Healing Appalachia

 2025 ended up being a bit of a musical year for us in a variety of ways, and also centered a bit around Tyler Childers. After we saw him at Commonwealth and Callie missed the show we jumped at the chance to see him at a music festival in eastern Kentucky called Healing Appalachia.

This was a two night event that included onsite camping if you so desired. When we first bought the tickets we jumped at the opportunity to camp, especially since the general camping price was pretty cheap. And at the time we relied on our past experience to assume that high school soccer games would not be played on a Saturday. Oops. Turns out the girls had games on Saturday morning. But that didn't stop us. It just meant we had a few more obstacles to work around. John and Callie drove up early on Friday afternoon to grab a campsite for the weekend. Reese and Sarah were driving up later, parking nearby, and getting a ride into the show. That was the plan at least.

 

And we weren't there alone. Ella and her college friend Sam were camping with us, which made the experience even better. But this picture here of the girls about to listen to Chris Stapleton did not come easy. John had to drive out of the campsite to get Sarah and Reese because they were not going to be able to get a shared into the grounds. Traffic was brutal, which meant that on the way back in, Sarah and Reese got out of the car and walked so they would at least make it in time. All told John was in the car about two and a half hours to go ten miles, but he made it to the show. He wasn't up front with this crew, but he did get the whole Chris Stapleton experience. And it was awesome!

 

Chris Stapleton played until around 11:00 or so, and then we made our way to the exit so that our friends Bob and Tracy could drive us to where Sarah and Reese and parked. This was all arranged so we could leave one car at the campsite and then drive the other back to Lexington, two hours away. This would enable us to sleep for a bit, wake up early, and drive to West Jessamine HS so the girls could play the Colts. As the parents we did feel a little guilty for the lack of sleep and weren't sure how the girls would play. Thankfully they were still riding the adrenaline from the concert. Reese played the whole game and scored in the JV win and Callie followed that up by scoring the lone goal to seal for the victory for the varsity. After that performance we made a quick stop for showers at home and then headed back to Boyd County Fairgrounds.

 

Thankfully there was no traffic as we made our way back and we had plenty of time to hang out, make dinner, and have a true pre-show photo shoot. John and Callie had chosen well so that while our campsite was way in the back of the grounds we also had this as our backyard. All of the girls had prepped to look just right for the Tyler Childers performance.

 

They may be difficult to see in the tall grass, but Callie is sporting what we came to call her Amazing boots, an Amazon purchase that worked out splendidly. They were very comfortable and certainly made the outfit. Callie was especially excited since this was going to be the first time she was seeing Tyler Childers live.

 

All of the girls dressed up nice and were ready to head out as early as possible to get a spot toward the front. This meant standing up for several hours and listening to a number of opening acts before Tyler came out. I don't think these four had a problem with the standing for 4-5 hours part, but Sarah and John were certainly feeling it by the end of the night.

 

One of the great aspects of this festival is that its whole reason for being is to help support efforts to combat opiod abuse in eastern Kentucky communities. It is a cause that Tyler Childers has been involved with for years and he has been integral to starting this festival as part of that work. All that being said, it doesn't mean that people don't smoke, and Reese's sweater served her well throughout the weekend to cover her face when the cigarette/vape/Mary Jane smoke got a bit too much. So many lessons to learn at the age of 14. In any case, this is one of our favorite pictures from the weekend.

 

Tyler's show was incredible and he played a lot of his new album. That was both great because we got to hear songs like Bitin' List, but we were also there for his older stuff. And we loved the references to all the years he spent playing small places in Lexington, like Al's Bar, which made an appearance in his set for part of the show. Once he was done playing we were wiped out. Some of our crew stayed up a bit to talk about the show while John went straight into the tent and crashed. It was a long weekend, but it was worth every hour spent in the car to make it happen.

Baby Isla

It's one thing to watch your kids get older. It's another thing to watch that generation have kids of their own. We aren't grandparents, but we are excited that we now have a relative whose entrance into the world puts a grand in front of our title. 

