One of my Favorite Days Ever

Summer 2001 and I was living in Bozeman. I was renting a room in Travis, Drew and Chauncey's house. It wasn't like I was living with my boyfriend (now husband) because he was rarely home. He spent the summer working construction 70 miles away. This particular week, he was home. He was helping a friend do stamped concrete work. It was a 95+ degree day and he returned home very ready to hit the river and cool down.

I wouldn't have known, by his personality, that he'd been sweating and working hard in the blazing sun. He was singing and dancing around the house ...grabbing his swim trucks and running downstairs to make sure I was on-board for his outing. Alabama's "I'm in a hurry," started playing and I will love that song forever because it gave a soundtrack to Travis' great energy.

We jumped in his Jeep and drove 30 miles West to the headwaters of the Missouri. I'd never been there before. I had so much fun swimming ...more like gliding on the river's currents as the Jefferson and Madison joined forces. We ran up the Madison and floated along ...then back to the Jefferson and floated along!! I had so missed swimming; Travis introduced me to new currents and relief from a hot day.

We splashed over to a sandbar ...rather, a rockbar right where the rivers came together (so I guess that would be the Missouri!) We sat as currents, and small rocks were swept across our laps from both directions. We picked-up rock after rock, checking them out and tossing them on. Travis began singing, "Leavin' on a Jet Plane," in his deepest voice ...imitating "Bear" from Armageddon!!

I will never forget Travis picking up two good sized rocks and saying, in all fun, "Hey Mom!! Will you put these in your pocket!" It's like I saw my future and I was so completely amused!! He dove into the currents and quickly joined with the full-on Missouri River ...and so did I.

Our kids have asked me, on several occasions, to put large rocks in my purse or pockets ...to bring home. It makes me wonder if Travis remembered doing that as a kid, or if our children just think a lot like him!! I loved that day ...it has a soundtrack and everything!!