I'm back!

Wow, I didn't realize how long it had been since I had last blogged! Ten days and thousands of miles by land, sea and air!

When I last left you I had been to Lubbock piloting BS 222. I spent the remainder of that week doing that exact same thing. Lubbock repeatedly, metroplex, Waco and multiple stops in between! I suppose this was just a necessary step, total exhaustion, before we left for holiday with Trace and her family.

Of course you can't take holiday without last minute detail, so a week ago today we were up to our ears in such detail. Concerns about commitments which were being passed along to friends and colleagues. The welfare of the houndgirls while we were gone was another worry. Not that Jordan, our teenage neighbor from next door wouldn't be able to handle them, but knowing the psyched out funk they go through when we have left before. Last but not least was the rush making sure equipment was available should it be needed. Actually, it probably would have been less thrash and trash had I just stayed home!

Finally it was Sunday afternoon and the agreed upon time departure time was approaching. Even this couldn't go by without some drama. Trace's father-in-law is battling some age related mental health issues. It is a very sad situation because for the last two years his wife has been posturing herself be rid of him while taking the benefits of his many years of labor. Historically, she has always found it to be much easier to over medicate her husband than to deal with him. She has waited so many times for him to die she has a closet filled with black fashions! Recently she had placed him in an alzheimer facility. Gradually moved his personal belongings there and then just dropped him off. No conversation, no explanation. Very cruel. This gentleman is lucid enough to know what is going on and he became very upset. After a single night, the home called his wife to return and pick him up as he didn't need their services. His wife refused to pick him up or allow him to return home. He ended up at Trace's home for a week before the evil witch relented. The witch's last ploy was timed to coincide with our family's Mexico trip. She had committed him to a psychiatric facility but before we left, the doctor's called and released him to Trace's husband. This was against the wicked witch's wishes but the doctor said many of the problems were from the continual over-medication by her. Actually he offered that if they could get her to the hospital he would commit her! We had made a quick decision and decided we would just take Trace's father-in-law on our trip. Trace called and was able to get another spot on the plane and at the hotel, Brently was trying to get some clothes together for his dad when all the sudden we hit a hurdle. The wicked witch had reared her head again and refused to produce any of the necessary travel documents needed! Finally an alternate plan was in place, the ailing father-in-law would stay with his daughter while we were gone! A plan was made to meet her in the metroplex for the transfer.

This wicked witch is a bad woman!

Finally we were on our way in two SUV's!

Our next obstacle was at the check-in at the airport. Trace's husband has never gotten a passport and has done his limited traveling with his drivers license and a birth certificate. But this is a changing world and after the end of this year, this will no longer be possible. At check-in the agent discovered that our son-in-law's Texas license was expired this disqualified him from boarding our flight. So reduced by one we muddled on. O.K., I'll kill the suspense, officials told our son-in-law he would have to stay until he could renew his license and then they would put him on stand by on the next charter flight.

We arrived with no further incident, made it through immigration, customs, and finally we were on our way to the resort hotel. It was a bit like coming home. Familiar surroundings, several staff remained from our previous visit. Gradually we settled in. It would be several hours before our ocean view suites would be ready for us to occupy. The hostess was quick to accommodate us with our bracelets which enable us to go and do, any and everywhere on the resort. We were in search of air conditioning, food and drink. I suppose we should have traveled in our swim suits which were in our luggage which were in custody of the hotel concierge. Finally our rooms were made ready and we began our ascent. We were on the eighth floor. Personally, I was ready to relax with a book and read a little! As for the rest of the gang, they were ready for a some water and sun.

At this point, I would say it is a solemn occasion to stand on the balcony eight stories up and look across the golf course that is cut through the tropical forest and to visually register the devastation caused by last year's hurricane which ravaged this small island for over two days! Huge trees toppled over, masonry walls lay in waste. Residence's, resorts, ravaged by nature. Luckily for us, the resort we were at was on the backside of the island and while it had been closed for three months, it survived. A sister resort a mile down the beach was totally destroyed! Surprisingly, the people are upbeat. Most of the hotel workers worked at cleaning up and re-opening the resort. Their stories are incredible, their experiences almost unbelievable. Their spirit is resilient.

This area has to be one of GOD's proudest creations. The simple beauty, the contrasts of color, the new and the old, blended as one.

Brently made it in sometime the first night after Krl and I had retired for the evening. The next day saw us booking extracurricular events beginning with a glass bottom boat snorkeling excursion and later in the week some members of our group would have an opportunity to swim with the dolphins!

Krl and I made an offer to the grand-daughters mid-week. They could choose comparable activities (they didn't have to be the same), and we would foot the bill. The catch was they had to negotiate their own deal. Mom and Dad were out of the equation. Both of the older girls had expressed a desire to go para-sailing, and they have always enjoyed the motorized watercraft. Turns out when it came down to them having to make the arrangements, they didn't. Talk about spoiled! Later in the week, they had the gall to ask Krl if we were still going to give them money. Ahmm.....mmmmmm. No!

Krl and I came to an early realization that this is the final family vacation with Trace's family. They are growing up and next year Lrn will graduate. By the time we want to do this again she will probably be married and have 3.2 kids. This realization only made it easier for us to accept that the grand-daughters are spoiled brats, looking out for only themselves, and have no consideration for anyone else. They are oblivious to schedules and time. They are frustrating to travel with.

Therefore it is with great anticipation that Krl and I announce that when we do something like this in the future, it will just be us.

I don't know if I will revisit the trip or not via this blog. There are so many things to write about, the ferry ride to the mainland, Pepe. We will just have to see what happens. Right now, Krl and I are enjoying the best part of a trip. Coming home.

By the way, the houndgirls were thrilled to see us!

FATHER, thank YOU for the safe travel and our return. Thank YOU for renewing us daily!