My World Travels

by Jonan Keeny

We got the band back together!

Fam, the Keeny fam keeps busy. Busy. BIZ-to-the-E. So when we realized that our schedules aligned for ALL FOUR OF US to have an adventure, we started to think about places nearby that we had been to briefly, or stopped by quickly while passing through, that we might explore a little more completely. And what shenanigans might we find that would entertain all four of us??? And, piggybacking on my futile mini golf efforts of last month, I got to thinking about another game at which I am terrible, but that I still thoroughly enjoy: Bowling. Knowing that Wyatt had only been bowling once before, that Miles has never been, and that ML and I are not good at it made it a perfect option for a full-on Keeny (friendly?) competition at Clarksville Lanes.

While I had no idea how much bowling alleys might have changed since I last haphazardly slung a ball at unsuspecting and defenseless pins in Buffalo, Minnesota a whole bunch of years ago, I am happy to report that they’re still pretty much the same. That is, unfortunately for ML and I, gutters are still a part of the standard setup. But luckily for Miles and Wyatt, Clarkesville Lanes is equipped with bumpers that automatically deploy and retract for each player that requires them. Had the bumpers not been available, I have a strong feeling that the enjoyment of our little ones would have been seriously diminished!

Perhaps the most important takeaways are that I still look just as good in bowling shoes as I thought I would, and my game hasn’t really deteriorated all that much over the years. Knocking down 100 pins in a game is still quite a feat for me…And yes, 9yo Wyatt bested me in our first game. I, however, avenged that defeat in the second. But the coolest part about bowling again after so many years? It just might be one of the most cost-effective family activities you can find that isn’t free! I was pleasantly shocked at how affordable it was. Had our un-napped littlest one not needed a change of scenery, we likely would have spent a few more hours heckling each other good-naturedly as we struggled to knock down half the pins in a given frame. But it was time to move on…

Mark of the Potter was suggested as a destination that the whole family would enjoy, and so there we went. You know the word “nestled,” right? Mark of the Potter is as “nestled” as it gets(!), right up against the Soque River, with waterfalls and trees and birds and trout and all of the wonderful sounds that go along with being in our beautiful region. And while I was nervous about taking two little boys into a place that was full of very fragile items, the staff was super-friendly and immediately put my mind at ease about Miles and Wyatt being there. We were treated to a history of the mill, including an explanation of how it had once worked, which fascinated the boys (and mom and dad), and we got a little tour of all of the various items handmade by countless potters that were available. As one who has never been all that handy, I find the work done by so many talented craftspeople nothing short of amazing. The fact that someone can start with nothing but a hunk of clay and turn it into something that is both beautiful and functional with their bare hands astonishes me. And let’s not forget the trout! ML, the boys, and I all had a great time feeding the HUGE trout from high above the river. It was funny to see them swimming around under the surface of the water until the food started raining down. Then…What a sight! After sufficiently(?) feeding the fish due to our multiple visits back inside to buy food, it was time to tackle our actual mission: Find a birthday present for my mom, aka “Mimi.” She’s an avid tea drinker, and choosing something from the vast array of items at Mark of the Potter was not an easy task. So many beautiful and appropriate items to choose from! However, we were equal to that challenge and we are certain Mimi will love her gift. Unfortunately, some torrential rain and hail moved in, which caused us to cut our adventure a little bit shorter than we had anticipated. Regardless, our time in Clarkesville was well spent and I can’t wait until the Keeny Quartet gets to hit the road together again!

Jonan Keeny was born in Topeka, Kansas, he got older in Berwick, Pennsylvania, and then he lived a bunch of other places. A lifelong learner and a full-time dreamer, the prospect of grand new adventures gets him out of bed in the morning, with some additional assistance from his two blonde-haired, blue-eyed alarm clocks, of course! Jonan recently rediscovered his passion for photography, which keeps him quite busy tromping around the woods, stopping at random places on the side of the road, and uploading photos to his website, www. myworldpics.com, and his Insta, @dude4disney. When he isn’t wrangling two little boys, he’s likely hanging out with his wife, Mary Lauren, reading a book to learn something new, or dreaming of life’s next adventure and Walt Disney World. Regardless of the activity, he’s probably participating in it while wearing funky socks and a cool hat.