By Steve

UPGRADES & THE UNEXPECTED : UNDERESTIMATE & UNDERSTATEMENT

Ali and I arrived at the Denver airport at about midnight last Wednesday. We walked through the terminal, road the train, hopped on a bus and eventually made it to the rental car "place." The Colorado Rockies had eliminated my beloved Padres just two days early, but I rolled into town proudly wearing my favorite Padres apparel. After suffering some unkind words from the rental car man, he finally conceded that he could not allow a lamenting baseball fan drive around Denver for four days in the cheap car that I had reserved, and he went and found me something to cheer me up. A free upgrade. Thanks rental car man (Gilbert) for making all 468 miles I drove much more comfortable.

On Friday morning, we walked into the continental breakfast "place" at our hotel and there sat Geoff eating breakfast. I went to seminary with Geoff in Chicago, and we reconnected at a conference in Long Beach last year...we both now live in San Diego. I did not expect to see him at the hotel. I was in Denver for a wedding, Geoff for a two day conference at Denver seminary, and we ended up in the same hotel, at the same time, enjoying the same yummy hotel food.

There was a moment at Justin and Deb's wedding (a beautiful wedding bringing together catholic and protestant tradition and ministers. It was held at a new catholic church in the mountains of Conifer, Colorado, and all things were "unspeakably" breathtaking.) reception where we took a picture of all the Reno people (Ali and I may always be Reno people). It seemed to be almost everyone who wasn't family. You can't underestimate the love and bond of genuine community...something Justin and Deb had both at their old church and workplace in Reno. Cheers to Epoch and Sierra Trading Post.

The mood was quite different flying home. Of course we were sad to say goodbye to good friends and to the soul food of the mountains, but we could not deny the excitement on the plane. Saying that winning is better than losing is an understatement. The week before, the Chargers had lost their third straight and the Padres had just been eliminated from the playoffs. Earlier in the day, the Chargers handed Denver their worst loss in 40 years, and many happy bolts fans were on our plane back to SD. We set down for a few minutes in Phoenix and many more happy winners boarded the plane. The USD girls soccer team beat ASU and a San Diego adult baseball team (I'm not really sure what this team was but there was lots of them and they were happy) had just won a weekend tournament. The one hour flight home was a celebration. Mine was quiet. It was not for winning or for fancy cars. But for the people I get to share life with. People that I care deeply about. No matter where we live, we share an undeniable love for each other.

And just in case you missed it, a toast to Justin and Deb!