Search for Adventure Goes to Mesa, AZ
March 5-7, 2018
Story and photos by Jennifer Gledhill, Search's Community Integration Coordinator
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"Come on in, have a seat,” I said, gesturing to the chairs in the conference room, covertly scanning the hallway for any unwelcome ears. I didn’t think we were being followed, but one can never be too careful when the stakes are so high.
“Eddie” (not his real name) chose a seat by the window as I pulled the door closed. We smiled at each other.
“How are you, old pal?” I asked.
“Good, good…..good.”
Oh, man. This wasn’t going to be an easy conversation. I ripped off the band-aid. Cut to the chase. Dove in head first.
“I need you to make a tough choice today, Eddie.”
“Okay.”
“I’m going to lay out two opportunities for you to choose from. The good news is that both options are pretty rad. No one loses.” I smiled, again, to ease the tension in the room that only seemed to be affecting me.
“But still, there’s a decision to be made and you’re the only one who can make it.” I pulled my chair closer to his hoping my presence would provide some emotional support for what was coming.
“Okay.” Eddie’s interest was piqued.
“I know that for your next Search For Adventure experience you’ve been asking to go with your longtime girlfriend, Alice.” (also not her real name)
“That’s right. We want to go together!”
“I know, yes.” Oh dear. “But something has come up, Eddie. Next week we are going to Mesa, Arizona to see a Cubs spring training game at Sloan Park.”
“Okay.”
“Here’s the catch. That trip is all men. A dude-cation. So either you can go on that trip without Alice. OR. You can wait and go on a trip later this year WITH Alice. Your choice. I know this is a tough choice so I’ll give you some time…”
“Cubs. Cubs trip……Cubs.”
"You’d rather…”
“Cubs. Cubs trip.” Eddie adjusted his Cubs hat then sat back in his chair.
“They are playing the Dodgers.”
“Okay.”
“Yu Darvish will take the mound.”
“Okay.”
“Okay. Bring an overnight bag on Monday, okay?”
“Okay.”
****
NOTE: In the following pictures, “Eddie’s” identity has been kept anonymous in case “Alice” ever reads this article. J
Bob gets a closer look at the weather forecast to make sure he heard it right. Sure enough: “sunny with a high of 80 degrees,” but….
…what the forecast neglected to mention was that the sunlight would be a deep, rich orange rarely seen over Wrigley Field.
“Dude-cation” (n): a journey away from home during which a pool game is played next to a picture of a deer wearing sunglasses.
The Cubbies beat the Dodgers: 9-5
Bob, “Eddie,” (not his real face) and Ronnie: three Cubs fans living the dream at Sloan Park.
Search continues its grand tradition: “crushing it when taking group selfies in mirrors.”