How it started; how it's going

Let me always appreciate the magic of having a week of spring break as an adult.  It's guaranteed.  It's baked into the cake.  I get this every year I work in schools, so that makes this my 22nd paid spring break as an adult.  It's very cool.  

And because it's been a few decades, I sometimes think way back to how it all started out.  I was teaching a remedial reading class at Thomas Jefferson High School my first year.  It was the 2001-2002 school year.  That summer was a big deal, too, because my paycheck (while not particularly large) kept coming while I was off for the summer.  Sprinkle in a few shifts working at a steakhouse down the road, and I had myself a nice travel budget.  I went on as many trips as I could possibly fund that summer, staying with friends when I could, and driving when it was a reasonable and cheap alternative to flying.  

One of my destinations was my friend Mandy's house.  She lived in Arizona- I'm being vague, because I can't remember if it was Phoenix or Scottsdale.  I stayed at her house, and we rented a convertible to drive to the Grand Canyon.  No, we did not intend to "Thelma and Louise" into the abyss, but it was a pretty day, and convertibles are cool.  

That was the first and only time I have seen the Grand Canyon, and we did what most folks do- we stood at the precipice and took photos.  We were at the South Rim for a few hours, then we went back to her neck of the woods for dinner.  

It was amazing, and I can't wait to get back there with Cas.  We're heading there this week, packing our hiking boots and spending a few nights in a lodge.  For extra fun, we're taking a train from Williams to the South Rim.  I am so excited to go, and I am ready to get started.  We take off early Monday morning and get home late Friday night.  This weekend, we check weather reports and pack bags.  

In the meantime, here is 27-year-old me, standing near the half-wall in a photo that lots of people think is Photoshopped.  I can't blame them for thinking it- it's a great picture, and I did teach kids how to use Photoshop for a pretty long time...  

So, that's the plan.  We go, we see, and we take a gozillion amazing photos.  It should be an epic adventure during the magic that is paid spring break for adults.  All in all, a pretty good life, if you ask me.  Next time we chat, it will be a time zone away!  See you then.