’s spelled. Me. I’m that one. This past week was certainly the first time I ever had to ask, “which one?” when I heard my name. It was also the first time there was someone I could commiserate with about what on earth our mothers were thinking when they spelled our name “Ryndi” but expected people to pronounce it “Randi”. It was awesome.
We said our goodbyes at the cross country meet and headed down the road in Wanda the Winnebago. Jason drove us about four hours down the road to Benson, Arizona’s Kampground of America (KOA).
Without hesitation, all five of us agreed that we will NEVER stay at that KOA again. The place seemed nice enough – full hook-ups were very enticing and appreciated. But that’s about where the enjoyment stopped. The pool was under construction (read: dirt hole in the ground), the RV parking spots were a very tight fit, and the advertised putt-putt golf was dilapidated at best. Even with those disappointments, the RV park wouldn’t be so bad and completely manageable. Boys are fairly easy to impress, and quite enjoyed the 1970’s era playground equipment that was there, and having full hook ups makes it easy to forgive a lot of the petty issues with the park. But! What was unforgiveable, unacceptable, and utterly impossible to deal with was the weeds that smothered the entire site. We’re from Eastern Oregon and are quite familiar with the painful experience of stepping on a goathead plant. Those little suckers are worse than stepping on a thousand Legos on your way to the bathroom at 2am. This KOA had more than their share of goatheads, but that wasn’t even the worst of it. Imagine a goathead vine that trails across the ground, budding those horrid spike balls that you’re destined to step on. Now,
imagine that vine of thorn balls growing at the top of very long grass blades. Yep, this KOA was growing goathead wheat grass straight from the Devil himself. These little burrs stuck to shoes, flipflops, socks, skin, paws, fur, EVERYTHING. And if they’re stuck to you, that means they’re coming in the RV. It was miserable. No one wanted to go outside. We had to coax our dog, Sage, to go outside just long enough to do her business, then come back in. Even with that quick trip outside, we were painstakingly picking spikes, burrs, and goatheads out of her paws. Poor pup. Needless to say, we did not spend any time outside of the RV while we were in the park. We did, however, go on a superb hike through the Kartchner Cavern State Park. Cord, after visiting that dreadful snake room, was on the lookout in hopes of seeing a rattlesnake along the way. Much to his chagrin (and my relief), we did not see any snakes. But the hike itself was beautiful and a much-needed breath of fresh air out adventuring.
One advantage of that spikeballs-of-doom-covered RV park was that it was close to a Safeway, Ace Hardware, and Walmart. We were able to get stocked up on our food and supplies for our next stop on our journey to a family wedding in Alabama: Las Cruces, New Mexico. That’s where we are now – another KOA in Las Cruces, NM. As soon as we arrived here, the boys took big dog Sage for a walk around the park to explore. They arrived back at Wanda to report that this place is “a million times better than the last one”. There’s a pool AND a playground. Also, we can all walk around this place without stabbing balls of fury biting at our feet and ankles. For that reason alone, Sage is probably most grateful for the new location. We have two nights here, then off again for the next leg of the trip. For the full day that we are here today, we’re planning another hike through White Sands National Park. If the wind lets up a bit, the National Park promises to be worth the trip. This KOA even lends out sand sleds that Jason picked up this morning because the Park offers up some awesome hills for us to race down. Should be fun, and potentially terrifying, to watch.
So here’s to the GOOD people in our lives, surviving snake rooms, and riding sleds in the desert.
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