My MacBook Pro smells a little like a campfire. Proof positive of a working adventure.

I had resolved not to leave town on a holiday weekend – not even go into town to the office if I could help it. Traffic is brutal in recreation areas during the busy season. There is such a passing frenzy on two-lane highways. Your odds of a head on collision – or rolling your car off-road to avoid one- are extremely high.

I don’t need that kind of stress. Nevertheless, as Memorial Day approached, I realized I would be alone. I am accustomed to parades and car shows, and baseball, and family cookouts on Memorial Day.

Now solitude is one of my comforts, but I also love to laugh. Laughter usually takes two. My family and best friends are in Colorado. My work friends have seen more than enough of me this past week. Besides, holidays for them mean tossing shots and swinging drunk in the backyard. As much as I enjoy a good swing set, drunkenness is not my forte.

As it turned out, instead of shots, I had marshmallows toasted over an open fire, watermelon toted in a cooler, hotdogs roasted on my pocket stove, and great conversation.

I got to see my daughter looking extremely well in borrowed clothes, sporting a river tan on her knees and making lovely music with mandolin and voice. Making mature, well-honed, performance-ready music around a campfire – while I made an office of picnic table, cell-phone and laptop.

After she played through a mini-repertoire of songs ranging from Johnny Cash through Amazing Grace and some cutting edge originals, she obligingly chopped and split our neighbors’ wood tender. They shared their fire. We enjoyed marshmallows, and played games with those three neighbors as the embers died.

We broke camp the next morning and headed back through that persistently impatient traffic to work day worlds. In my workday world I will design and buy merchandise and insist on customer service that insures visitors have a great outdoor experience. In her world, she will fearlessly guide wanderers down river on a raft; or lead strangers into deeper spirituality through her music.

Have I said recently that I raise young musicians? They are all grown up now and each responsible and laudable in his or her own right for musical expertise. I can no longer take credit for their virtuosity. What a joy to know that each of my children travels through life making substantive music; all the while keeping body and shelter viable through creative endeavor.

Don’t quit on your travel – Keep putting one foot in front of the other

Don’t quit on your enjoyment of Nature – Keep loving the great outdoor activities

Don’t quit your day job – You need it to fund the activities you love

And don’t quit on your music!