Epilogue

Epilogue (finished 10/99)—

I look back at this trip as one of the best, and without question the hottest. For the record, I’ve ranked it as the 5th most memorable on the 1998 version of “Holidays of a Lifetime.” The holiday to which it is most comparable is 1997’s Across the Midwest, which I ranked 7th. Both holidays were two-week road trips taken in the summer and which included time with Sharon’s family. The most remarkable aspect of the Midwest journey was its newness—we’d never done anything like it before, whereas the most remarkable aspect of the Southwest was the spectacular scenery. And the Southwest trip was more enjoyable because we drove fewer miles each day (roughly 300 per day versus 500 per day on the Midwest trip), found lodging more easily and earlier, and ate better (as I recall). Also, we were much more at ease with Eric’s diabetes, to the point that it wasn’t an issue. We missed our minivan, of course, but then the nice thing about a rental is that you don’t lose any sleep worrying about the beating it’s taking.

The boys, as they were on previous trips, proved to be real troopers—they travel by car like they were born on a bus (rolling down Highway 41). As usual, my parents and Gwen took care of the cats for us. Lastly, we have to go back to Torrey, Utah, someday, preferably by the same route we took on July 31, 1998. Torrey was a delightful little town, and that day was one for the ages. I could go 12 months or more (and have) and not begin to see the sights and splendor we saw that Friday. And atop the magnificent scenery, this day featured the heart-palpitating thrill of the Moki Dugway, chitchat with an English couple, superb cuisine for both lunch and dinner, a fine brew or two, a dinnertime cigarette so good I remember it still, and then fun times back at the ranch. It’s hard to believe it all happened in one day. Yet it was only one of many on our journey through the Southwest. One can make of that what one will.

2021 NOTES:

It’s been my habit over the years, whenever I rewrite or update a trip log to offer my current views on what went down back then. If I thought it would add anything to this account, I’d have done so here too. But either because I’m out of steam or I’ve said all that needs to be said, I’m not following that tradition. There is one minor exception. It struck me that in reviewing my trip photos versus those found on the internet, what one mostly remembers about the physical features of places they’ve visited is the photos they took, not the actual places themselves.