On Monday, September 1, our nephew Keith and his fiancée Julia welcomed their daughter Isla! She just missed being Sarah's birthday bandit but she clearly couldn't wait to start her life in the great outdoors.

Isla arrived about five weeks prematurely so had to spend a good chunk of time in the NICU before she could head home with her parents. We got updated pictures from her proud dad, Keith, as well as from her grandparents, Zac and Brandi. Everyone was certainly oohing and aahing over the new addition to the family. We can't wait to meet her!

 

Here's a great picture of three generations in the NICU. You can tell that Grandpa Zac is over the moon about his granddaughter. He will soon find out how much this little girl will have an impact on his life. It's very cool to see.

Last First and First First

This year marks the first time in seven years Callie and Reese were in the same school as Callie kicked off her final year at Henry Clay and Reese started her high school career. Big milestones all around.

Little did we understand just how many different senior traditions there were going to be, starting with the decoration of the senior cars. Callie had the good fortune of inheriting John's Honda Accord, but had the misfortune of entering her senior year when the district starting building a whole new high school and took away most of the senior parking. So she got to decorate her car but was not going to be able to drive it to school.

 

It didn't stop her from getting together with her friends to decorate cars and take pictures, however. For a few weeks you would see these decorated cars all over town until they finally washed off. It's a fun tradition and a great way for the seniors to start their big year.

 

It's crazy to think that we have pictures of both of these girls for every first day since kindergarten. The backyard has changed a bit since that first picture but these two have changed much more dramatically. And while Reese was a bit nervous about finding her way through the halls of Henry Clay, she knew that Callie and her friends had her back every step of the way.

 

It was one last first day group picture as well for this crew. Different from past years is that most of the girls in this picture drove themselves to Holland's house which meant there weren't a bunch of parents standing around trying to capture the moment. These girls were certainly excited for the year ahead and the memories they will make.

 

This year's senior sunrise featured more seniors than sun, but it was no less enjoyable for them all. Callie's friend Hope started a vlog to capture these senior milestones and during the sunrise she asked her classmates where they would be in ten years. All the parents who saw the video enjoyed hearing the answers that included marriage, kids, big houses, and high paying jobs. Callie apparently will have a big house with a big yard for all of her dogs and a job that pays well. It's good to have dreams. 

California Girls on the Bourbon Trail

 

Alicia was the last of the crew to turn 50 and when we asked her what she wanted to do she said that she wanted to check the Bourbon Trail off her bucket list. Although not all of us are bourbon lovers we were happy to oblige. Sarah had an enjoyable time creating a schedule and coordinating some fun bourbon encounters for the five days they were in town. 

 

The trip started with a night in Louisville where we stayed at 21c, ironically the same place John took Sarah for her 40th birthday celebration. We had a nice dinner at a local steak house the night Alicia, Denise, and Lauren arrived after we all had our free bourbon cocktail at the hotel bar. The next morning we started with an Evan Williams tasting experience on Distillery Row in downtown Louisville.

 

But the main event of the day was the Bourbon Festival in Bardstown. Alicia had found about it online and immediately purchased passes for the group, so we were committed. We spent four hours sipping bourbon and collecting bourbon swag.

 

Alicia was in seventh heaven and many times throughout the afternoon had both hands full. Denise and Alicia tended to enjoy their bourbon neat while Sarah and Lauren tried to get as much mixer as possible in their tasters. The entire event was much more enjoyable than Sarah expected since she believes most bourbon equates to drinking fire.

 

The festival also had a variety of food options, which was certainly necessary to keep everyone on their feet over the course of the day. We may all be in our 50s now but we couldn't pass up BBQ and a photo op from Deez Butts. It was good food and allowed us to dive back into the tastings.

 

The bourbon industry has its fair share of unique names and stories. Our favorite of the day was Chicken Cock Whiskey, and their display was marketed well. Denise and Sarah had to get their pictures taken with the brand ambassador. 

 

After the night at 21c we took the party to an Airbnb in Lawrenceburg. It had a lot of room, a pool, pickleball courts, and a short drive to our other distillery destinations. It was also nicely located between Lexington and Louisville so John and the girls could pop in on their way back from some soccer games in Louisville. We had a short visit by their fire pit before heading out to our next destination.

