Family Ties

(Daniel)

Upon arrival back in Wichita, my parents immediately allowed us the essentials: showers, a hearty dinner, and 4 tubs of vanilla ice cream with all the fixings for milkshakes (peanut butter, chocolate, banana, etc). The next two days was largely spent eating milkshakes, showing Harris and Garrett around our town, and relaxing. Talk about re-aclimating to societal life! After a two day stay, Harris and Garrett continued on toward California, riding out Saturday morning.

It was great seeing our family again and connecting with our sister before she headed to europe for the next two weeks. Because the following weekend we were all going to a wedding, Thomas and I opted (stupidly) to take the entire week off instead of continuing on our bike trip, being that we felt it would have been a waste of gas money to be picked up somewhere in western kansas, and driven to kansas city and back, all for just a few hundred miles. I say "stupidly", because once we finally DID get back onto our bikes, our muscles had atrophied to the point that the newly re-found bike seat-/lower back- pain were tangible reminders of our bodily improvements over the last few weeks, and also reminders of how fast those progressions can be lost.

The weekend of June 21-23rd was an amazing interim and energy-rebooting respite for our trip. We went to a very nice wedding where we got to reconnect with lots of people I haven't gotten to see in a long time. My brother's girlfriend Rebekah Lloyd hung out with us all weekend, my close friend Jena and I got to see each other and my parents were happy and having a good time.  The best part of the weekend, though, was my reunion with my best friends John Slayton and Shane Conrad-Davis, who had just gotten back from a year abroad in South Korea. 

Jena Wight and Daniel at Tiffany Stone's Wedding Reception

Mom and Dad looking nice!

Thomas and his girlfriend Bekah.

Karli and Shane Conrad-Davis at the reception.

The rest of our weekend was spent with the Conrad Davis' at Rathbun Lake in Iowa. The theme of the weekend, in retrospect, was really one of "family". Whether it be discussions of future goals, young and old, or arguments for and against monogamy, the entire weekend was spent basking in the loving aura of 2 sets of parents that were very visibly tickled to have their kids back and collected in one place. 

But beyond the Vogelsangs, Conrads, and Conrad-Davis', there was a fourth family that was excited to spend time together that weekend. A family that hadn't been together for over a year--the Cherry House clan. Having my roommates (with the notable exception of Casey) all together again--Shane, John, Skyler, and me, as well as Thomas and Bekah--was . I include here a 'family picture' taken from the end of that indescribable year: 

From left to right: John Slayton, Bardha Lloncari, Daniel, Bekah Lloyd, Casey Conrad-Davis, Chelsey Remmenga, Shane Conrad-Davis, Skyler Crangle, and Thomas.

I felt that the jet skis and waterfront were just added bonuses to the true prize--fellowship with people that loved one another and amplified each other's experience through good conversation, jokes and laughter, and sharing food. As it turned out, we didn't get as many pictures as I would have hoped for the weekend.... and we never got a group photo. But for those that were in attendance, Thomas and I would both like to say "thanks" for a spectacular weekend. 

Dad and Mr. Paul grilling Hobo-Dinners

Sunset on the beach.