A Good Day with an Old Friend

Today was one of those quietly satisfying days—simple, full, and meaningful—because I got to spend it with my old friend Steve. He had just returned late last night from a work trip, so this morning felt like a reunion years in the making.

Steve and I first met in Bend, Oregon, and bonded over skiing on Mount Bachelor. Since then, we’ve logged countless days together skiing, mountain biking, rafting, and kayaking. When he and Lori moved from Bend to Durango back in 2022, our regular adventures came to a halt, and though we’ve stayed in touch through frequent texts, it had been three or four years since we’d last seen each other in person.

Today, we made up for some of that lost time. We tackled a few projects together, including updating the computer in his Ford F-350—something we both own and geek out about. We also diagnosed a pesky leak under his kitchen sink that had started dripping into the basement. Then came the big one: removing the old furnace to make space for a whole-house mini-split system, which will tie into the existing ductwork.

Lori made a delicious dinner, and we ended the day with good food and great conversation. It was a day full of small victories and meaningful connections.

I said my goodbyes and thanked them both for their warm hospitality, knowing I’ll be heading out first thing in the morning.