An Autumn Mountain Drive

​The recipe for our annual late-September drive is different every year, but the goal is always the same: get up into the mountains and see what the changing season has to offer.

The Joy of the Unexpected Visitor

You don’t always need a plane ticket for a moment of genuine discovery. Sometimes, you just need to fill the bird bath and pay attention.

A Bittersweet Departure

Airports are places of transition, caught between where you’ve been and where you’re going. This trip to Memphis was exactly that—a journey caught between the sadness of saying goodbye to a dear friend and mentor, and the warmth of reconnecting with the people and places he brought into my life.

A Celebration of a Life

 This was the reason for the trip to Memphis: to gather with friends and family to honor the life of Helen Coop, a dear friend and a formidable mentor.

Helen Dortch Coop (1938 - 2025).
A friend and mentor who will be deeply missed.

My Old Stomping Grounds

 The day before the memorial was for reconnecting with the Memphis I used to know. With a heavy heart but a full tank of gas, I took a long, quiet drive through my old stomping grounds to see what had changed and what had endured.

An Unexpected Sunset at DEN

Every seasoned traveler knows the feeling: that sinking realization that your meticulously planned schedule is about to be undone. My trip to Memphis began with just that—a delay.