Today’s countdown to 2019 looks back at four times I thoroughly enjoyed myself in 2018. There were so many, it was definitely hard to choose so I ended up choosing the photos that made me smile the most remembering those moments.
March: Sina Comes to the US
My niece Sina did a world-tour type of trip this year and her first stop was a week in Florida with me. As always, that girl makes me laugh a lot she and makes everything more fun, from eating breakfast at a Waffle House in Orlando or seeing her first alligator in the wild.
We finished off our week of fun with her first NBA game, which she thought was kind of crazy and way more fun than a soccer (football) game. Which is saying something for someone who lives in Berlin!
July: Altoistes Gather in Quebec
One of the upsides of having bought an Alto from Safari Condo is that you become part of an extended family of owners. This July, the company celebrated its 20th anniversary (and 10 years of making Altos) by inviting everyone to a huge bash in Quebec.
Before that, some of us who had met before camped together on a riverbank somewhere southeast of Quebec City. It was a nice oasis of friends and chill before the fun circus that was the main event.
August: It’s Bristol, Baby!
Sometime last fall, my brother and I cooked up a scheme to watch a NASCAR night race on the famed short track at Bristol, Tennessee. We’d watched half a dozen races years ago with my Dad, and this would be a good way to close out those memories and also celebrate my brother’s retirement.
Bristol was everything we’d hoped for: loud, fast cars and close-up view, including walking on the race track, thanks to a nice person at the box office who found passes for us at the last minute. I’ll probably never hit up another NASCAR race but I really don’t need to; we went out in style, Dad.
October: Friends and My Happy Place
After being chased across the state of Virginia by Hurricane Florence, then changing up plans because campgrounds remained closed, it was a relief to get back to one of my favorite places and, as a bonus, be there with a half-dozen friends who also own Altos. Whether we were hanging out, kayaking, hiking, or hiding out from the rain, we had a great time and it was a perfect way to close out my 2018 social activities.
This place is only an hour from Bristol, but it’s a whole ‘nother side of Tennessee!
Memory is the diary we all carry around with us.
Oscar Wilde