That evening, I went out to Peter and Allison's for their annual party and just relaxed. I had my best time ever and really enjoyed myself. I loved saying hi and visiting and seeing how their little girl Lauren keeps growing up, she's getting taller and is catching up to Mom real fast! I yakked it up with my friends Herwig and Allison ( http://www.peaktopeak.com/blanchard/ ) while there and met so many other wonderful folks, what a great evening. The hours went by too quick and all to soon it was approaching the wee hours of another day and it was time to head back.
Today, Saturday the 11th and tomorrow, Sunday the 12th, would be my busiest days of the show. I began each day with my complimentary breakfast (which was growing very, very old by now) and then headed to the TCC for more fun. Afterwards back at the room, I began tearing things slowly down. This was done less enthusiastically on Saturday as I was still officially open, but as the day wore on, the inevitable reality of the show closing forced me to bring out the boxes and I start packing. I focused on my World materials first. Later that afternoon, Terry came by and bounced an idea off me that still has me smiling and overjoyed. And together now, we have a very nice load of heulandites heading for Japan and I couldn't be more happy. These will be offered at upcoming major mineral shows there later this year! How exciting!
As if to keep things moving, my Mexican geodes showed up right in the thick of things, all 500 pounds of them! I had the truck unloaded and moved it beside the other and swapped loads. I packed them nice and tight in the very front of my truck bed and noticed the S-10 settling into its familiar over-loaded stance.
Sunday was a hard-core packing day and I worked at it all day, finally crashing sometime after 1:30 in the morning. But it was done, the cases were all empty of minerals, their shelves down and stacked. The rocks were all packed high and tight, as were the 3 display cases I'd received later Saturday evening from Jimmy. The lights were packed and all that remained would be finished up after the display cases were picked up Monday morning. At 8:00 am, the guys were knocking on the door and I was watching the cases soon thereafter make their way from the room into the back of the Tucson Store Fixtures truck. I said good-bye to Brian and Gary and then finished the last of the breakdown before beginning the room's re-building. All the fixtures came back out and were reinstalled, the t.v. hooked up and the beds made up. A quick shower and a quicker final scan of the room and I was off in the truck, motoring towards the Lobby to check out and to catch breakfast one final time before jumping on the road for home.
Oh the thoughts going through my head that day. Happiness; that the show had gone so very well for us. Sadness; that the show was ending. Happiness; that the show was ending and I was finally going home.
The hours and miles past and I just stuck to it putting Arizona eventually behind me and making it as far west as I-5 in California. There I stayed at the Motel 6. Next morning I was up early and back at it. I-5 and the long haul north. It blurs, California into Oregon until finally, Brush Prairie, Washington and our friends Ted and Leslie's place. They're so great Ted and Leslie, here it was Valentines Day and they were letting me crash their good time, even while being all gross from the road. They even went so far as to order pizza and have a cold beer waiting for me when I arrived. Friends!
And there it is in a way, full circle, friends. They play such an important role in our lives. I hope we all take the time to say thank you every once in awhile. I know my life is the better for them, my friends.
I wasn't much company that night and soon called it quits and headed off for bed. I said my good-byes to Leslie as I'd be up before her, back on the road. Next morning, a big thank you to Ted and I was out the door on my final leg home. The trip went fine and before noon on the morning of Wednesday, February 15th, I was backing into my driveway and surprising Buddy. Belle wanted her pets too and Katerina was outside somewhere doing her thing. I was home.
Gloria came home later, as did Katerina and finally, everything was complete. What an experience. Thanks for coming along. I'm going to go crash now, I'm exhausted!
My window display at the show.
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Our philosophy at John Cornish Minerals.
See you next year Everyone!
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All the very best,
John Cornish
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