Texas, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York and Virginia.
Four flights and five states later I am seated at my desk staring at the remnants of a whirlwind trip back East for my nephew’s Bar Mitzvah.
Technically I started and finished in Texas so I’ll let you decide whether it is fair to say I hit five states or not.
What I know for certain is that my children have now seen snow and I have been reminded that 61 degrees feels warm when compared to temperatures in the twenties.
Ten Years Later
It is ten years since we took the picture of the two boys in the picture above. The oldest grandchildren have been around long enough to have been a part of the weddings of several family members but have only recently grown old enough to claim a day for themselves.
I have a million memories of the two of them but one that sticks out is from the rehearsal dinner for the wedding from the photo. My brother-in-law and I were standing at the front of the restaurant while watching the boys play.
Suddenly the two of them started running towards the back of the restaurant and we took off in hot pursuit. Those little legs were far too short to out race us but they were small enough to breeze by people and object that we couldn’t avoid.
It probably gave them a moment more of freedom than they would have had, but I don’t think back then I could have truly imagined the day when they could out run us.
I think it is probably here now.
Time Passes
I am willing to put money down that I can beat them both in a short sprint, say the length of a full size basketball court. I have size on them and if I am warm I can still run with the twenty somethings, but I don’t have the endurance to keep it up long enough to matter.
They would eventually pass me and I would have to rely upon crafty veteran moves like tying their shoelaces together or handcuffing them to a pole.
Yeah, I know those aren’t considered to be ‘fair’ but who said life is fair–not me.
Now and Then
I could tell you about how surreal it felt to watch the boys talk to each other yesterday and to think about ten years ago and then to try to picture ten years from now.
Or I could tell you about how strange it was to hear the boarding agent make the last call for the flight to Los Angeles and to watch the doors close because that is not my flight any more.
Ten years ago I wondered how long it would take before I would be able to buy the “dream house” and played around with different locations, but none of them were here.
Now I just smile and enjoy the ride. Life has been far more unpredictable than I would have ever imagined, but sometimes roller coasters can be fun.
Right. 
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate reading this. I need to spend a good little chunk of time catching up with your blog.
Where in Virginia? That’s my home field.
Hi Barrett,
I had a layover at Dulles, so I wasn’t really in town for all that long.
Glad you stopped by, it is good to see you.
Dulles? That’s like my second home! Southwest doesn’t go to Richmond. Grrrr.
Interesting how we get to experience life not only through the streams that we raft personally, but also through the tributaries that are rafted by our kids. My daughter is grown and living three time zones away with her husband. The visual slowly changes, but thankfully the portal of vision remains and I get to experience the added dimensions that her snapshots provide.
Enjoyable read, Josh. Found you through Judy Dunn
Sounds like you had a great trip Josh.
My daughter has started to find her independence at the grand old age of two and often decides to tread her own path. Unfortunately that path isn’t usually the direction I’m walking in!
Hi Tim,
Yes it was awesome, loved it. Daughters are good at walking their own path, I know from experience.
Hi Josh,
It is amazing to watch the younger relatives grow up! Because we go to Cape Breton every summer, it’s like we jump time and sometimes have to re-introduce ourselves to children of cousins who have grown beyond recognition!
So your children have seen snow now! I could show them a lot of snow right now – right outside my window. It’s snowing sheets – know what I mean Kaarina?
You don’t need a roller coaster here – you need a sled!
Hi Lori,
My kids would be shocked by how much snow you have been getting, I can guarantee that. They were in awe by what we saw in New Jersey and all things considered it really wasn’t that much.
I understand that time warp feeling. Unfortunately we tend to go months or more between visits so sometimes I look at the “kids” and wonder where they went to.
Hi Josh
Times change and reluctantly we all get older. I always feel it is such a waste of good wisdom. When we were young we lacked wisdom and were full of energy. When we finally get great wisdom and insight we suffer in the energy department.
Sounds like you had a great time with the kids. Being from a warmer climate I am sure you really felt the cold. The first few years I was in California, I had a hard time imaging why these people were all bundled up in heavy coats and wearing hats and gloves in the winter. Now that I have adjusted, I am the one with the heavy gear. One time we were back up north in Washington state at a road side stop. We were the only ones sitting at a picnic table with jackets on and in the sun. I had to laugh and I mentioned that anyone pulling up and seeing our CA license plate would know that we were the ones from down south.
Mary
Hi Mary,
I want to believe that though we may not have the same energy as before our wisdom helps us figure out how to use our time more effectively. Don’t know if it is really true or not, but I like to think it is.
It really was a great trip. I had so much fun playing with my kids as well as nephews and niece.
I don’t like the cold weather much, but I tend to do pretty well with it. I adapt quickly, but truth be told I always prefer to have the option of walking around in a t-shirt and shorts. It feels like my “natural state.”
Life’s a roller coaster, not a merry go round, so continue to enjoy the ride:) Cheers! Kaarina
Why can’t it be both.