Oct. 12, 2001 - 19:28 MDT

THE WONDERING JEW

Pac Pack

Yesterday's events forced me to remember the complications inherent in taking time off from work and the kids off from school to be away for a few days.

Last night Heather and I were standing at the arrival exit at Denver International Airport waiting for our daughter, her husband and their two kids to become visible from the depths of the train tunnel

A bit of an explanation here -- since 911 there are new procedures. Non-passengers are not allowed on the trains to and from the gates anymore. Coming in to the airport we had to stop at a check point for the cops to check out our cars interior before we could go to the parking garage, once in the garage that too was a new ball game -- bases the same but the paths distorted. Walls where none were before. No close in parking anymore, it is quite a walk to get into the terminal from the garage.

Finally we got into the terminal to wait at the arrival area. Security personnel everywhere giving everyone a look see. Back to the ranch now.

The bird was an hour late at take off from Eugene, Oregon and it takes about a half hour wait for the bird to arrive at the gate and for people to be deplaned (man that term giggles me) and another ten minutes for the passengers get rebagged - - (going by typical airport/airline terminology).

I am sitting at a vantage point and Heather standing over in the semi-circle of people waiting so as not to possibly miss them.

Son in law had to get his work far enough ahead to be able to get away. Our daughter helped the kids get homework to bring home to do before they left, oversee that operation, get packed and take care of all the other last minute details.

Two Mothers, Heather and our son in law's Mother, standing side by side, conversing while doing the eagle eye bit. The kids arrived, mutual hugs all around a and a bit of chat. Son in law brought a cart loaded with baggage to put into our car and then went back into the airport to go with his wife and kids and his mom to Boulder. Heather and I had a bite on the way home.

Our son in law's brother is getting married this weekend atop Flagstaff Mountain just west of Boulder this weekend and this is the reason they are here.

We will have the family with us here in Denver from Sunday afternoon until we bid them goodbye at the airport Monday afternoon. So getting to be with and visit with our family from the west is a nice bonus for Heather and I.

Both of the adults are lively and in good health and mood. The boy, 11 years old is already taller than both his Mom and his other Grandma and as tall as Heather. Since we last saw them both the boy and the girl have grown at least two sizes. Full of life and fun.

My head is still rattling a bit, but as near as I can understand most of the baggage in our car is stuff for Christmas for all of the members of our immediate family. The empties to be folded and stowed inside one another like those wooden Russian dolls and taken back to their home. Most of their clothes went with them to Boulder for the wedding.

It is somewhat like this whenever the kids come to Denver, time split between Boulder and Denver. Sometimes daughter's husband goes up to Boulder alone to visit with his folks and sometimes he will take the kids with him to visit their other grandmother, but this time for the short time they are able to be here for the wedding they will be with us for just about 24 hours.

Heather and I are still planning on being up there in Oregon for ten days wrapped around Thanksgiving, our tickets are already bought.

Then, sometime in December they will be back and stay in Boulder/Denver until they go for their Semester at Sea. Son in law has a position at the university there and I think he will be teaching on the Semester at Sea. The kids will undoubtedly have a great experience and learn a lot. I am not at all sure what is planned for the last half of 2002 and don't plan on shaking the tree to see what falls out.

But we will be together again to love and visit for a bit. It is nice to be at the airport and meet the family from the west, the Pac Pack . . . . . . . . .

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