Author Archives: dickenslj

Escaping Purgatory I have always said, “Being engaged is being in purgatory. Get married as soon as you can.” Son, Chris and fiancé, Sophie did just that. After finding out that our other son, Jack, wanted to get married in September as well, Sophie and Chris, decided to get married sooner rather than later. ForContinue reading “R1T Tour: July 2023”

New Old Stuff Some old stuff still persists because it is good. For example good art gets preserved through the ages. So in June, I experienced three old things that are still here because they are good. First, I took a fly fishing trip up into the “center of the Michigan mitten”, Grayling, on theContinue reading “R1T Tour: June 2023”

40 Year Tradition The Stackloaf Golf Tournament started in 1983 and has been held in South Carolina every year since. My good friend Stack, despite illness that now keeps him wheelchair bound, has faithfully organized it without fail. I have played in all but a few and it is always a highlight. When we wereContinue reading “R1T Tour: May 2023”

Going Dry: A new lifestyle I started April with sinus headaches and a cough deep in my chest from a heavy lingering cold in March. After listening to a Huberman Lab podcast on the deleterious effects of alcohol, I decided my recovery would speed up if I didn’t drink. April turned into a dry month.Continue reading “R1T Tour: April 2023”

Full Speed I have learned over the years that having the right cadence to adventures enhances the enjoyment. However in March, the adventures were just too good to miss and there was almost no down time. We were still in Maui on the first of March on Wailea Beach. Chris and Sophie, son and fiancé,Continue reading “R1T Tour: March 2023”

Old Friends Month They say, “You can’t make old friends” but I found out you can rediscover them. We made friends with Beth and Ted in 1989 when I forced Lori to leave friends and family for the sake of career to live in Mechanicburg, PA. Soon after moving in, we became close friends withContinue reading “February 2023”

Second Summer When you are old and in decline, time becomes very finite. I tend to think in terms of how many more summers I have left to wade a stream and hike a mountain. It’s a finite number that seems way too low. Lori and I have found we can get a second summerContinue reading “R1T Tour: January 2023”

Timing Well three weeks after son Chris got engaged to Sophie, Son Jack got engaged to Shelby. My wife, Lori, said, ” I hope they’re talking to each other about this so their weddings don’t overlap. They then both said we are planning to wed next fall. Weird timing! After extensive travel all year itContinue reading “R1T Tour: December 2022”

Unexpected Expansion At 27, I married and was warmly received by my wife’s local, highly connected and kind family. Coming from a small dispersed family it was a happy expansion and a new unexpected experience. Thirty four years later, my wife, daughter and I went to Los Angeles for Thanksgiving to meet my son andContinue reading “R1T Tour: November 2022”

Shakedown I felt cool telling people I was shaking down my R1T with a trip to Minnesota. Even though, deep down, I knew they weren’t impressed or really even cared. And when I say shake down it doesn’t mean to rob or con. It means testing systems, properly equipping and setting up, and learning howContinue reading “R1T Tour: October 2022”