Chapter One
It was a Sunday evening in October 2001. I tapped a pitcher of Coors from the old refrigerator that had been converted to a “kegerator” in my garage. I placed the pitcher of beer and a frozen glass on a table next to the hot tub. I took off my bathrobe and climbed into the bubbling 104-degree water.
As I kicked back, I eyeballed my big screen TV through the sliding glass door. Even at 25 feet away in the living room, I could still enjoy television from the comfort of the hot tub. ESPN showed football highlights of the games played earlier that afternoon. As the recap of my favorite team’s game came on, I grabbed the remote. I turned up the volume on the surround sound speakers so I could hear the announcer over the roar of the hot tub jets.
After the highlights ended, I pointed the remote control and channel surfed. I hoped to find another sports channel showing football highlights. Alas, my search proved futile. From my prone position in the hot tub, I turned the television off.
Using the same remote, I turned on my five-disc CD player. I cycled through discs searching for relaxing tunes to enjoy, while I kicked back in the swirling, bubbling hot water.
“Aaaah, this is the life,” I thought to myself. I had wired my outdoor hot tub with four surround sound speakers plus a 12” sub-woofer. My outdoor patio sound system was better than most people’s home stereo system.
I relished that my universal remote control could manage the entire home entertainment system from the comforts of the hot tub. Turn up the tunes? Change to a different CD or audio source? Turn on the TV? Change channels on the cable box? Easy to do with the one remote I grasped in my hand.
As I stared at the sky, clouds came in, obscuring my view of the stars. A few minutes later a slight sprinkle started. I grabbed the remote control for the patio awning. With one push of the button, an 11 foot by 10-foot patio canopy magically extended over the entire hot tub area. I took another sip of ice-cold beer.
The hot tub area was now completely enclosed. There was an opening to my patio and living room sliding door. However, the other three side walls, each made of eight feet tall cedar boards, provided total isolation. Not only was my hot tub area wired for electronic entertainment but also rainproof and private.
From my reclined position, I glanced at my two cars in the garage – a 2000 Jeep Sahara and a 2001 Acura TL Type S. Both top of the line, with every option available. And more importantly, both were paid off.
A few moments later, my two dogs came out of the garage to visit. Guido was a unique combination of 3/4 chow and 1/4 Samoyed. Fawn colored, he possessed a unique appearance. With a mane surrounding his face, he looked like a lion. Alexis was a pure greyhound. Sleek and strong, primarily white with brindle spots. I received numerous compliments on their beauty.
I thought about the upcoming work week and contemplated making a trip to Tower Records after work on Monday. Although I already owned over 2,000 CD’s, I recently discovered new bands, and I wanted to pick up their releases.
My mind wandered, and I thought about the summer that just passed. Three months filled with parties at my house, concerts, beer festivals, four wheeling camping trips to the beach, and the many women I met.
I thought about next summer. Over $15,000 saved in my bank account. Money earmarked for a truck, camper, and sand rail. I loved riding the dunes at Sand Lake on the Oregon Coast in my Jeep. However, a sand rail would enhance my pleasure even more. Since I would need a truck to tow the trailer why not buy a camper to go with it as well?
My mind drifted to my 20-year high school reunion I attended that summer. In the memory book, each graduate was asked to fill out a section titled “Highlights of My Life since High School.” The section for me read:
Very successful financially – working for a Fortune 500 company. No kids, still single, living the partying rock-n-roll, hot tubbing lifestyle!
I chuckled thinking about that line. Even four months later, I still laughed about it. At 38 years old, I was having the time of my life.
However, a little voice inside kept saying “Is there more to life than this?” I pushed aside the thought and took a big gulp of beer. Little did I know how much my life would drastically change in the next 15 months.
