I flew across the country to say goodbye to my favorite childhood restaurant

It sounds kinda ridiculous. I know.

But, this place operated as my second home. I'm currently in the car driving back from Lake Tahoe.

Tahoe is my second home. I grew up going for 3 months over summers until I was around 15. I ran up Black Diamond ski runs training for cross country in middle and high school, faced a 40 degree lake at 7am every morning with my summer swim team, and laced slimy hot dogs on to fish hooks while catching crawdads with my little brothers.

There's something to be mourned about a place you have so many memories attached to being brought to dust. The Lone Eagle Grille is a restaurant that housed some of the most prominent memories from my youth. I sat outside at the fire pit and almost cried last night, I was surprised at how sad it being torn down made me. I realized my sadness may be more of a mourning for my childhood than anything else.

I graduate college in May, my brother is leaving to start college, and my parents will be moving out of my childhood home. Like the Lone Eagle, my present and past will be swept to dust like they were never there.

But there is something to be said about keeping those places within yourself, it's the best way to keep them alive. I do think certain things disappear from your life to keep you moving forward and pushing ahead.

I'll remember the Eagle forever, I kidnapped a pine cone and a menu from the restaurant to hang on my wall in memory. Pine needles, warm bread, grenadine, and the song American Pie will always transport me back to The Lone Eagle Grill circa 2010, and throw me into a looking glass at my 10 year old self.

Weird.

Onward and Upward.