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All over the place

That is where my thoughts are, all over the place.

I wanted to write a post about how the first time you do, see, or experience something is often the most memorable. A few weeks ago, I took Jordan to Reeger's farm near where my mom lives. If you happen to be in or around Indiana County and you have kids, this is a great place to spend a Saturday in October. From the hayride, to sliding down the silo, to climbing up the hay bales, to playing in the candy corn, to the corn maze, this place rocks. But, alas, it was not as good as it was the first time we went, last year. Part of the reason was because it was about 80 degrees and sunny, and I was wearing black (a Depeche Mode concert shirt from '93, another good first). But the other reason is, is that the corn maze was so cool the first year, that anything after just pales in comparison. Trying to find each of the clues and answer the questions got my competitive edge (mostly non-existent as of late) going.

And that got me thinking about the first time I went to Disney World. It was in 1998, and my mom and I flew down to Fla for my little brother's college graduation. We had time for only one park during that short trip, and we chose Epcot. I thought it was the greatest, and I was so excited to go back and experience that and all the other parks the following year on my honeymoon. But Epcot was not as good as it was the first time. I think once you experience something and it turns out really well, it is tough to do better. I don't remember a lot about that first trip to Epcot, but what really sticks out in my mind is going on the ride in Norway, I think. I just remember my mother laughing so hard. I can still hear it. It was a great sound, something rarely heard from Mom. Don't get me wrong; Brian and I had a great honeymoon. It was probably one of the best vacations of my life, which is fortunate since we have taken a trip away for more than three days since. But Epcot would never be as it was that first time.

I have had countless other experiences where the first time was the best: the South Side Bar Crawl, living on my own the first time, progressive dinner with some coworkers, my first Great Race, my first kid. The list goes on and on. But I also know that some things are better the second and even third time around, which is why I decided not to do a post on this.

Except I just did. I am just so desperate for something other than politics to write about. So there you have it. Maybe next time I write about my kid.

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