Back in Phoenix: Graduations, High School Reunions and a Solar Eclipse

May, 2012: My cousin Danny was finally graduating high school.  Now, I say that like it's been an effort for him.  As if maybe he repeated a few years, or just struggled getting to the point of graduation all together.  Quite the opposite, actually.  Education comes quite naturally to Danny, as he's exhibited a passion towards learning for as long as I remember. I use the word "finally" in the sense that he's the last of us, the youngest of the Vimmerstedt cousins and the final member of our family's generation to walk his transition into adulthood.  So, what an ideal opportunity for the family to celebrate it?  Sure enough, come May of 2012 and most of that side of the family were together again, just a mere three months after my Mom's epic birthday in Youngstown.  First celebrating the oldest, now the youngest.  There was a strange sense of symbolism there, and we all felt it.

My mom and my Uncle David met me at the airport, as I promptly threw my suitcase into the back of Dave's truck and hopped into shotgun.  My parents had already been here a few days and were eager to hear about how my new Graphic Design job was going. Although they had heard most of it over the phone so far, there's something different in speaking about it in person. As we walked into the house, I was greeted by my Dad, who, while I was being escorted back from the airport, had decided to accompany my Aunt Ellen to the grocery store and help her situate dinner.  This, of course, due to my Dad's incessant need to overtake everything, did not go well.  Someone put too much pepper in the salad and according to Ellen's very real and believable threat, ...there was going to be hell to pay. And Dad was straight in her crosshairs.  ...Leave it alone, Bill.  Leave it alone.

I'd be amiss here if I failed to mention my Uncle's Dogs, Cougar and Blitz.  Everytime I come into town, I'm astounded by the greeting I get from these guys, especially Cougar who I've developed a special bond with, despite only seeing him every other year since about '05. Each time I visit, Cougar doesn't leave my side, which aside from being super-cool, just proves to me that some dogs have a sense that we can't necessarily explain.  I think he instinctively knows I'm away from the strong bond I share with my dog Kino, and does what he can to fill the void.  One may think I'm reading too much into it, but nevertheless...it strikes me each and every time.

About a month before, I had written an update on Facebook regarding my trip to Phoenix.  A few minutes later, I had received an email from an old high school friend, Ryan Ligotti, asking me to look him up once I got into town.  Seeing that Ryan and I have pretty much known each other since Kindergarten, I gave him a call as soon as I got into town.  Once we wrapped up dinner, Ryan came by and picked me up, to which we drove just a few miles away to his girlfriend's restaurant for a few beers and a second dinner. Having not seen each other practically since high school graduation, we had a lot to catch up on, and it was a blast.

Although we had a similar group of friends back then, I kind of kept up with one half, while he kept in touch with the other, so after a few hours, we were both pretty much up to speed on the majority of those we've lost touch with.  People do lead crazy lives, and some much more unexpected than others. At least, that idea was reaffirmed to me that night.  Following a couple of beers and plenty of laughs, we paid the bill and he dropped me off back at my Uncle's place. It was a good night.  Nostalgic, even.

The morning of Danny's graduation was a scramble, but in what seemed like just a few minutes, Danny had his diploma in hand and the hats were in the air.  The ceremony itself was typical in length, but I was so fascinated by the accomplishments of these kids, that the speeches and stories of motivation, self-discipline and determination made the time pass by much faster than I would've anticipated.  Each and every one of them was a true scholar, and had passed through a school that was renowned for churning out the best of the best.  Yes, Danny was the baby of the family; there's that.  I held him as an infant and have watched him grow over the past two decades into the emerging man he is today, and I'll be honest, I couldn't have been more proud of him than I was just then. Sure, I want to clobber him sometimes, but only because I want the best for him, if that makes any sense at all.

During my last morning in town, I made it a point to spend a few hours alone with my Dad by taking him into the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, a massive expanse of land within the limits of Phoenix and Scottsdale that remains untouched by law, and is covered by a network of trails that wind up and between the peaks of the preserve. Directly in my uncle's backyard lies Shaw Butte, a 1000ft. mound that offers views of the entire city in nearly every direction.  At 5am that morning, I woke up my Dad and hauled him out of bed, determined to involve him in a tradition I've built for myself each time I visit Arizona, which has been roughly every other year since the spring of 2000. If we left early enough, we'd be able to catch the sunrise from the summit, so we needed to move.

A little less than an hour later, we were cresting the summit, the morning sunrise in full, blinding view. We sat and soaked it in and, without the ongoing distractions of birthday parties, graduations and constant interruptions from family, he and I allowed ourselves the first moments of solace together since I left for Portland.  I will never forget that hike with my Dad, and he personally has brought up how much it meant to him multiple times since.  After a bit of rest, we descended off the back of the mountain and looped back towards the house through the valley below, arriving just in time for breakfast.

My flight left that night around 8:30pm or so, which gave us plenty of time to check out the West Coast Solar Eclipse.  Although it was actually supposed to be seen best in Portland, the skies in the northwest were cloudy and obscured.  The skies in Phoenix however, were not.  My uncle, always being prepared, handed me a welder's mask and a beer.  Together, Dave and I sat in the 112 degree heat and slowly watched through the heavily tinted glass, as the sun was slowly being absorbed by the moon. I've never seen a full-on solar eclipse before and the effects it began to have on the landscape was fascinating.

Unfortunately, I had to leave for my flight before the cycle was complete and following a series of long goodbyes with Ellen, Rick, Danny, Jon and the dogs, I was heading back to the airport and with parents and Dave under the golden shadow of the solar eclipse.  Our reunion had too quickly come to a close and as the eclipse begun to fall below the line of the horizon, the wheels of my plane left the sweltering hot pavement of Phoenix, not to touch down again until under the drizzle-filled skies of Portland, Oregon.