Branson with Bliz

Bliz and I met in Branson, MO a couple weekend's past, which is sort of half-way between us (Bliz lives four hours away, I'm about six hours). Branson is a hidden entertainment gem, nestled in the heart of the Ozarks. Given this blog has two readers, the greater Branson Chamber of Commerce isn't going to get any help promoting through me. This was my fourth trip to Branson in less than four years and my second trip with Bliz. 

But, back to this Branson trip. During our weekend, we took the "Top of the Rock" tour, which is a golf cart tour from the top of a mountain, through a cave--with a bar inside--across a bridge and back up the mountain.  

The one picture I took on our Top of the Rock tour.
That's Table Rock Lake. It doesn't look nearly as large as it truly is. 

 

For her birthday present, I'd bought us tickets to Six. Six is an a cappella group, comprised of six brothers (there are ten boys in the family--all from Phoenix). I'd heard them perform last spring and knew Bliz would love them. She did. We stuck around for the meet and greet afterward and had a friendly chat and took a few pictures. As a fun little happenstance, We discovered that I'd gone to high school with two of the brothers, both slightly older than me. I only went to that school one year and didn't know them at the time. Eventually I'll pull out my sophomore yearbook and and find the two boys and send the pictures to Bliz. She'll get a kick out of it. 

A hidden gem in the hidden gem city.

Though the trip was wonderful, because of life circumstances, both of us were in mild funks. I'd like to think I brought out the smiles in her as much as she did in me. The weekend got my mind off of Marty's unemployment and Mom's health issues. Bliz also had her own battles going on. I needed the laughs and the comfortable silence only a long-time friend can offer. I suspect she did too. Hopefully next time we meet up, our hearts will be lighter.