Tuesday morning I called my Dad to go over the schedule of events for that evening. My responsibility was to help him get ready to board for the adventure worth a life time. A seven hour flight was the only thing between him and the family he didn't know he's missed for the last 65 years.
Since connecting through ancestry.com my Dad, his brother and his sister in law have been in contact almost daily. About 5 months of questions, stories, photos, well beings, and eventually planning to meet. It's almost impossible to describe the emotions behind the whole matter. To put it in an example, when I called my Dad the morning of his flight as we discusses the schedule there was a pause after all the details had been talked over I started to say "well..." and end the conversation but before I could his voice was overflown with anxiousness as he said "Oh I'm ALL excited".
As the well versed chauffeur I am, I arrived exactly onetime, helped Daddio load his bags and check them twice, stopped for a snack and we hit the road making record time. From the parking lot on I was basically his security guard.
"Excuse us." "Woah, watch out." "Left." "Right." "Checkin zone 5, let's move."
I have to say it brought back memories of being caught up in my own little travel whirl winds. But this was by far the greatest adventure I've ever been apart of without a ticket in hand.
The checkin lineup was plentiful, our stomachs were griped by anxiety and lack there of such fullness. Once my Dad secured his place in the snaking slither of waiting bodies, I went to get us a bite to eat. $28 later (for 2 Starbucks sandwiches and a drink...) we could enjoy small talk with the other linee's. He had become aquatinted with London Giant (physically not literally) who towered behind him in line. My security guard duties were relieved, he seemed to be the kind of chap that could at least make sure my Dad found the gate and his seat safely (even if the apocalypse hit).
As the line inched forwards toward the belly of the beast, we began our goodbyes. Coffee cup and thumbs up my Dad grinned from ear to ear posing for the first picture of his journey.
"Have a great and safe trip, see you the 27th!"
*hugs, maybe almost tears, waves*
From then on it was left to technology and waiting. On the other side his sister in law waited, just as eager and excited as we were. She assured me she'd let me know,
"As soon as I grab him off the revolving queue of humans."
As we have come to realize he strikingly resembles his brother so there wouldn't be much trouble spotting him.
In the early AM I got the memo that the eagle had landed. Shortly after I received a picture of my Dad and his brother sitting back, enjoying each others company. The stadium of fans (aka friends and family here) roared with excitement sending a wave their way.
So the rest as they usually say is history, in this case it's also the future. A future relationship between us and our uncle, aunt and cousins across the pond. A future of stories to tell our grand and great and great great grand babes. A future of peace and love found for my Dad, who lived 72 years as the single man of his family.
ps. I'm sure the first thing he did was refer to his kin as baby brother and give him 60 (something) birthday slaps.
Until next time,
peace, love and adventure!
No comments:
Post a Comment