Dad and my brother Pete came out to visit me for the past several days. We really had a great time together. The plan was for Pete to come out and look at the real estate market in Phoenix. He restores homes in Georgia and does well, but the real estate market in Arizona has expanded for the last 30 years, and he could stand to do better out here.

The first full day I used a tank of gas giving them a tour of existing neighborhoods, new developments, golf courses, and high-end land. We started in Mesa, drove through Chandler, then up to Pinnacle Peak. Although I like the commotion of the East Valley, the I can’t deny that mountains around Pinnacle Peak give welcome solitude to the people who are fortunate enough to afford a home there. We really enjoyed looking at all the huge homes tucked into the mountains. Before we left the area, we had burgers and beer at a cowboy junkyard. It’s one of those places that is too bizarre to write about–you just gotta see it. Then we toured a luxurious timeshare on the mountainside.

It was time to head south again, and I took them through Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and finally Arcadia. On any other day, five hours of driving would’ve driven me crazy. But my Honda Element is spacious so everyone has enough room. Plus, I had the new David Crowder CD playing the whole time.

When you are spending time with family like this, you just have to go all out and make good days into great days. So we marched onto the golf course where I live to sneak some holes before the sun set. It was so much fun to wack the ball and then turn and talk to Peter about real estate. I didn’t realize how fanatic I have become since I moved from Georgia. We tried to sort out the pros and cons of him moving out here and to start a business.

After the round of golf, the two of them fell asleep while Candyce and I left to see the David Crowder Band at Gammage Auditorium. What an amazing show. The auditorium itself was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, so you could have a good time even if nobody stepped onto the stage. But David Crowder is just such a bright, talented guy. When he and his band stepped on stage, the whole place went absolutely crazy. I wish I would’ve bootlegged the show so I could remember it. It was funny because almost everyone of my friends was at the show, so at least we’ll be able to reminisce together.

I gave David Crowder a NoMoHo belt buckle before I left. I hope he likes it.