Scooter Saga

Las Vegas isn't my favorite city and having a family reunion* there on Thanksgiving weekend didn't sound like the best idea—initially.  But this was a "passing the torch" wholly to the next generation, so I decided to keep my generational lip zipped and go with it. Our niece Kathy, is a local resident living in Summerlin, an area about 10 miles from downtown Vegas.  Together with our nephew Richard, her cousin, she tackled planning with wedding-like effort and they  blew it out of the water.  They built it and, OMG, did we come!   Even though the Oregon/Washington contingent flew, most of the California and the New Mexico family drove.  So why then ?  Well, we have lots of school–age children, so taking advantage of the break and minimizing academic absences was a good move. Vegas weather in November can be cold (it was) but relatively temperate.  Although Thanksgiving is the start of the holidays, Chanukkah and Christmas were still a month away. Making C

Disclaimer:  These posts happened in 2019.  Before the COVID–19 virus turned our world upside down.  Although I had plenty of material, I just couldn't get motivated to write.  Things may seem a bit out of date, but I just needed to decide to get busy and move on to 2020. The good part to owning a half interest in the co ndominium in Maui is that Earl and I can use 24 weeks  a year.  Our partners have to get by with only 8 weeks a year.  The bad part is that we get more meetings and home maintenance.  I know, I know. Quit whining. A first world problem...  The day before we arrived, there was a huge brushfire.  It closed the only road between Kihei and Lahaina.  Closing roads is a very low bar, since Maui isn't known for having many alter nate routes.   Fortunately by the time we got there, the road was open, the traffic was manageable, and all we had to contend with was the fire smoke.  Since the condo had been vacant for a while, Earl spent the first part of t