October 2009 Trip to U.S.: Phoenix & Nebraska

It is always a pleasure to go back to the U.S. I'm not sure I'd be able to say that if I was traveling by myself as the trip requires leaving Calama in the a.m., spending the day in Santiago (as the flight to the U.S. doesn't leave until 10 p.m.), traveling through the night and hopefully we've got exit row seating (think more leg room), and arriving Dallas around 6 a.m. We walk off the plane and can just feel that you're back in the U.S. We have a short layover and then onto Phoenix where the adrenalin kicks in and the time back really begins.

Jackie was in town visiting Jim and Liz and Jimmy so were lucky to get to see her for a bit and grab a family photo. (Jim is obviously a very serious fellow... .)

The next day, the plan was that while Larry took care of business in downtown Phoenix, Sue and I would have lunch with Liz, Jackie and Jimmy with the plan to return to Mesa and golf! One little problem, I discovered on our way back to Mesa that I didn't have a key to the house. Luckily Sue is a good conversationalist and we were somehow able to pass a couple hours in the afternoon just catching up waiting for Larry to return. We did meet a neighbor though!

Michele and Todd stopped by that night which provided the opportunity for us to enjoy a glass of bubbly with berries.

The following day we were in the air again heading for Denver. We rented a car and were on the road to Scottsbluff to see Larry's dad who was in the hospital there and his mom and were able to spend too little amount of time with Larry's sister and her daughter Karyl and Karyl and Travis' kids!

(l-r, Karyl, me, Kealy in my lap, Brady, Linda with Dawson in her lap and Larry)

One of the very best parts about going back to Nebraska is the opportunity to see Virginia and Dennis. Virginia and I had a lot of catching up to do too! Dennis is one fine photographer!

And we woke to snow one morning in Harrison -- just the right amount too.

Larry's dad moved from the hospital in Scottsbluff to the care facility in Crawford to continue his physical therapy closer to Harrison.

And to prepare the house for his return, Larry built a wheelchair ramp. I was totally amazed because it only required one trip to Herron Bros. for supplies! We tested Dorothy to make sure she would be able to push Robert up the ramp -- obviously she is in good shape! And I got to rake although it doesn't look like it.