Downstairs I started coffee then sniffed out the weather. It was foggy and looked like it rained more overnight, but according to the forecast the rain was gone and it was expected to end up sunny by noon. I don’t recall ever seeing fog produce rain, but that’s exactly what happened once I headed out on a run around 7am. It was pretty light but rain nonetheless. I wondered if my compadres would still want to golf. I hoped so.
The light rain continued even after I was back at home but it wasn’t even enough to keep the pavement and walks wet. I proceeded as if we were still on. Steven was supposed to be at the house by 845am. Before getting a shower I got my clubs down from storage and made sure I had enough golf balls.
In and out of the shower in a jiffy. Walked the pug quickly soon after. And then, not wanting to hit the course hungry, I whipped up an egg and cheese sandwich. I also threw a few waters and a couple Gatorades in my small cooler. It was 830am. Sent Steven a text making sure he was coming. Said he’d be there within 10 minutes.
Mindy and I agreed to a vehicle swap so I could drive. I sent Kenny a text sharing as much. While loading my clubs in the back of the Pilot I saw Darren pull up in front of Kenny’s, at least I figured that was him since he parked and got out his golf clubs. I’d never met him before.
I said goodbye to Mindy and then as soon as Steven pulled up and loaded his clubs into the Pilot I pulled down in front of Kenny’s where we loaded their clubs. Met Darren too. On the road for Split Rock a couple minutes later. Made decent time around 270, down 71S to the 665 exit. West from there to Young Rd, I believe. That’s a narrow (not even 2 lane) road. That connects to rt 762. You take that to Thrailkill Rd, which takes you by the unusual antique collectors property. I say unsuu7al because he at one time had one of the original white castle buildings on his property. Has a couple old rail cars too. In fact, his property has been featured on Pickers.
Anyway, arrived at Split Rock by 930am. It was still cloudy but the sky brightening if that makes sense. I covered Steven’s greens fees. After hitting about ten practice putts I was ready to go. I didn’t bother swinging my driver for practice. I actually seem to do better by simply following my pre-drive routine.
First golf swing since last July in South Carolina. Hit an OK drive but left but no real trouble. Topped my approach shot, which is the shot that makes or breaks my golf game. I wasn’t concerned. I knew I’d get it together. Bottom line, I took a 6.
From there it was bogey golf. In the back of my mind was something David mentioned last summer when watching my swing during a stretch of holes where I was struggling. Said my grip was severely open. I made an effort to correct it even though it didn’t seem as so from my view. That seemed to help. I was hitting all my shots fairly well, including my all –important approach shots. I played bogey golf for most of the day, just missing a few golden scoring opportunities. Still, I was undaunted.
My driving was very consistent – 260-270 and straight. I was most pleased. On the back nine I had a 7 on par 5 but also a birdie and a par. In the end I carded a 91, which I was more than pleased with. Kenny shot an 84, and honestly, he should’ve shot 80 or better. Missed a few short, short putts. Of the four, I came in second, but in the end I was competing only against myself. I just wanted to feel good about my swing which I did.
Decided to save the Darren story for the end. Must’ve been about hole #4 when I asked Darren what he did for a living. Shared that he was a fireman for Liberty Twp. Later, I decided to share that two of my brother-in-laws were also fireman except in Columbus. He asked their names, though I didn’t expect him to know ‘em. However, when I mentioned Larry’s name I could see that I had piqued his interest. It was a puzzling look and one that frankly I wasn’t immediately sure how to take. I let him drive the conversation from there. He then asked if Larry’s wife was Jodie. Yes. That’s when it got a little strange.
Turns out, Darren is/was the stepson of Larry’s older, estranged brother, Tommy. The look on Darren’s face said everything. I could tell that I had unwittingly struck upon sore spot. He went on to share how much he liked Tommy as a stepfather and at least from his perspective how well things were going until one day he inexplicably disappeared. Hasn’t seen him since. For a few minutes I felt awful for even bringing it up as I had obviously unearthed some pain.
A couple holes later I apologized but he would have none of it. Said he was happy to talk to me about it. I knew Mindy would appreciate the run-in so I sent her a cryptic text sharing who I was golfing with. I told her that I planned to invite him over after golf. Not only was she amenable to the idea but offered to have snacks out and waiting.
I didn’t mention the invite until we were a mile or so from the house. I sensed that he was curious to connect with the family earlier. And just as I had hoped, he was very agreeable to stopping over. Of course I invited Kenny to come on in too.
Darren and Mindy talked family matters for almost an hour. Mindy made sure to tell Darren that by no means should he harbor one iota of self-blame for Tommy’s abandonment. Said he’s done it repeatedly throughout his life including other marriages as well as with his parents and siblings. She made mention of Sarah, another one of Tommy’s kids though from another marriage that suffered the same loss. It was an eye opening discussion.
I hope we can connect with Darren and his family moving forward. We’ve unknowingly met his wife and daughter at Kenny & Chrissy’s before but weren’t aware of the odd connection.
After Darren, Kenny and Steven left, I took a nap while Mindy headed outside in the yard. By then it was really nice – sunny and warm. At some point Mindy and I agreed to do dinner at CBC. It had to be around 6-630p when I took my second shower of the day. After golf I always feel like I need a shower.
It was pride weekend in Columbus, which meant a lot of the gay CBC staff asked for the evening off. Working the bar was Kevin. Lots of good beer options but I chose Bodhi. It was the cloudy, unfiltered Bodhi too, which is my fave. Unfortunately the keg blew before Mindy could order her second, but hey, at least I got one. They had another keg, but it was filtered.
We both ordered food. Me, I went with wings while Mindy went with the Cuban burrito, which is very unusual for her. We had some risotto balls earlier too. During our CBC visit, David and I batted a couple texts back and forth. Mindy and I had just two beers each. Around 830pm Darwin sent a text inviting the two of us to join them around the fire pit. We ordered a growler of Bodhi to-go.
We stopped at home long enough to pee but then moved quickly onto Darwin’s. I wasn’t sure if others would be there or not. Turned out, it was just the immediate family and they were just getting a fire going. Of course Darwin had his new Big Jawbone Jambox out there too. Me, Darwin, Connie and Mindy hung out by the fire along with the two little ones, Collin and Breck. Lane was out front playing with friends.
Had an issue with their neighbors who live behind them and share some woods. And it turns out the neighbor is a pal of mine, Diane. Anyway, apparently her son and friends were in Darwin’s backyard shopping trees and gathering wood in the dark. When Darwin shooed them away Diane came out of her house hollering. At that point it was immediately apparent to me who it was, or for that matter, the proximity of her yard to his.
And as the stories go, sounds like there’s some bad blood between them as neighbors. Sounds like Diane has some issues. As one story goes she took in one of their dogs then released it only to the the dog catcher and not the McVey’s. Another story goes that she went off on Darwin for Lane drinking a can of their soda. Really?
When Darwin and Connie explained who that was hollering at us in the woods I offered to walk over and help mend the wound. Diane and I met even before Kelly was out of the picture when she used to launch her canoe from my yard. Darwin grabbed a bundle of prepackaged firewood to offer her son, Ian as a peace offering, but when we knocked on the door only the daughter would come to the door despite my pleas for her to have her momma come out and chat. OK. Darwin and I walked around back to talk with Ian, who was on the deck at their make-shift fire ring with friends. We let him know that we brought them some wood, but that sneaking over in the dark into someone else’s property and chopping wood was not cool. We could see Diane standing in the kitchen but still wouldn’t come out to join us.
We hung with Darwin and Connie for a while longer, heading home around 11pm.
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