Day 1 to 4 • Tempe

Day 1: Saturday, July 25, 1998—

We took an early morning flight direct to Phoenix from Philadelphia, and with the time zone difference in our direction of travel, our 8:22 AM flight got in about 10:30 AM. Air travel was complicated by taking two youngsters, but we managed. At the airport we rented a car from Hertz and drove to Paul’s house at 1530 East Jeanine Dr. in Tempe, where he lived with his wife, Dottie, his son Matt, age 10, and his daughter Sammy, age 8. Paul worked for Intel and, as they say, had done very well for himself, and his and Dottie’s house was a testament to this. The place was gorgeous, inside and out. We all got to stay there, so that was nice. We also, on this day, dined there. Dottie made us sandwiches for lunch and a chicken dish for dinner.

Phoenix is of course known for its heat. And in August, they take it to a whole other level with a good dose of humidity, at least by southwest US standards. And that’s what we walked into. We were able to escape, however, in the lovely backyard pool. In the evening, we accompanied Paul to pick up Matt at a school basketball game in which he was participating. The drive there and back gave us a good view of the area. One thing that struck me was how homogenous the architecture was, all of it in the adobe southwest style—even the fast-food joints. I have nothing against the style, but I think the lack of diversity would have quickly annoyed me.

Either on this excursion or perhaps another, Paul pointed out a mansion on an otherwise nice but unspectacular street. His theory was that from an economic standpoint, one should buy a house that cost less than neighboring houses because that way its value will be enhanced by the neighborhood. He surmised that whoever owned the mansion on this street had to be the king of his neighborhood.

In the evening we watched the 1997 “Good Will Hunting.” We loved it.

Day 2: Sunday, July 26—

Sharon attended her trucking seminar in downtown Phoenix during the day, while the boys and I stayed at the house. We splashed around in the pool with Paul, Matt, and Sammy, and in the afternoon, I took a solitary walk around the neighborhood. It sure was hot.

In the evening, Dottie took Sharon, the boys, Sammy, and me out to dinner at a local Mexican restaurant, while Paul and Matt were off doing something else, probably something involving Matt’s heavy athletic schedule. The kid was a natural born athlete.

One day during our visit, either today or perhaps another, Paul and Dottie returned to the house with a reasonably nice-looking side table they’d bought. They then related the details of its purchase, which I found to be both humorous and telling. While out shopping, they’d spotted the table and thought it would fit nicely in their sunken living room. So they inquired about it. The salesman informed them it was “One five” (or something to that effect). They took that to mean the cost was $150. It was a little more than they planned to pay but not too much, so they decided to buy it. The salesman rang it up and handed them a bill for $1500. They were initially taken aback but thought what the heck and bought it.

I think I stayed up late by myself this evening since everyone else had to get up early and do stuff the next day. I think I may have fixed myself a cup of coffee. And I think I may have been a little late getting the kettle off the burner. I must have had a bit to drink.

Day 3: Monday, July 27—

Sharon was off at her trucking seminar again, while I hung out at the house. For the better part of the day, I hung out with my new best friend, that being Sammy, competing at a game called Space Force. In this game, the player tries to force a metal ball, about an inch in diameter, up a ramp consisting of two sliding metal rods as far as possible and then release the ball so that it falls into a slot below. The further up the board the ball goes, the higher the value of the slot. It’s hard to explain, but it was a lot of fun to play with Sammy. And she seemed to like it a lot too. We each won our share of games, with our skill improving immensely the more we played.

At some point today, Sharon’s parents arrived in town. They were put up at Kevin & Rose’s place. Kevin worked as an engineer, and he lived in a considerably more modest dwelling than did his brother Paul, an apartment to be precise. In the evening, we all gathered to celebrate Eric’s 3^rd birthday and then had dinner at Paul & Dot’s. After dinner we went out for dessert at a local ice cream parlor. And later in the evening, most of us watched the movie “Conair” in the lavish den area in Paul & Dot’s house (or perhaps this was on another night).

As an aside, the bedroom where Sharon and I slept had access to a bathroom, which we had to ourselves. One morning, perhaps on this day or another, I decided to do some push-up in there. I’d started a push-up regimen in April or May. I’d started out at 15 and worked up to about 40. This time I could only do 25. What depressed wasn’t so much the number, but how hard it was to do them. I felt like I’d lost most of what I’d gained over the past few months.

Day 4: Tuesday, July 28—

Sharon’s seminar had ended, so the plan today was to tour downtown Phoenix with her parents. The tour took in the Arizona Science Center, at which we apparently attended a show at the Irene P. Flinn Theater. Nothing about our time at the center or the theater has stuck. Whether that says more about them or me is open to conjecture.

Or perhaps it was just a forgettable day because next we went to a nearby shopping area for lunch and later, we had dinner at a local restaurant that was a cross between a Denny’s & Bennigan’s. I can’t remember a single thing about any of it. I do, however, vaguely recall the scene in downtown Phoenix, and in particular seeing the stadium where the newly minted Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team played their home games. But then, I’d always been a baseball fan.

Whatever else happened on this day is forgotten and therefore considered uneventful, other than the Travis and Eric hung out with Sammy and her older girlfriends. And truth be told, I have the scantest of memory of that, which I presume is more than either of the boys do. But starting tomorrow, we’d be on the move, and being on the move, has always done wonders for my recollection of events.