I feel like a college kid trying his best to make the deadline for an online class, minutes before the assignment block closes. It’s 9 o’clock on a Sunday night, and I’m frantically writing in this late hour, keeping up with the posting streak on Five Minute Observations.

And, to be fair, I’m struggling to come up with one single idea. Well, maybe struggling isn’t the right word. More like floundering.

Traveling anywhere is always an adventure, especially when you travel in a new direction. That’s what we did today. Four and a half hours south of Jackson, Missouri to a small town in Arkansas. Mom and Dad’s place, for the next few days before they move to their new home in Michigan. Never did I have Mom and Dad move to Michigan on my 2026 bingo card, especially after they lived in Orange County, California for almost 25 years. Beach. Food of all kinds. The sand. The Pacific Ocean. The donut shop with all the cool, old, classic cars. Leave that behind? Never thought it’d happen. But it did.

Moving to a northern climate, like northern Idaho, seemed like a long shot. But with one grandbaby and another on the way? How could they say no to that?

So we came down to say one last goodbye. And, fingers crossed, take some of their ‘stuff’ off their hands. Like a 12-man tent, to name one. We’d rather not take a lot more of anything, but if we see something we’d like? I’m sure they’d be happy to hand it over to us.

So, it’s been a fun afternoon and evening, talking about old times, the addresses they lived at in the O.C. And learning that one of Dad’s oldest friends is part of an elite group, the White Castle Hall of Fame. Did you know there was a club only a select few are ever invited to be a part of? Neither did I. But my dad’s friend is!

Is it crazy to think that this blog means that much? That writing and storytelling have such a profound impact on my heart and mental wellbeing that I continue to do it, regardless if one person or fifteen read it, I write it for the enjoyment of others.

Please excuse the lateness of this post, and I will do my best, in the future, to be more prompt.

In the meantime, I’m heading to bed.

Have a wonderful evening.