 

One of the highlights of all the tours was the night tour at Maker's Mark, which included an exhibit of numerous Dale Chihuly glass blown sculptures. They were amazing and were set up both inside and outside the distillery. Seeing these with the sun setting and a bourbon cocktail in hand was an incredible experience.

 

Lauren and Alicia both took advantage of the opportunity to hand dip an individual bottle of Maker's Mark to get that signature red wax drip. They take their dipping seriously and had all the protective gear. Maker's Mark is not easy to get to but it is definitely worth the trip.

 

One of the last tours was at Castle and Key in Versailles. This was an old distillery that was renovated completely about ten years ago and the grounds are beautiful. We got to taste their gin and their bourbon and enjoyed them both. The setting of this distillery was so nice that we ended up taking a couple of cocktails down to seats set up by the creek. The great thing about bourbon distilleries in Kentucky is that most of them are in rural areas that showcase the state's natural beauty. We ended the day with a dinner at the Castle in Versailles, which stuck to the theme of the day and the trip - Alicia as our princess. Before we knew it Sarah was driving back to the airport to drop off the California aunties after another wonderful trip together.

Henry Clay soccer and fans

 It was only a few weeks after we got back from our soccer trip to California that the next phase of soccer started. High school soccer begins on July 15 and Reese had a few days of tryouts before Callie finally returned from GSP and entered the mix. Callie was excited to start her senior year and Reese was hoping to make a big impact as a freshman. When the dust settled Reese made JV and Callie was one of 11 seniors on varsity.

The season always starts off quickly with the Bluegrass State Games happening the first weekend after tryouts. This year was a little bit more involved in a good way because the Henry Clay boosters decided to have a tailgate at the fields. We had three teams playing over two days so it was great to have a central location for food, hydration, and socializing.

 

It's always an interesting weekend because the girls have had only a few practices and are still getting to know each other in some cases. That's true for the parents as well. Of course there are quite a few girls who know each other well and are just happy to know they will be spending a lot of time together over the next couple of months.

 

The next mile marker for the preseason are the East-West games hosted by Boyle County. Claire was only home for a week or two this summer but she made a point of driving down to Danville to watch both the girls play. As you can see they were more than delighted to have her there. They were also happy because by this time both girls had been named captain for their respective teams. It is based on player votes and coach confirmation, and for both girls it marked the second year in a row they had earned this leadership position for their respective teams.

 

Both Callie and Reese constantly end up playing friends of theirs during the high school season. In this instance Reese had matched up against her friend Ella and the Lexington Catholic Knights. Reese and Ella haven't played with or against each other for five years or so and it was great to see them together like this. Henry Clay won the game in case you are keeping score.

 

Among other things, senior year means a whole lot of pictures of this large group of senior girls. Callie not only has played with all of them over her high school career, but she has played with some of them since she was in fifth grade. And in the case of Janie Lakin, it goes back to when they were six years old on the Sting. In short, there's a whole of memories packed into this photo.

 

When Callie was a freshman we saw the senior girls early in the season wearing floaties and did not understand. Fast forward to Callie's senior year and we know that it is all part of a water gun senior assassin game that requires them to wear floaties or goggles to stay safe and in the game. This was not a short commitment since one of the winners, Janie Lakin, continued this well after the soccer season ended.

 

Another senior tradition results in a big picture hanging on the fence by the home soccer field. Fortunately one of Callie's friends got a picture of her by her poster as they were heading to a home football game. Note the floaties as Callie was still in the game at that point. Callie certainly enjoyed going to more home football games this year. But what was even better was that she and others went to more boys' soccer games and that resulted in bigger crowds of students attending the girls' soccer games. It was great to see all of the sports supporting each other.

 

This year added another twist to the soccer season because Ella Abraham had returned to Lexington as a first-year medical student at UK. Medical school is hard, but her Lafayette ties are strong and her former coaches convinced her to join their coaching staff. Her official title was Director of Operations but she was primary a JV coach. It was fun because we got some great insights into the Lafayette squad and she was on the sidelines to watch Reese and Callie play.

