Home, then off again

We’re back home safe and sound and the trip was wonderful. Being home is wonderful too. My brain still hasn’t completely caught up with me – you know it tends to wander. On the last leg home we were delayed again and again at the airport for over five hours. Once we landed at our home airport we had a ninety minute drive home. We got here after 2 AM and we are definitely too old to handle that hour!

The trip was wonderful. Home body that I am, I still enjoyed it greatly. I want to tell you more about it and I’ll share more pictures but at the moment I’m planning to take off again. My last uncle passed away while we were gone. My grandparents had eight children, seven boys and a girl. They were fantastic people! When I hear someone speaking of the ‘Greatest Generation’ this is the bunch I think of. All were in the military and all but the youngest served overseas in WWII.

My uncle Charles, who just passed, had been overseas for two years. When he learned he was being shipped home, he kept it a secret from his family. Arriving home he planned to sneak upstairs and simply come down and join his parents for a dinner surprise. As he hurried up the steps to avoid being seen, my grandmother called from the kitchen, “Charles, is that you?” Eight children, this one away for over two years and not expected home and yet she knew the sound of his footsteps. That story always amazed me.

When my dad passed, the preacher told the story of  a car accident where my parents, not yet married, and my uncle Charles and his future wife were riding in the mountains. The story went that my Dad was driving when it went off the road and they crashed down the hillside. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Back at our home after the funeral, Charles said, “Let me correct what the preacher said. He was right when he said your mom and dad were in the front seat, but no one was driving!” 

I’m flying out for the funeral Thursday. Nick really needed to get back to work, though he offered to try to get another day off so he could drive there with me. But he’s exhausted and his sister is having surgery today. The other sister is caring for her. Nick will be helping more with his dad. I could have driven there alone, but it’s just to the edge of being too far and I do tend to fall asleep when in a car – whether or not I’m driving. Flying seemed the best plan.

After I get home, I hope I can stay for a long while! I’m ready to start writing again. A new book began working in my head during some of our driving time out west. I’m ready to start typing! Back soon.