My Favorite Season

Today finds us back in the present. It's a lovely October day, sunny with a cool breeze. This morning, as is my habit, I went for a walk through the park near my home. The leaves are beginning to change. Squirrels are everywhere, gathering nuts for the winter.

Craig and I have recently been informed of an upcoming company trip we will be making in January. We will be spending over a week in the Caribbean, which will include two days in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and a week on the island of St. Martin. We will certainly have something to look forward to this winter! And then, of course, in April we will will once again be setting off for France.

At long last, we have finished the home renovations! It's such a relief! We have a small project left which will barely take a weekend to complete. We will be removing carpet from the stairway and replacing it with something else. It sure feels good to be able to relax a bit! We have been up to Kansas City to see family, and had a delightful time. It seems that as soon as school begins, there are many festivals, school events, and other activities. Before we have a chance to turn around twice, Desmond will be here for Christmas! 

Craig and I with grandson Max at a scarecrow festival.

Last weekend was our local Fall Festival. It was a fun time for all of us as we indulged in fair food and carnival rides. We enjoyed a bit of browsing and shopping in the many craft booths there. The weather was lovely throughout the festival, which is unusual. Now, it's time to visit the pumpkin patch!

This is how granddaughter Janey kept her pumpkin safe
on the ride home last year.

Two Tired Travelers

Pages from Jan's Travel Journal: May 2, 2015

I hadn't slept well, knowing that we had to be up early to say goodbye to our son. Before long, both Craig and I were dressed and ready to zip up our suitcases. There was a light tap at the door, which Craig opened to reveal a sleepy and smiling Desmond carrying cups of steaming coffee. That was such a sweet and thoughtful gesture! We sipped the hot brew gratefully and chatted a bit before heading out toward the elevator. The morning weather was very cool and still a bit damp, so we waited in the hotel lobby for our cab. 

When the taxi pulled up, we trundled our cases out and tried to hold back the tears as we exchanged hugs and kisses. We knew it would be almost nine months before we would again see Des. The Christmas holiday seemed a long way off. As usual, I was very quiet on the way to the airport. I was still trying not to cry while staring out the window at the receding sights of Paris.

The airport was, as always, teeming with tourists and taxis. There is often a bit of confusion about which line to stand in, but we soon had everything sorted out and made our way upstairs to await our flight. We were fortunate to find a small table and chairs near a little coffee kiosk. We nibbled one last pastry with our espresso as we talked about all the wonderful experiences we had enjoyed on our trip.

The flight was long and uneventful, except for the inconsiderate seatmate to my left. She intruded constantly into my space, allowing her personal items to migrate toward my feet. She took up the entire armrest, often covering it with a pillow, which made it very difficult for me to use the buttons on the armrest. She repeatedly jabbed me with her elbow, and not once did she apologize or even acknowledge it. At lunchtime, the woman knocked her salad off onto my foot. I was very glad the lid remained in place! 

Our layover in Chicago was extremely long - six hours! Craig and Des had split the cost of a day pass to the Admiral's club, or whatever it was called. It was a treat to relax in quiet, comfortable surroundings. I felt as if I could have taken a nap! There was plenty of complimentary food and drink, in addition to a bar area. We read our books, watched the Kentucky Derby, and played a couple of games. At last, our flight was called and we knew we would soon be home.

We arrived in Wichita, exhausted, at around 8 PM. Craig took a photo of me in the airport. Our new terminal would be due to open very soon, and we knew we would never be in this one again. We said a fond farewell to the old terminal. It had served us well.

A very tired traveler.