Dateline Dayton —On the road again.

Last Friday we left for Michigan, to visit our daughter and her family, whom we haven’t seen in some time. We also were going to attend our grandson Ryan’s football and soccer games.

On Sunday we would help our oldest granddaughter Heather get back to college, providing a much-needed van.

Leaving the house before breakfast, we stopped at George’s in north Dayton, and then, as is tradition on Michigan trips, headed for the B & G Discount store in Schoolcraft, making a few pit stops along the way.

We spent a half-hour shopping, and then I convinced Pauline we should check out a new casino, Gun, 30 miles north of Kalamazoo, just off Route 131.

My only reason for going to the casino was to get a players card to add to my collection. Pauline, as usual, thought I was nuts, which may be true. Who would travel an extra 45 minutes just to get a “stupid little plastic card,” her words? She pointed out that we were spending about $15 in gas to get that card. I counter with “I’ll have two cards, and it’s much less expensive than making a separate trip.”

I don’t believe the separate trip scenario was much of a selling point. However, she gave in.

By the time we left the casino, she had to change her tune because I won. I was $24 ahead, so I covered the cost of gas and even paid for lunch.

Even with the casino side trip and the stop at B & G’s, we arrived early at our daughter’s, which gave us time to rest before leaving for Ryan’s football game.

It was a great game. Niles won 32 to 26. Ryan two points-after-touchdown kicks, they ran two and he missed one due to a botched toss. He also had a great field goal kick; however, it went just slightly to the right of the goal post. His six kickoffs were really good, but the Niles defense had a hard time stopping the opposing team from returning the kicks for big yardage. They won. It was their first game. What more can you want.

On Saturday, Pauline took Darlene out to breakfast giving then some quality time together, and I took the kids. Ryan’s soccer game was at noon and he had to be at school by 11, so Darlene took him when she returned from breakfast.

Ryan is the goalie for the Niles soccer team, and he didn’t get much activity at this game, since seldom was the ball at his end of the field. Niles won the game 7 to 0.

Saturday evening we went to church and then took the family out to eat. Mike, Darlene’s husband, was unable to go, as he had to be at work early the next day and we wouldn’t be back home until after seven, When we did get back to the house, we loaded the van with the things Heather would need for school, which included a couch. She will be a senior this year in the nursing program at Eastern Michigan.

Sunday morning a little after 8 o’clock, we were on our way to Ypsilanti. We stopped at 10 to have breakfast and arrived at the university at noon. We didn’t take the interstate, which took a little long, but was a really nice drive.

After getting everything to Heather’s room and then putting all in place, we were on our way home by 3.

We arrived in Kettering at 6:30, stopping for delicious chicken at the Bar BQ Hut, prior to going to the house.

A very nice weekend and the weather was perfect.

Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net