Graduation from college is a significant accomplishment and marks another life transition. Each of our three children worked hard to have jobs lined up before graduation and found a few weeks following graduation to rest and celebrate this milestone. It occurred to me that in the coming months and years there would be much competition for one-on-one time with my children and that I should seize this opportunity to take a “You and Me” trip. I will forever treasure this limited time together and the memories that we shared.
After graduation from Auburn University with a degree in Industrial Design, Drew accepted a position in Edgewater, New Jersey to design consumer products. Typically you must plan a year in advance to book a float trip on the Grand Canyon, but the Lord provided a last minute cancellation and we were able to helicopter into the Grand Canyon to meet Arizona River Rafting for a fabulous experience. Our boat captain, cook, guide and entertainer was none other than Brian Dierker who has been rafting the Grand Canyon for 50 years and starred in the 2007 movie, Into the Wild. Following the rafting trip, we stayed an extra day and fished Lake Mead and killed the striped bass.
After graduation from Colorado State University with a degree in Wildlife Biology, Ben earned a coveted full-time position with the Larval Fish Laboratory at Colorado State University. Following his graduation, the Lord provided a last-minute cancellation at the Alaska Sportsman’s Lodge for 5 days of amazing fishing, wilderness views and wildlife. Ben wanted to catch an Artic Grayling, Dolly Varden, Rainbow trout, Sockeye salmon and Silver salmon. We got’em all! We also shared the fishing with the bears and had a fabulous adventure.
Following graduation from Auburn University with a degree in Philanthropy and Non-Profit studies, Summer found a spot with a couple Auburn alum in Santa Rosa Beach Florida working at Array 30A. They work with realtors to shoot photography and video of homes for sale or vacation rentals. Summer had planned a trip with a couple friends to travel to London, Paris, Switzerland and Italy. Julie and I combined the trip with our 29th anniversary for a few days in northern Croatia and later met Summer in Split Croatia for a fun celebration. We spent a few days on Stari Grad and did some hiking to ruins and had a private boat to tour the coast, hit some swimming holes, lunch spots, touring the small villages of Hvar, Istria and ended up in Dubrovnik. What a special time celebrating Summer.
