Reunion and Celebrating 70 with Smitty in Tucson

The final leg of this trip ended in Tucson to celebrate Smitty’s 70th Birthday. It was a great time with a lot jammed into short, Friday night to Monday morning time period. I left Tijeras early Friday morning wanting to be inTucson in time for dinner with the Smiths and the Palmers without feeling rushed. I got to their winter host Mark’s house mid afternoon and quickly said hello to everyone before heading over to the condo from Air BNB that I would be staying at. Originally I was going to be sharing it for the weekend then just for Saturday night but as it turned out I had the entire place to myself the whole weekend. It was a great place. The people who own the place are international tour guides. 

That evening we met for my favorite, Mexican food including margaritas. This was the first time I’d been together with Smitty and Joe since Oregon a while ago and the first time I had seen Smitty’s mom in almost 50 years. 

Needless to say it wasn’t a “typical” pre race meal but it wasn’t going to be a “typical” race the next morning either. The race included fitness tests from the police officers fitness test before, at the midpoint and at the end and the clock started when the exercises started not when the run started. 

After we hung out after the race for a while we headed in separate directions to clean up and get ready for the party that was going to be held at The RV resort where Joe and Judy were staying. 

A highlight of the party was reconnecting with Willy (Bill now) Hall who we were stationed with in VA 23 in Lemoore and aboard the Oriskany. Willy also lived in the Whitehouse in Lemoore when I did. 

I heard I missed an incredible sunset that night because I was sound asleep by 7:00. 

My last day in Tucson we made sure to fill it up as usual. Smitty and I took his mom to church and he and I went to breakfast and then visited a desert park before returning to pick up his mom. 

Smitty, his mom and I then went to Mission San Xavier Del Bac. It was a beautiful piece of Southwest history.