Mema left tonight at 8:47 for Florida.
She is visiting her youngest daughter, Donna.
I left the house today at 4:30 to pick her up
to take her to the South Bend Airport.
Her plane was supposed to take off at 5:55.
What a delay we had!
Yesterday I packed her suitcase.
We think she has been throwing away clothing,
because she only had five shirts.
I bought her five more today.
And had to repack her before we left,
because she had gone through her suitcase last night
and re packed.
I also had to sew on a button to her shirt.
Daddy had run across the missing button,
so I didn't have to hunt down a matching one.
Off to the airport we went.
Tons of people were flying Allegiant Air to Orlando.
Come to find out,
four high school wrestling teams, including Penn,
were flying to Disney for a weekend
of fancy televised matches there.
Be sure to watch for them on Wide World of Sports.
Before we even got to the desk, there was an hour delay.
By the time we were through at the desk,
there was a two hour delay.
We walked from one end of our tiny airport
to the other, in search of dinner.
The snack bar was closed....
but there was an eating area through security.
It was difficult explaining to Mema that we had to take our shoes off
without muddling things up with the 9-11 terror attack,
war, bombs in shoes or diapers.
When we got to the security,
I took all her pills and makeup out of her carry on...
that required another explanation.
I put all of our stuff in three boxes.
Then I remembered that she had a pacemaker!
I don't think she really knew what was happening
behind that glass walled room,
but she cooperated with a big smile.
Said, she had not had that much attention in years!
Silly Mema.
Off we went to get dinner.
Grilled chicken salad.
We ment to get carrot cake for dessert,
but we got busy talking while watching the planes come and go.
Funny how much I have missed that simple past time
watching plane arrivals and take offs,
waving to and greeting loved ones,
since 9-11.
It was a real treat.
The announcement came, saying that the plane
would get into the airport at 8:30.
More time to wait!
(This is the pic I tried to take of the two of us!)
I don't think Mema stopped talking for 2 1/2 hours.
I heard stories I had heard before,
stories that were a little bit different than what I remembered,
and new stories about her childhood.
I will retell these at a different time.
Two things stood out for her though.
Grandpa used to play cards, and drink beer,
after work at the lumber yard.
Mema would get in the car and go get him about midnight,
when she thought he had been gone long enough.
Varying phrases of what she said to him,
took place during these retellings.
I think she told me this story about four times!
The other was how very lucky she felt.
Growing up poor, but happy.
Making every moment count.
Wouldn't trade it for the world, her life.
How loved she felt, and these childhood memories,
were the happiest of her life.
I hope others around us
enjoyed listening to her half as much as I did.
They finally called her flight.
She boarded first, and even got to ride up in the elevator!
Made friends with another Dorothy,
who was two rows in front of her.
Hugged and kissed me more times than I can count.
At least three fourths of those times, I initiated.
She apologised for talking so much.
And that she was sorry that I had to wait so long with her.
I should have just gone, she could wait alone.
I told her that this was the best way I ever
could have spent my 26th wedding anniversary!
Any way, us two girls didn't live very exciting lives anyway.
This was a real treat.
And we made the best out of it we could!
I know she will have a wonderful time.
My cousin and his young family are visiting their mom,
my aunt,her youngest, too!
She will be asked to make cookies and listen to stories.
I hope she goes to Disney World and gets a pair of ears.
I pray for unseasonable cool weather!
I don't know what the future will bring,
but am so blessed to have been a part
of this woman's life for five years,
on such a close personal level!
How I love her!
I realise that she is the character and strength
of my family!
We all took her hard lessons
and made them part of our own lives.
So the message is:
If you are delayed,
especially if you are delayed with a loved one,
whether it be in an airport, grocery line, etc.,
take that time and make a memory.
Have that conversation,
ask about that memory,
even if you have heard it before.
It will mean so much to you!
Put that Ipad, Kindle, list, down.
Cherish as many moments as you have!
They are blessed gifts!
If you look for them!
