Life Is Good: Final days of my trip to America

I arrived home on Thursday morning last – 1 November - from another great trip to Minneapolis. I was met, as usual, at Dublin Airport by my loyal friend Pat Whelan.

Bye Tom

Before I go further with this post, I think it is fitting to pay tribute to the staff and flight crew of Delta Airlines, from the young lady in her pyjamas at check in at Minneapolis to the final good bye as we deplaned at Dublin.

My plane from Minneapolis to Atlanta

The young lady in her pyjamas at Minneapolis check in was amazing. After she helped us transfer some items of clothing from one case to another to avoid an overcharge of $50, she gave Judy a pass to accompany me to the departure gate. Security, of course, doesn’t always allow this but when they do, it is always so nice and makes the saying good byes so much easier.

Bye Judy
Ready to board

Going on board

Well now, I’m home and settling in after the trip – not an easy adjustment to make. I haven’t invented a word yet to describe the transition. It’s always nice to return to your family, but what about the family you are leaving behind? I can think of no other word to describe Tom and Judy and their marvellous family. I find it hard to take in the fact that people I didn’t even know a couple of years ago have now taken me into their hearts and homes and made me part of their family.

Tom, Kallsen, Adam, and Parker at Adam and Sara Beth's house

Kallsen and Parker at play

Joe, Adam, Joseph and Tom discussing the issues at Adam's radio station

Almost ready to leave for Judy's radio interview

Time went so fast. You might say six weeks is a long time for a holiday, but I can tell you it was quite a scramble to achieve in the last few days all the things that still remained to be done. It was unthinkable that I could come home without seeing Judy’s dad and sharing his favourite meal of pancakes with him at his favourite restaurant, and mine, Perkins. Also, I so much wanted to see Kara and if possible Sam and the rest of her family. In the event, I was delighted to see Kara twice – once for lunch at Applebees restaurant at Ridgedale Mall, and, on the last Sunday of my visit, attending Church with her and two of her children, Christopher and Amelia.

I love to meet Judy’s dad, Al. He is such an inspiration for all of us. This time, Judy and I had breakfast with him at Perkins restaurant, in Chaska. Pancakes, of course, were on the menu

Judy's dad enjoying his pancakes at Perkins

For those of you that don’t know, Judy’s dad is a sprightly 95 year-old- going on 50. He told me he had to forego a trip to Colorado a few weeks before because his younger brother, Ernie, who is 90, was unable to make the trip. Apparently, the young guy wasn’t up to it. I’m glad to say Ernie is now recovered and should be well able for the next trip. Judy's dad also told me how he acquired his taste for pancakes. When he was a young boy, growing up in Nebraska and Colorado, after the morning chores as he came towards the house he would know, from the cooking smells wafting across the yard, if his mom was cooking pancakes for breakfast. He loved those mornings when pancakes were on the menu and ever since, pancakes have always been a special treat for him whenever he goes out for a meal.

Judy and her dad at Perkins

I love to spend time with Judy’s dad and listen to him tell stories from his past but on this occasion time was the enemy as Judy had to get back to work. Still, it was nice to see him even for a brief period and I’m certainly looking forward to spending more time with him on my next visit.

The previous week, Judy also took me to see the Pompeii exhibit which is currently on display at the Science Museum of Minnesota. St Paul is one of four cities where the exhibit is visiting during its tour of America. Everyone knows, of course, the history of Pompeii and how it and its sister city Herculaneum were discovered in 1748 after being buried for centuries under mountains of ash from the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius which destroyed the two cities in 79AD. It was awe inspiring though to visit the exhibit and actually see statues and artifacts along with household utensils and other tools and equipment which shaped the lives of the people of the period.

Judy at the Science Museum

Judy ascending the steps to the top of the Science Museum

Seeing the exhibits must have been especially poignant for Judy who had actually visited Pompeii a short time before during her trip to Italy and Greece. More about her visit to Italy and Greece can be seen on her travel blog.

View of the Mississippi River from the top of the Science Museum

Now my trip was coming to a close, but how could I even envision returning home without spending one last day with my all-time favourite person, Sarah, and her two boys, Davey and Derek. Judy and I, or GrammaJoe as we are affectionately known by the boys, arrived at Sarah’s a little later than she had hoped but still we managed to get in a beautiful day playing with the boys and watching some of their favourite DVD’s with them. We also got a chance to accompany Davey to pre-school and collect him later in the evening and meet all his school pals and teachers. It is always so nice to spend time at Sarah’s and this time was no exception. We were also lucky to meet Dave before it was time for us to return home.