Travel, visiting, back home

Mama and I spent the week on the road. We traveled to Amarillo Monday, getting there just before 1 pm. On the way we met up with Chase and Makaila at a small store in Clarendon, TX. They set up in the store which sells antiques and interior decorating supplies to make their shakes and teas on Monday of every week. It helps drive business to the store and promotes their business as well. From there we drove to the sight of the class I was to teach on Wednesday in Amarillo and visited with those folks for a few minutes before dropping Mama off at Chase and Makaila’s. That timing allowed me to get to the sight in Guymon, OK (two hours out of Amarillo) before they closed for the day. The guys in Guymon were impressed that I knew the area, but I had spent many days in Guymon during my time with ConocoPhillips.

Whereas the training in Amarillo would take place in a fairly nice facility, the training in Guymon was to be done in the shop building. I have to hand it to the guys that set up the shop for the training. The tables and chairs provided were clean and ready to go. Not so much for everything else in the shop. I tried to not bring too much of the dirt from the shop with me to Amarillo, but to do so I had to wipe down my computer bag and the suitcase I used to carry the class materials in before packing them in the car to travel to Amarillo after the class.

Both classes were great classes. Several of the guys in the class in Amarillo were going through my class for the second time. Many of the attendees in both classes were going through the class for the third, forth or fifth time. It put the onus on me to deliver an interesting version of a class they had seen multiple times over the years. Fortunately, the class is repeated only every three years. Most of the material would have been forgotten in that time, but the course has remained largely unchanged in the last three years while the industry has changed around us. I incorporated those changes into the stale presentation and added a few things I am anticipating will happen within the industry in the next several years. It makes the material a little fresher to do so. Otherwise I would be a little embarrassed to present the class.

Mama and I got back to the farm about 3:30 yesterday after stopping to see the new nutrition shop in Claude, TX on our way home. Two customers came in for shakes and teas during our short visit with Chase as he worked the shake bar. Mama had several really good visits with Owen during the week. Makaila did her best to include Mama in as much as possible while she and Chase worked to keep their gym and shake shops open for business. Makaila’s family included Mama whenever possible in Owen’s daily routine. They were all very gracious to her during this visit. Owen warmed up to his Grammy pretty quickly. To Papa, not so quickly. Of course, I only saw Owen in very small slots of time over the week, but during our last visit, Wednesday evening, he played with me as if he had known me all his life. It was definitely worth Mama’s time away from the farm to refresh that contact.

Mama also spent some time with Mrs. Patrick one afternoon during Owen’s naptime. That also is rewarding in and of itself. In Heaven those bonds will be unbroken. While we are here, we must work to maintain them. the precious little effort it takes to do so often is neglected. That is a shame and Mama and I are trying to make those little extra efforts. We are not yet good at it, but we are trying. I did not get to visit Mrs. Patrick due to my work schedule, but I am thankful Mama got to go.

While Mama and I were out feeding yesterday evening I took the time to set a pallet in with the weanlings. Anything to get them off the ground. As soon as I set it down, they were all over it. They are incredibly curious critters. Very playful. They love wood and they love being off the ground. All five of the babies were crowded on the pallet at one time when I first put it in place. Then they began knocking each other off the pallet. It is always fun to watch. Today, they will be able to enjoy it for a full day. With the ground still wet from recent rains, I predict they will spend the day sunning on the pallet. Mama should enjoy watching them make the best of the wooden perch.

This weekend we will begin preparing for our trip to Honduras.