Dropping Off the Grid . . .

It has been more than ten years since I last dropped off the grid. My laptop goes with me everywhere so I can keep up with e-mail from customers, make changes to the website, and such. To me, it's just part of good customer service.

But this weekend will be different. My brother and I are flying to Arizona on Thursday morning. Dad will pick us up at the airport (we won't even see Mom until late Saturday), and the three of us are hiking the Grand Canyon on Friday. We're going from the South Rim down to Phantom Ranch and back in one day -- Dad has done this for close to ten years with a couple of friends, but this is new territory for Blake and me. The first time Dad and his friends took this hike, they checked in at the Ranger Station on the rim and told them their plans (most people do this hike in two days and stay the night at Phantom Ranch). On their way back that afternoon, they passed a group of college students who pointed at them -- "You're the old guys they're talking about at the ranger station!"

As I type this, it's Wednesday afternoon, and I am finally getting excited. Don't get me wrong -- I have been looking forward to this trip since we made the reservations in November. But I have a sign on the wall in my office that says "My life is so hectic that when I get calm, I get nervous." I have an ever-growing list of things to do. But the time has come and I'm going to enjoy it.

By contrast, this trip has been my dad's main focus since November -- you can hear the excitement in his voice when we talk. I have tried to remember the last time just the three of us did something together -- and I can't remember. For at least 30 years, there has always been someone else along (Mom, our wives, the kids, etc.). Nothing wrong with that, but this is going to be special.

So the laptop is staying home this weekend. I don't think I would have that much time to open it -- and frankly, I don't want to. I am going to enjoy the moment. Hopefully, our customers will understand.

I'll tackle that overflowing inbox on Monday . . . then I'll post some pictures.



(P.S. -- I owe a debt of thanks to Patti Jarrett, who noticed that I left the baking temperature off the cookie recipe I posted last week. I proofed that recipe three times and missed it completely -- and I am horribly embarrassed. I fixed it this afternoon -- bake at 400 degrees for 9 1/2 minutes. Sorry about that.)