With my face pressed against the west upstairs window at the Fort Wayne International Airport, I search for the Planet Parade on Friday night. It wasn’t my plan to be at the airport on such a significant astronomical night, but there I was peering out. I caught the attention of others who came over to see what I was doing. A lovely man gave me his chair next to the window so I could keep my heavenly view and update the other passengers. I mean, the alignment of all seven planets won’t happen again until 2040! Venus is first as the sky darkens, I exclaim to all. Out of curiosity, some come look saying to me, “Oh, I wondered what that was.” I think to myself, everyone knows that is Venus, but then again, not everyone.
I don’t take my eyes off of the skies as Jupiter and Mars
make their own subtle appearance, but alas I don’t see them all through the
window. It is time to board the aircraft, I am the last to board, so I don’t
miss a moment. I can finally wait no longer so I move along the small tunnel
with a sigh. The flight attendant is smiling, and I gush out my thoughts on the
planets. I want to talk to the pilots, but they are busy doing what pilots do
before take-off.
I take my seat next to a lovely couple who met on-line.
He has the window shade open, but we cannot see the rest of the sky due to our
confined seats. Finally, I pull out one of my four novels and spring break has
begun for me. I always save a stack of books for this one-week trip. It is a
quick flight to St. Pete; one I have taken so many times. Cool, fresh air
greets us as we leave the aircraft. I love Florida at this time of year as it
isn’t hot yet, and perfectly refreshing after a few months of winter. Adam and
Lisa are there to greet me, haul my suitcase into the back, and off we go. We chat a mile a minute as we meander through
the dark streets of St. Pete. I am always amazed at Adam’s skill of turning his
bungalow into a lovely house with a pool and yard on the trolley line to the
downtown and the beaches.
My room is ready with new quilts and towels, and fresh
sheets. Sleep comes easy with the window wide open. I can smell the ocean from
my window although the roar of the water is too far to hear. I sleep late which
is something I do not do at home.
With just a few days here, my time is divided between
shopping and cooking with Lisa and my voracious appetite for reading. Adam has
charters so he is in and out a bit, but on Sunday we all hang out at the house
and get ready for a poker party so I can meet some of their friends. Adam makes
tuna freshly caught with his brothers, while we ready the kitchen with fresh
brownies baking. Friends arrive with side dishes and bottles of wine for dinner
while I meet and greet each one of them. I thank them all for their friendship
with Adam and Lisa. We sit at the poker table, and even though I play with a
cheat sheet, I do well and pull in the chips. Adam and his friends are
impressed!
The week progresses with Florida sunshine, my firstborn
son and his sweetheart. I love spending time with them. Yet to come, dinner
downtown, a trip to the Dali to celebrate Pink Floyd and the surrealist and
experimental photography from the David Raymond collection.
By mid-week, I will board another aircraft and head to
Charleston to see Abe’s family and watch my oldest granddaughter perform in
“Hadestown.” She asked me early in the year if I could come see her, and as it
happened to coincide with spring break, I will be there opening night. The
twins are also waiting with a worn-out calendar as they cross off every day
until I arrive.
It is just one quick week out of my spring semester in
which my mind can completely enjoy family without pressure of school or
rehearsals. When I return home, forsythia bushes will bloom, and peepers will
begin their spring chanting.
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