Home again...

 

The 4 a.m. alarm rings signaling the end of my visit to Charleston. A little bit of scurrying around to pack the last-minute items and then a note on the chalkboard saying goodbye to all the children. I sign my name with a flourish and a heart just as I hear Abe’s footsteps on the staircase coming up to grab my bags. I follow him out to the clear, but chilly Charleston skies to take the trip to the airport. I always love these early morning runs with Abe. It is a wonderful time for conversation with just the two of us. It is hard to squeeze that in sometimes with four children.

I am so proud of my son, Abe. He has made a wonderful life for himself and his family in Charleston. As much as I wish (I always wish) they would make their way back home, I know they are happy there so that is all that counts. Of course, Faith always wants me to move next door so they can come over for cookies after school. That would be lovely, but it isn’t possible.

For some reason today’s airport run goes so fast. We chat about many subjects, and just like that we are at the curb. He takes out my bags and I hug him goodbye. We always joke about how many times he has taken me to the airport during his adult years…Santa Barbara, Portland, Phoenix and now Charleston. I wave farewell until he is out of sight and meander on into the airport. It is definitely much quieter than my trip out with holiday travelers.

Within the hour I am seated at my gate waiting to go home. As much as I love traveling, going home always is wonderful. The flight is full, and I am in the middle seat, which is never my favorite, but on this morning, I have two lovely travel companions who are quite talkative. I have noticed over the years that with so much technology folks hunker on down into their own devices for flights. I am always looking for someone to talk to and on this day, I am in luck. To my right is a young lady heading back to college after being home for the long break. She shares her love of family and how she is not ready to go back, but, of course, she will. I asked her about her grades. (I know, I just can’t help it.) She tells me her grades are good and she is hoping to pledge into a sorority to make new friends. The woman on my left is a world traveler and is on her way to Montreal. She wants to talk and share travel stories and so do I.

We chat about my visit first of all. She is interested in all my grandkids, and I am happy to share stories about all of them. I tell her all about this visit with the kids, New Year’s Eve, and all our activities including Abe’s birthday. She has no children, so she loves to hear these stories. Next, we move on to travel stories. We talk as if we are old friends having tea at Caleo. Paris. Prague. Budapest. China. London. Well, the list goes on. We share traveling by train as well. As much as I have traveled, she has done more, and I hang on to every word. I ask if she has been to Iceland yet and she answers that it is on her bucket list. “Mine too,” I say.

Our flight is late into Charlotte, so we let the young college girl out first as she only has a few minutes to catch her flight. The two of us say farewell, and that is that. No name. Just an enriched conversation on a flight.

Another quick flight to Fort Wayne. Everyone is talking about how the storm missed northern Indiana. Elten and Carolyn are there for the pick-up of which I am very grateful. Carolyn and I sit in the back as usual and talk a mile a minute to catch up. We have much news to report and many stories to share.

Back home my Christmas tree is still lit, at least for another day or so. I make tea and sit thinking about the trip, thinking about the kids I sorely miss. But, there are classes to teach, poetry to share, a show to produce and a beautiful town I love.