10/4 was the first day of our trip.  We had an early start on a moist morning in Las Vegas to get to the airport in anticipation of obstacles with our exceptionally large load of luggage or our march through TSA security – but pleasantly negotiated the early part of our journey quite easily. Sitting at our gate, I talked to an 84-year old woman traveling by herself, sitting in a wheel chair.  It was kind of sad to hear her story of a recent illness that had “taken her legs right out from under her” and her questionable optimism that she “will be better soon”.  She indicated that she was hungry, so I did a Wendy’s run for her (her choice) and a Latte run for another lady in the handicapped area.  Next came the mad dash to get a good seat on a full airplane, but Dad’s early boarding pass for his bad knees got him a bulk head seat with more leg room and no one ever sat in his rows middle seat.  In Denver, we had to change planes and at first were told of a 2 hour delay, which then reversed to only about 1-1/2 and we were on our way again – both in the bulkhead seats with no middle person – Sweet!  Looking down from our soaring height, it occurred to me that all the farmland sections were really a large “connect-the-dot” game-board!  Perfect squares and rectangles dotted the landscape in multiple shades of green, brown, tan, black and rust – each one the conquest of some celestial “player” – just like the kids and I used to play…

As I shuffled through magazines in the rack, I noticed the SouthWest flight magazine – SPIRIT – and it got me thinking…  Dad and I were exercising our spirit of adventure, we were both filled with the spirit of love for each other, our family backed our trip in the spirit of support and we were moving ahead in our journey with a positive spirit.  Finally, I like to think that my Mom’s spirit is with us wherever we go.  So, I asked Dad if he agreed that SPIRIT would be our first word of the day – and he agreed.  So, we pledged to forge ahead with a positive spirit.  Then, we landed in Newark and our resolve was to be tested with some issues with the rental car contract, getting lost on the way to our hotel and then the reall topper…a call from SW air crew member that I had her bag and she had mine (in Chicago by then)- so I have to take hers back to the airport tomorrow AM and pick up mine.  But, I am keeping my SPIRIT up, at least it was a trusted person who had my bag (with my computer and life in it!).  Tomorrow will be better..To be continued…