 

If nothing else, Callie and Reese know they are loved and supported by family and friends. Aunt Katie made a trip down to Lexington specifically to watch the girls play and to spend time with us. The girls love when she is in town and as this picture shows, Katie loves being with them. And she got to see some great games, which is always a plus. Katie is very fun to have in the stands as she is not afraid to be vocal and show her bias when her nieces are on the ball.

 

These three might be categorized as super fans. They came to almost every single home game and were loud and energetic in their support. Hope and Kylie didn't play soccer but loved watching Callie on the field. Frances played at Henry Clay for her first two years so knows the game and the players. It was sweet to see them seeking Callie out after every game to give hugs, high fives, and just some love.

 

And of course we can't forget the countless games these two have gone to long after their own daughters have left for college. The great thing about Kirk and Kelly is they are going to show their support but are also ready to break down the game and talk specifics about the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

 

Then there are the ultimate super fans. It is possible that these two have attended more soccer games in more extreme weather conditions than most. But seemingly nothing stops them from being on the sidelines to support their granddaughters. This fall they were in Lexington for the last games of the regular season. In the second of two game nights they saw Reese score a goal to seal a win against LCA. From Sport's reaction you might have thought Reese just won the World Cup.

And in the night cap of that LCA matchup they witnessed Callie scoring the winning goal as well. Sport was beyond excited for this one as well. There was no doubt among people in the stands who these two were related to based on their cheering. 

 

This picture with Callie puts a bookend on the five years they have traveled down to watch her play high school soccer. She has always been grateful for their support and they have always enjoyed watching her on the field. 

 

Callie has always loved high school soccer because it meant she was playing with girls across the years. When she was a freshman she looked up to the older girls and appreciate how they treated her and she has been paying it back ever since. Abby and Taylor are juniors who Callie has played with for three years and they have developed a great supportive friendship on and off the field. And for posterity's sake, this picture captures the infamous 6-7 trend of late 2025.

 

We'll talk more about the end of the season in another post, but this picture marks the last game Callie played on the Henry Clay soccer field. We managed to grab a picture after the team's win in the first round of the regional playoffs. We still have three more years to enjoy Reese on this pitch but we had to recognize the milestone of five years with Callie. Time flies.

Manhattan Beach and Soccer

 

While Callie was hanging out with all the Governor's Scholars in Morehead we found a way to pass the time by flying out to California. Reese had a soccer tournament and the location made it possible for us to stay with the Perrones in Manhattan Beach the entire time. Not only did this save on a hotel but it also allowed us to focus our time off the field on good friends and the beach. In fact after we landed we hit In-N-Out and the beach before we even saw Lauren and company.

 

Being in Manhattan Beach also provided the perfect opportunity to take Reese on a tour down memory lane. While Sarah and Lauren went for a long walk on the Strand, John took Reese to the best breakfast place in the South Bay, the Local Yolk. John lived just a couple of blocks away from this fine establishment for several years and the great news is that the omelets are still fantastic.

 

Staying with the Perrones meant we got insight into their daily routines, including the work schedules of Ashlyn and Kate. Ashlyn had been working at Paradise Bowls for a couple of months and boy are these the best acai bowls we've ever had. Ashlyn was very kind to humor us during our visit to her place of work.

 

We did actually make time for soccer during the trip and Lauren made the trip out to Norco for one of Reese's games. She knew exactly where to go since Ashlyn has played on these fields before. We lucked out with the weather and the timing of our games. This early game left us tons of time the rest of the day and it also wasn't very hot. Reese's team also won which always makes the day that much better.

 

After that first game we made sure to introduce some of Reese's teammates to the wondrous world of animal style double doubles and all that In-N-Out has to offer. We wanted to make sure they were properly fueled up before we took them back to the coast for an afternoon of fun in the sun.

 

We had lots of options of where to go but our inner compass led us back to Manhattan Beach. While the parents hung out and talked the three girls had the time of their lives in and out of the water. Reese, Mary, and Sophie clearly have a shared interest in handstands, goofing around, and just playing in general. Their inner child has no problem coming out.

