My visit to Hot Springs is going really well, but I'm suffering from blog withdrawal. I suppose I'm officially hooked, since I feel like if I don't blog about it, it didn't really happen. I'm well overdue for a blogging session, so here I go....
I arrived in Hot Springs to visit my Dad and his wife on Sunday. That's Hot Springs, with an emphasis on Hot. They had a little birthday bash all planned for Hayden. We ate a decorated cookie and watched him open his new Wii Tiger Woods game. He was thrilled, and of the strong opinion that turning nine had shaped up very nicely for him.
On Monday, we trucked back out of town to deposit three happy campers at camp. I am now a fourth year veteran of camp drop off-day, and I gotta say, my optimism about this particular event has dwindled to a thimbleful at best. Camp drop off; where the lines are long, the temperatures are high, the trunks are heavy, the insects swarm, and the cabins seem much farther down the path than last year. But, the hyper active campers are bursting with anticipation and tickled pink to be there, so I stand dutifully in line to drop off my registration forms while watching the wilted, sweltering parents and grandparents who are in line at the concession stand desperately seeking the comfort of a Popsicle. My Dad sought refuge under a rickety ceiling fan, then helped deliver trunks, make up bunks, and install clip fans. This year I had one hugger and two that could hardly wait to see me go. All in all, camp drop-off was hot, but happy.Tuesday, Emma made a guest appearance at the dentist's office. My Dad's wife, "Granna", is a dental hygienist who is fortunate to work with just about the nicest group of girls I've ever met. I'd hate to imagine exactly how many Emma stories Granna has subjected them to the last seven months, but I'm sure they've been gracious about them all, and they really rolled out the welcome mat for us when we stopped in for a visit. I was very proud to tell the doctor that Emma has already grown six teeth. Five teeth and a fang, really, but I still feel she is dentally advanced. As if on cue, Emma turned on the charm the moment we arrived, then proceeded to ramp it up quite a few notches for thirty solid minutes. She smiled, and flirted, and tore off name tags, and tried on sunglasses. The girls all fussed and awed and made Granna feel like Emma was the first baby to ever do any of those things. They are a really sweet bunch, and despite my all consuming, powerful fear of dental work, if I lived in this city, a visit to the dentist might not seem too terrible. 
On our way home, it started to pour rain and temperatures dropped significantly. It was refreshing. We raised our arms in glee. A vigorous, celebratory arm raising that let the arm flab flap and giggle jubilantly.
Wednesday morning was particularly lovely. Dad and I have been up early every day this week to take a long walk on the golf course. Wednesday morning the temperature was cool, the sky was blue, and the dew on the course sparkled like diamonds. As an added bonus, we stopped at the club house for a little breakfast mid-walk. There's nothing like a little bacon and eggs to spice up an exercise routine. We counted fourteen geese on the course, all of whom were tolerant of my picture taking.
By Thursday morning, I could sense my Dad was ready for a little R&R, and since Emma wasn't in the mood to offer up peace and quiet, I decided to pack her up and head into town. I had visions of settling into a Starbucks, laptop and digital camera in tow, to soak up a mint mocha frappacino and a little free wi-fi. I needed to blog. Unfortunately, while packing my gear, I was devastated to realize I made it to town without the little cord that enables me to download photos. Double drat. Truly, a travesty that not even Frappacino could cure. How is it possible that I could leave home without the blogging essentials???!!!??? I brought a backpack full of homeschool planning that will never get done, plenty of clean socks for camp that my boys will never bother to wear, and a set of hot rollers that it is too humid to use here in Hot, Hot, Hot Springs. But that six inch cord that connects my camera to my computer, catapulting me to bloggy happiness and enabling me to pluck out entries worth writing and worth reading? Back home. Forgotten. Unable to do its job of bringing you dazzling visions of the geese on the golf course, the Dental Darlings posing with Emma, and my newly turned nine year old blowing out his candle.
At the very top of the tower there is an outdoor observation deck. Emma and I were the only ones up there at the time, so we strolled around and enjoyed the view. Then, out of nowhere, a long bird feather floated down out of the sky and landed on Emma! Isn't that amazing?? We took the elevator down one story to the indoor observation deck, which has a lot of photos, historical information, and a video stream about hometown hero Bill Clinton. We left the park, and stopped in at a pottery studio that is a local landmark. I like to watch them throw pots on the wheel.
Yesterday was restful, and today I am eager to head back to camp to gather my kiddos and hear their tales. I can hardly wait to hear about Hannah's graduate year (she will move to another camp next year), Max's time on horseback (his heart's greatest pleasure), and Hayden's rookie year. We are headed to the Shack for lunch, because that is tradition, and it is my kids' favorite Hot Springs haunt. The Shack is just that...a shack...that serves a mean catfish salad, and the best hot fudge milkshake ever to be poured into a Styrofoam cup. It's such a cute place you just have to see it to believe it.
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