Home, For Now .....

Back from my travels. It wasn't enough time. I don't think there is enough time. I will always want more. The visit was bittersweet. Seeing my always bigger than life Daddy so shrunken from his disease was almost more than I could bear. The biggest challenge was keeping my eyes dry while I was with him.

I gave up on make-up, even though my daughter agreed that without it I have no eyelashes. Despite that I posed with my Daddy for a picture before we left.

It wasn't all tears. We laughed a lot. My Jill got to meet her extended step-family and get to know them. I don't consider them "step" at all. Mama cooked and cooked. Jill complained that she would be able to wear her clothes after the stay. We got to meet a new baby and inhale that sweet baby scent. Abby (12) and her little brother, Mason (1) stayed the morning and I humiliated myself dancing a jig to enchant little Mason until he would agree to let me hold him. Jill and Abby bonded over making fun of my wardrobe. I was happy to provide them with all that laughter. My (step)sister, Glenda agreed with me about the clothes while my daughter and her granddaughter continued to make fun and laugh.

I am so happy that my Daddy is surrounded with love and laughter in my absence. The last day was the hardest. I had to make a deal with him to get him to go to the hospital. He was so weak and could not eat or drink anything and keep it down. He promised he would go if he couldn't eat the subway sandwich he requested. He tried so hard, but he couldn't. He went to the emergency room and we had to hit the road to get back in time for Jill's flight home.

Turned out to be a stomach virus and he was able to go home that evening after some IV fluids and instructions to stay on a Gatorade diet for 24 hours. Such a relief, as I was planning to board a plane as soon as I repacked and saw my daughter off. My next visit will wait until next month, as planned. Tomorrow I will enchant you all with more travel adventures ..........