My visits to Phoenix are usually pretty low key; we watch lots of movies, either at home or at the theatre, we shop. Visit friends and family. But this time was a bit different.

To begin with, my younger brother managed to get some realistically priced tickets to the Jimmy Buffett concert. It had been a good twenty years since the last time I’d even been to a concert. But Jimmy Buffett, boy, had we been fans. I’d been to at least a dozen of his concerts between the ages of 23 and fifty.

And they had all been lots of fun, until college folk got wind of him. Then his music changed; the feeling at the concerts changed, too. So I wasn’t sure how much fun this was going to be.

I shouldn’t have worried. The college kids were gone, and most of the attendees were at least into their thirties. He played a lot of his own standards; there was only one song that I didn’t recognized. A great time was had by all.




The 11th being my sister’s birthday, we all took her to lunch at her favorite restaurant, Papadous Seafood Kitchen. I bit pricey, but the food is superb.




But, as usual, we did have a family gathering. Papago Park does seem to have become our favorite meeting place. Siblings, nieces and nephews, cousins, and my step-son and his family, all were there. To top it off, the weather was perfect. We even went for a hike!






There was still the usual. We went to the theatre two or three times, and watched a bunch of movies at home (my sister loves to watch movies.) My favorite cousin came for a visit. It was hard to leave.