 

Reese is a water bug and California's relatively cold water doesn't slow her down. She would have played in the waves all day if it was up to her and the other girls certainly appeared to share her attitude. It was a lot of fun watching them attempt to body surf and play in the waves.

 

At a certain point though we did have to pull them out of the ocean so that we could get a bite to eat. And while we were going to be staying in Manhattan Beach the other members of our crew were going to have to drive back inland to their hotel. It was one more reason we were happy with our choice and thankful for the hospitality of the Perrones.

 

To continue our trip down memory land we knew the perfect place for an early dinner and some adult beverages. That's right, Panchos, baby! We must admit that since the last time we visited the prices have risen at this Manhattan Beach institution. John's go to Burrito del Mar is now almost $30 which he certainly would not have been able to afford when he lived here as a grad student. But the food was still tasty and the margaritas hit the spot. 

 

Ashlyn and Reese not only have soccer in common. They also have a passion and patience for the world of nails. Reese was taken by some of Ashlyn's tools and Ashlyn was more than happy to provide all the insights she had learned. Together the spent a couple of hours together talking about nails and showing off their respective skills. It's exactly what Lauren and Sarah did when they were in college...not!

 

While the nail salon was in full gear the other folks indulged in Kate's particular passion...macha! We knew Kate had a great love for this and even had created with a friend an Instragram page called Gas or Grass on which they rate different macha drinks throughout the South Bay and beyond. Not only did we get a macha but then we even got our own brief appearance on the Gas or Grass page. We are still hoping it will go viral eventually and we can become influencers.

 

The next day was a day off from games and we invited Sophie and her Mom to meet us in Santa Monica for another southern California experience. We walked along the Santa Monica Pier and the promenade to heck out all the stores. We didn't see any street performers, but these tourist spots haven't changed much in the last two decades.

 

Pictures like this of Sophie and Reese swinging at the beach are always good reminders that it's a different world out on the California coast. Even though we tried not to take it for granted when we lived here these moments still make our hearts sing. We definitely miss being so close to the ocean.

 

Reese rode with Sophie and her mom from the beach to our suggested lunch spot in Westwood. This allowed us the time to visit some truly special places in our personal history. The building is now occupied by someone else, but this picture is outside what used to be the Kaplan Center where Sarah and John first met. In fact, at some point in the summer/fall of 2003 Sarah was standing right outside of these windows making faces at John while he was in front of a class teaching a GRE or GMAT course. Such good memories.

 

But the truly special memory of our visit to Westwood occurred after lunch when we stopped by the Brandy Melville store. We cannot come close to doing this story justice here, but will try and give the highlights of an epic encounter with this Westwood traffic cop. Sarah first got us involved in a conversation with her through an innocent comment related to a ticket the cop was giving to someone who had parked illegally in an alley. For the next 30 minutes we were part of a show that will never be duplicated. She provided life advice that ranged from the length of shorts, to romance, to making sure the girls knew that "honks are for hoes" (in other words, a boy coming to pick you up needs to come to the front door and not honk the horn in the driveway). This was one of the most entertaining conversations we have ever been a part of and as you can see, Reese and Sophie had no idea how to respond or react. Honestly, we didn't either. So we took a picture and did our best to remember every element of the encounter because no one would believe it if we told them.

 

Lauren was very sweet and hosted a dinner one night so that we could see Auntie Pi and Auntie D. Auntie D's niece and mom also joined the fun. This is a fun crew and the presence of the younger generation makes it that much better.

 

Yes, there was still soccer to be played. Overall the girls had a great trip, winning all three games. Reese played well and while we don't want to make a habit of traveling 2,000 miles for a soccer tournament it worked out perfectly when all was said and done. The weather was great, Reese got into the ocean every day of the trip, and we saw all sorts of folks.

 

We even got to spend some time with Auntie Gret. Earlier in the trip we had dinner with her and her son Josh, but she also made the time to grab an ice cream with us before we headed to LAX for our red-eye flight back to Kentucky. It's never enough time but we are grateful for all of the moments we got to share with great friends on this trip back to southern California. Hopefully we'll be back again soon.