September 25, 2025: The Epic Weekend (Day 1)

Today marked Day 1 of an unforgettable weekend party.

Our family gathered to honor Jess’s parents on their 50th anniversary. Loved ones rolled in from Denver, Atlanta, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Boston, Richmond, and Williamsburg.

By the time we counted heads, twenty-five of us filled one enormous rental property on North Carolina’s Lake Norman.

The place had a name — The Gray Fox — and offered three stories of fun right on the water. It included a dock, pool, waterslide, hot tub, ping-pong table, and fire pit. Also paddle boards and a kayak.

Inside, every room revealed more surprises. Bunk beds each had a personal TV and headphones. Downstairs turned into a competition zone with a pool table and a PlayStation 5.

Yet nothing topped the crown jewel of the house. Tucked away in its own corner stood a full-blown movie theater. A massive screen. A projector. Three rows of cushioned leather seats, fifteen in all.

We came for the lake but stayed for the surround sound.