Gone

Posted Sun Jun 5, 2005 in Family

It has been a busy day, up until a couple of hours ago. Daughter and SiL busied themselves with last-minute packing and arranging of things. We did our best to help and stay out of the way. Time passed quickly. Much too quickly.

About 1000 SiL’s folks showed up to support the kids as best they could, just like Wife and me. We were about to think about lunch when a group of well-wishers dropped by after church. They did not stay long, though, saying their good-byes and then leaving for their own lunch engagements.

Wife and I drove over to the grocery store and Rosa’s to pick up drinks and fajita makings and we all shared a noon meal. It was good for all of us to eat together, even if things were a little rushed and haphazard.

We drove them all out to the airport about 1330. The back of my truck was packed (and I mean packed) with their luggage. They have no idea when their personal belongings will arrive in Fairbanks. So, they have a lot of luggage. I parked the truck while the Sky Cap hauled their stuff in to the check-in counter.

The rest of us waited around while they went through the check-in process. SiL was anxious to get through security (for good reason), so we said our quick good-byes and watched them go through security. Of course, Grandson Micah’s backpack was chosen to be gone through, and it took them about twenty minutes to get through it.

I managed to hold it together until I got home, then I totally lost it. I am grieving my loss of contact with Daughter, Grandson Ean (my little red-haired boy), and Grandson Micah (my little black-haired boy). They will no longer be part of my daily life. While it is right for them to be together as a family, I am just not OK with them being so far away from me. It is completely and totally selfish, I know. But it is the way I feel.

They should be making their way toward the gate for the last leg of their flight to Fairbanks now. I hope that they get seats that are close together. I hope the boys are handling the flight well and that no hitches happen with their luggage on the way.

Vaya con Dios kids, I love you.

Later, about 2020: We heard from Daughter about 15 minutes ago. Their inbound flight was delayed outside of DFW. As a result, they missed their flight to Fairbanks. So, they will spend the night in Big D and then fly to Fairbanks tomorrow evening. Everyone is fine and both grandsons did well on the flight down. They will do fine tomorrow as well.