Zona

First, from last weeks trip home.

The reality of Tucson in July? I get into my car and it's HOT, I put on the sunglasses that were in a shady spot in the car and THEY'RE HOT. I start the car and grab the steering wheel and......YES

HOT!

The Mexican food I had from two usually solid sources, wasn't as good as it should have been.

KLPX plays the same songs all the time so it's like I never left. TIME WARP!

I can't remember last time I was in a pool.

Driving home through Phoenix I spot a dude driving a two seater BMW. WITH THE TOP DOWN!!

Dude, 99% of the people seeing you think.....wait....KNOW you're an idiot for creating a 70 MPH, 100 degree wind in your hair. The 1% who like it consists of one 55 year-old woman driving a '72 Maverick.

There is no second

I have been eating food from this place since I was in grade school. Gimme a "Pop Shrimp" and I'm a happy man. That's 11 butterflied and breaded shrimp, fries, and garlic toast. Great spicy sauce too. Lucky Wishbone has been operating in Tucson since 1955. This location is less than a mile from the house.

I've been getting my hair cut here since I was 6 years old. Back then it was called the 11 Chair Barber Shop. Now it's called Bhudda's. The decor and staff have changed a bit but it's basically the same shop. I let my hair go just a bit long when I'm going home so I can get it cut here.

This evening just after the sun went down I stared into the darkening sky and it took me back 5 years ago when I looked at the evening sky knowing my father was gone.

A calm stillness and a feeling of great loss.

I learned the game of golf on this course. My father and I liked to hit as soon as we could see down the fairway. We stopped playing the course because the staff were such jerks. Then a while ago I read an article in Golf Magazine about the 5 courses "you have to play before you die". The first four were world class courses and the fifth was "the course you grew up on". So I put my anger aside and made a tee time for 5:38AM. It was nice to see an old friend again. I had a nice round and left the old hard feelings behind.

The last course my father and I played together just days before his death. This week marks five years. I play the course whenever I'm in town. This last week I played the first course we played together and this course.

It's hard to believe it's been five years.

I hurt my blog's feelings.

I forgot to mention that the 27th was the blogs 4th anniversary. It'll get over it.

In two days I leave for Tucson. Mom says it's 110 in the shade and I have two tee times set up for the 3rd and the 4th. On the 3rd I'm playing the course I learned the game on, Randolph. It's been a very long time since I played Randolph because the people there are jerks. It's a municipal (city owned) course and many locals complain about the munis, leaving the city scratching it's head. I read a piece in a golf magazine awhile ago called "the five courses you have to play before you die" or something like that. The first four were world famous courses and the fifth was "the course you grew up playing". Well for me, that's Randolph. I've decided that this trip to Tucson will be all about reminiscing and reconciliation so on Friday the 3rd at 5:38AM I will tee it up at Randolph.

Saturday the 4th at 7:10 I will tee it up at Canoa Hills in Green Valley. This is to remember Dad. July 6th, 2004 was the last time we played together and it was at Canoa Hills.

Robert and I went to the drag races last night. They had some IHRA top fuel dragsters and funny cars. I hadn't been to the drags since I was in high school. What a thrill! Robert and I are now planning a trip to Vegas next April for the NHRA event.

I was disappointed that there were no complete side by side races because one of the cars always had some kinda trouble. This dragster was the highlight of the night. I had forgotten how you could feel your rib cage vibrate when these things ran.