The celebration has finally come to an end, as I sit in Denver awaiting our Portland connection. We had lunch at Elway’s, with a healthier twist on steak. It’s been my choice for at least the last four days, including last night’s rib eye and a diet of Tomahawk (or Cowboy) bone-ins that each resembled one of Paul Bunyan’s axes. As you may know, streaks are a big part of my life, as my daily running streak hit day number 3895. In this case, however, I’m talking about a “Steak Streak.” Today, it was part of a practical salad.

On this trip, it will not be steak that causes my weight gain, but rather cake and ice cream. I’ve had the sugary duo for breakfast, lunch, supper, and late night snacks for the last four days – more like a “Sweet Streak.” I even found a slice of chocolate cake hidden inside a cabinet as part of our Crooked Key Escape Adventure. We got out successfully in just under the one-hour time limit after solving clues to unlock our jail cell and two other exit doors. I couldn’t have possibly run enough high-altitude miles to counter this excessive calorie overload of birthday chocolate and vanilla. We also had to play detective in trying to solve the mysterious disappearance of the last piece of coveted lava cake, with crumbs in the sink as the only clue.

We reunited with three other couples from Decatur, Illinois, where we all once resided. One pair now owns a home in Steamboat, Colorado and hosted our get together. I think we may have invited ourselves? We did joint and individual activities that included dining, the local farmer’s market, hiking to Fish Creek Falls, backgammon, bridge, a concert with the California Honeydrops, poetry, rides on an electric bike, TV sports, target shooting, cocktails, and the Strawberry Hills Hot Springs. Our other companion was Sage, an aging Lab who welcomed a porcupine into the back yard. More likely, it was the smell of steak on the grill that brought us all together.

It was a great time, but we ate and drank like teenagers. It’s now time to settle in for a few days of therapeutic home life. Unfortunately, my wife has to go to work tomorrow, as we prepare for her daughter’s Labor Day weekend activities. She’s one of the few “youngsters” in our group that has yet to retire. As we reluctantly head back to Portland, I’m including the follow-up poem that I traditionally send to those involved. To understand it, you probably “had to have been there.” Hopefully, I’ve provided enough background information for you to get the gist:

Piece of Cake 

Summer in Steamboat,
Thanks to Kit and Pete.
A Decatur reunion,
At 6000 feet.

They had little choice,
We begged to come.
To drink every drop,
And eat every crumb.

Some might see us,
As an “Old Timers” bunch.
But treated with respect,
With a welcome brunch.

Cindy and Pat,
Jan and Jack,
Plus, my wife and I,
The invading pack.

We hiked and biked,
Some shot guns.
And one of us,
Did daily runs.

We shopped and dined,
Had Hot Springs fun.
Clear blue skies,
And lots of sun.

Fish Creek Falls,
In working off meals.
Golf on T.V,
And Big Bridge deals.

Aurum dinner,
Creekside Café.
“Pocket Chicken,”
The song of the day.*

We tried to avoid,
A dreaded “Jackgammon.”
And hoped not to drool,
Over Tomahawks & Salmon.

An Early morning,
Cake “mistake.”
Devoured long before,
Birthday Boy’s awake.

“Someone left the cake,
Out In the Sink.”
The crumb remains,
Made quite a stink.

“I don’t think that I can take it
‘Cause it took so long to bake it.
And I’ll never have
that recipe again, Oh, no” **

After gourmet leftovers,
And expensive wine.
Sage encountered,
A hungry Porcupine.

Jack’s farewell poem,
Confessed his greed.
But more was found,
Though hidden, indeed.

E3 celebration,
Near a babbling stream.
But no time,
For cake or ice cream.

The Great Escape,
Was filled with twists.
It’s hard to find,
Where the exit exists.

But the cake discovery,
Was a Paulin surprise.
We left with the remnants,
As a consolation prize.

I’m sure we’re all having,
A frosting hangover.
And glad the birthday,
Is finally over.

Then Pete summed up,
As a last take.
Our time together,
Was a “Piece of Cake.”

*Courtesy of The California Honeydrops

**Courtesy of MacArthur Park and Richard Harris. I understand that Jan gave us the recipe. Oh, Yes!

Copyright 2019 johnstonwrites.com