After three days on the road, we arrived in Palm Springs, California. In those days, it was customary for the host location for these meetings to provide housing for those travelling, whether to ATG (All Team Gathering), EC Meetings, Suitcase Team members, or whatever. On some occasions, various members might opt to stay in motels or hotels, but the option to stay with local people was almost always available. I have met some most wonderful people in our travels.
The home we stayed at in Palm Springs was built in the early to mid-fifties, if I recall correctly. Nothing unusual about that, but what WAS unusual was that here we were in 2000, and the home was decorated in retro-fifties style furnishings. They were totally cool (if a bit uncomfortable to me). Scott loved them! Even today, 12 years later, Scott still talks about those furnishings, especially when we see similar items on TV or in a furniture store, or what-not! What I especially remember was that the backyard was sloped up away from the house, just a little, and about 25 feet up this slope was a jacuzzi for two! A hot tub! Scott loves 50’s architecture and furnishings. I adore hot tubs! And since this was January, and we’d had a snow storm impeding our progress our first day of our trip, that hot tub was MOST inviting! I spent a lot of time out there the two nights we were there.
The other thing I recall was the home of Rev. Pelletier I recall entering through a hallway to a great room, or perhaps an open layout room that was tiled not with ceramic tile but with slate. The back wall was all glass doors, which could be opened out onto a lanai, edged with stone fronted seating (sculpted to look almost natural) I believe there was a water feature of some nature out there. It was a most motivational place for us to meet and discuss the business of Excel! We could sit outside in the cool, refreshing air, while at the same time sheltered above from the full force of a Palm Springs sun (even though it WAS winter). I remember a great number of us gathered around the tables chatting about various bylaws and efforts we were undertaking. In those days (and I do not believe anything has changed) anyone was welcome to sit in on our EC meetings. We did from time to time, I think, have need of an “Executive Session” when guests would be asked to excuse us to discuss some issue of private nature. One such was when we had to decide to do the UNTHINKABLE… discipline a team.
An aside, here. In 2000, my parents lived in San Juan Capistrano, which is in the southern part of Orange County. I wanted to visit them while we were in California, but our week was so packed with things, that there was just no way. Instead, Mom & Dad drove up to Palm Springs on Thursday (or maybe it was Wednesday), and Karla, Scott and I spent the evening with them, wandering around downtown Palm Springs, then finding someplace to eat. Later, back at their motel, we transferred some belongings from their car to my van. With what we had brought with us on our trip, and what they brought from San Juan Cap. our van was full for the drive back to Omaha! The visit was a bittersweet one, too. This was the first time Mom & Dad had met Scott. In 1996, when I came out to Mom & Dad (unfortunately over the telephone, long distance from Indiana) Mom had firmly told me that they never, ever wanted to meet any of my “boyfriends or whatever you call them”. At the time of our visit in Palm Springs, our relationship was still very strained. While I know they knew Scott was my “boyfriend or whatever”, we just didn’t address the topic, other than “This is Scott, Scott, this is my mom & dad”. The memory of this night still has power to sadden me, even today, and as I write, I feel tears threatening. The truth is, the years from 1996 to 2003 are lost and I can’t have them back, at least as far as my relationship with Mom & Dad is concerned. But in 2003 when Mom & Dad moved back to Council Bluffs, I refused to allow their attitude to impede my relationship with Scott. In short order, Mom & Dad fell for Scott almost as deeply as I had. Now, ahem, back to the story!
On Friday, we wrapped up our meeting, and departed for Wrightwood, CA. I wish that I could remember the name of the facility at which we held that Southlands Excel Weekend. It was perhaps one of the most beautiful of sites for an Excel weekend! But then, I’ve always loved mountains and pine trees, and cool, dry mountain air. The smell of pine needles in the sun, and being crushed underfoot as one walks… I know I had a great weekend there! I remember a reference made in one of the talks about people “armed with KJV Assault Bibles the size of a suitcase!” I remember, too, that the locals and my fellow EC members from the more southern climes had a lot of problems, complaining about the severe cold! For those of us from Nebraska/Iowa it was not so bad (except, I suspect for Karla, who even though she’s a veteran of the deadly Nebraska winter, get’s cold anytime the temperature drops below 85 – just kidding, Karla!!!!)
All too soon our Excel exercise came to an end, and the Three Musketeers loaded up and headed for home! I remember that first day, I was determined we would make it to Arizona! Normally this would not be a problem but the weekend officially didn’t end until after 4 pm! Our drive took us north from Wrightwood through Victorville to I40 in Barstow. I remember much of the drive, especially once we left the mountains, how flat it was! And people say Nebraska is flat! (A few years later, Scott and I drove through this region, this time with my Mom & Dad in a rented RV, and once again, we were under deadline and driving far into the night!) We eventually arrived in Kingman, and stayed in the same motel we had stayed at on our trip out a week before.
On Monday, we were up early. Our plan was to drive as far into Colorado as possible. We made it to Colorado Springs. If you recall, back on the first day or so of our stay in California (see Part I) Karla, Scott & I had made a side trip to West Hollywood, to the headquarters of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (our denomination) where we had purchased a cassette tape audio series entitled “The Erotic Contemplative” with an accompanying study guide.
On The Road II 