Returning to my adopted home last night -- after the whirlwind tour of mid-Michigan and the greater Chicago area -- my head hit my pillow at midnight with a thump. Mixed emotions and poignant moments aside, being back on my own bed provided a welcoming and cozy place for these tired old bones.Beginning last Thursday night with Glenn, Meg, Miles and myself driving to SLC for an overnight stay before the flights out Friday morning, and concluding with a late-night shuttle trip northward from the airport, my days, nights (and occasional wee-morning hours) remain a blur of loving memories, hectic moments and sometimes comical incidents.
A partial list of items to remember:
*Ordering a cheeseburger kids' meal for myself only to receive one of the Ten Commandments of Menu Planning "Thou shalt provide complementary colors" violated -- YELLOW mac and cheese; YELLOW french fries, YELLOW lemonade and to top it off, a YELLOW 'prize' in the shape of Spongebob Squarepants! Yech.
*The rental of a cherry-red HHR vehicle; what a nifty car! Lots of room and get-up-and-go (to the extent that, shortly after leaving MBS airport I glanced at the speedometer and found myself merrily zipping down Freeland Road at 70MPH! Yipes)!
*The wonderful visit with former colleagues of my teaching days, Jenni and Deanna -- but losing all track of time and staying at the Vale household well-passed the bewitching hour -- and leaving at 2:30 a.m.!
*A weekend stay with the Hilleslands complete with Glenn, Meghan and Miles. We only needed Joshua to completely round-out the picture. Great Aunt B fell head-over-heels in love with our Miley-Guy. This could be good. I've been hoping the Hillesland family would trek out to Idaho to visit us. Now I know they will visit -- MILES -- but there's a chance they could stop by here while in the neighborhood!
*Seeing Meg introduce Miles to my mom, Mae. Sigh. Do so hope that will happen again sometime.
*Spending time with my mom; even if only for four short days. No matter how old I am, I still need my mom. And, even in her diminished capacities, I find comfort and strength in her.
*The trip to Midway Airport Monday, April 20 to drop off Meg, Glenn and Miles. The routinely 45-minute drive took well over two hours due to an accident on I355-north during rush hour. Thank goodness brother-in-law Eric was available via cell phone to redirect us. Just as we reached the last intersection before the airport turn, a funeral procession held us up through three green lights! It was a contemporary version of Keystone Cops as we all performed our assigned jobs to get the travelers into the airport -- where a helpful counter clerk, a whisk through security, and a near flat-out run delivered them to their gate just as the airline personnel announced "All passengers aboard flight 802 to SLC should now be on board!" That was close -- and Meg said she felt her pathetic appearance -- red face, sweaty forehead, panting breath, and Miles on her hip -- helped in her plea for someone to move so Glenn could sit adjacent and help with the baby.
*Visiting cousin Rose in Reese and taking time for one of our traditional rambles through town, walking our near-four mile route while jabbering all the way, catching up on the daily conversations we've been missing
*Stopping by the Reese Library for a good-ole chat with Carole Brown, Librarian. So much of my time devoted to the little library means it will always have a special place in my heart, as will Carole with whom I've shared hours of work on behalf of the library, good 'girl talks' about every topic under the sun and a very special friendship
*Of course, the District Five Altrusa conference held in my home club's city of Saginaw. Oh, my! Over 130 Altrusans from Michigan and Ohio attended; I am an acquaintance of all, a friend of many. Despite my intentions to attend conferences in 2010 (Columbus) and 2011 (Dayton), the realization that I may have visited with my extended Altrusa family in Saginaw for the last time -- a particularly difficult time during which keeping my emotions in check proved sometimes impossible. However, as my Saginaw Altrusan friend Earleen said, "We will see each other again; we just don't know when or where." Sigh.
*Being delivered to MBS airport by perpetual Altrusa traveling companion, chaffeur and roommate Tina -- tearful farewell -- and then a franctic phone call "Don't turn off your cell phone, I may be stuck in this airport overnight!"
*Repeat phone calls to the Jurgen and Davis households in Idaho and the Salt Lake Express Shuttle terminal as my travel itinerary changed, at one point, almost momentarily. But the travel gods well, if they didn't smile they at least grinned a bit -- and though my flight out of MBS was delayed, so was my connecting flight . . . thus enabling me to reach SLC in time for the 9:00pm. shuttle and delivery to the McCammon drop-off point right around 11:30 p.m. Now home, I'll be keeping my eyes open tomorrow for the promised visit by the Fed Ex guy with my luggage, which stayed at O'Hare as I was flinging my way to SLC.
Now, my return to Idaho. It's starting to really feel like "home" again . . . in approximately six weeks we will have been here for a year. Wow.
It's true, there's no place like home . . . even if on April 27, as the above photo illustrates, there's FRESH SNOW on the lawn!
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