Much to do within day's drive

Among the fall weekend attractions which occur yearly, there are some which we enjoy doing when we can, meaning every several years. Maybe given unlimited budget, it would be every year, but that doesn't exist.

I'm not including hunting season, because only one of us in the Davis family cares much about that. All events are, as a disclaimer, kid-friendly.

How long has it been since you...

Went to the Balloon Fiesta? It's a photographer's dream — or nightmare, if you are OCD and try to take in every great photo opportunity that you see. It is a chance to enter a world of color and sight that one rarely gets to enter.

For the adventurous, of course, and those who can afford it, there is the chance to go on a balloon ride. Having a solid issue with heights, I have never even looked into the cost, myself. Maybe I would risk it, if someone else footed the bill.

Since you ... went to state fair? I am ashamed to say that my woodcarvings have seen much more of the NM State Expo, than I have. I have sent them almost yearly; it has been years since I went. The competitions for any creation, carvings included, are a lot of fun to look at, and that doesn't even touch the rides, food, exhibit halls, and special events such as rodeo and concerts. Go online and see what is necessary to enter your own creative efforts. Hey, if they'll accept MY woodcarvings, anyone can enter his or her work!

Since you ... took in a college football game? Unless you are a diehard Aggies or Lobos fan, there is no real reason to drive a long way in order to see a game. The fun, excitement, and fanfare are just as real at ENMU, especially if you choose Homecoming or some other special day. Plan for a tailgate party.

How long since you ... simply took an autumn ride in the mountains? I would normally suggest Ruidoso, but I don't know what that area looks like, since the fire destroyed so much.

This particular activity used to be a staple way to spend a Saturday or Sunday when I was growing up,with mountains half an hour away, money on a measured budget, and gasoline not enormously expensive. Take a picnic, keep the radio off, and get reacquainted with the people you love most.

Went to Palo Duro Canyon? Again, this fits the category of a trip you might not want to make yearly, but every several years. It's more meaningful if you get out and hike a bit, remembering that the temperature rises as you descend into the Canyon. Pack enough water for that contingency.

On the particular day I write this, the thermometer on my instrument panel still hovers around 100 degrees. Autumn seems like a distant fantasy. Yet, we know it isn't so.

In our particular family, the maxim is that we try to never let the serious aspects of life interfere with fun, especially since Mikayla and Jason are little and make life an adventure. The grass will still need cutting, the hedges trimming, long after they have outgrown wanting to spend their weekends with us. I hope you will treat your precious weekends the same; you only get 52 of them in a year.

Clyde Davis is a Presbyterian pastor and teacher at Clovis Christian High School. He can be contacted at: [email protected]