The Trip's End

We left Dublin on July 17, flying to Atlanta, and on to Chicago.  I stayed awake all 22 hours of the flights, and somehow decided that I might need a sleeping pill to get my rest. Long story short, within 10 minutes I had passed out...Vaughn and Pat, cousin Julia's husband, had to carry me to bed (no mean task!).  When I awoke the next AM, I remembered none of this, except being dizzy and groggy on the side of the bed.  That was my only loss to jet lag for the entire trip.  Not too bad...

Two days with family, most enjoyable! Our friends, Rich and Jean, rode the train up to meet us and go to a Cubs baseball game...seemed a most appropriate ending to this incredible odyssey of ours...we had just not counted on a 115 degree heat index rating...we watched a full four innings, but even the players seemed wilted, so we left and went back to the hotel to get ready for the trip to St. Louis, where our two grandsons were waiting for our return.

We boarded the train mid morning on Thursday, the 23rd -- exactly 90 days from our departure from St. Louis.  The railroad was upgrading the rails, so we were "reassigned" to a train to Champaign and bus on to St. Louis.

I spent five years of my young life in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, while my Dad went to the University of Illinois.  If I would have a claim to a "permanent" home, it probably would be there.  Attended elementary school from 2nd through 6th grade there -- before Daddy began a two-year rotating kind of assignment with Shell Oil...so in truth, I attended 4 different school buildings during the following six years. All of that is by way of saying that as we pulled into the station and drove off through the city streets, I relived some of my early years -- like taking the bus to the "Y" every Tuesday for swimming lessons, and afterward my Mom fixing liver (which I did not like) because she knew I would eat a chair leg when I got home from that class. As the bus drove down the highway and passed Mattoon, I wanted to make it stop so I could visit my parent's grave just over in town.  But it didn't happen...and on we went. Though I have written this paragraph about both the train and the bus, this is the only picture I had .... and it somehow seemed to sum up my feelings --- endless tracks leading back to where we had been....

Spending time with one's grandchildren is a great experience at any time, but having Skyped our grandson's kindergarten class made it even more fun.  We did it from Colorado, and again from New Zealand, where we were calling from "tomorrow" to them in "yesterday" -- blew their minds. This time the two boys (6 and 4 years old) were eager to see the animals in Africa -- they were a willing audience for our films -- again and again -- which, of course pleased us.

I don't have any idea who or how many of you would still be reading this if you knew we arrived safe and sound in our country, state, town, and most of all, in our own home.  (We will be here until next Monday (the 8th) when I first go to NWCC to help in awarding the Excellence in Teaching Award, then we will head out for Huntsville, AL on our way to NC.  We have enjoyed being home in Oxford, but those 100 degree days are just a bit much.  We want to go to the mountains...where "hot" is in the high 80's and the low 90's.) But if you are still reading, let me again thank you for "joining" my following...I truly enjoyed writing of our adventures.

And, most of all, our deepest thanks to all our "kids" and friends all over the world.  Few people have this incredible opportunity, and for that we are eternally grateful.

Email when you get chance...would love to hear from y'all.