Beautiful grandsons in beautiful Missoula

After much planning and preparing, we recently set off on a road trip to Missoula, Montana. "We" means Ozzy, too. I, as the designated driver, made the two-day drive, first to Ontario, Oregon, and then to our final destination. Although long, the second leg is a beautiful trek ending up through the Clearwater National Forest. From here to Winnemucca and Ontario, however, is a long and lonely stretch of road. We were there to see, in order – 6-month-old Oscar for the first time, 4-year-old Otis, and their parents Bradley and Alissa (sorry, dad and mom, but you know how it is). What fun! Just being with the two grandsons was enough for us. So we got to read and play and listen and do the day-to-day normal things parents do. This included a trip to the four-story local library. Ours here in Folsom is nice, but Missoula's is the nicest public library I have ever seen. We also visited downtown Missoula and took a ride on the famous carousel. Our visit ended with a cookout at the home of their maternal grandparents. That was our last night there and then it was back on the road to Folsom. Heading home, out of nowhere a deer tried to outrun our car and lost in Lowell, Idaho. I was only going 45 mph, still not slow enough. Later that day, a bird tried the same thing, with the same result. They joined Ozzy Osbourne and Hulk Hogan this week. Otherwise, we got home intact. Ozzy (not Osbourne) was a trooper with 32 total hours in the car. Everybody loved him and he returned the favor. Missoula was a beautiful experience. It's a clean, polite place. Lots of friendly people talked to us. And the weather was exquisite. Strangely, it remains light after 9 p.m. there. The breakfast bar at the hotel offered biscuits and gravy, so you know what I had for three of the days. It was such a happy trip I am already looking at the map to see a different scenic route in that direction (I-80 to Wells, NV, and 93 to Missoula). We don't get to make this kind of trip often and see the youngest grandkids. I sure hope they don't grow up too quickly before we get to see them again. But I know better. "Swiftly flow the days" (Sunrise, Sunset).