When the kids were little, we would spend the summer with my parents - Lincoln, NE, Cherokee, IA, and Larned, KS. I think it started when Evan was almost two (1986) and continued until 1998, which is when we moved to California. I wish it had never ended, but I think it's twice as far from out here. In any case, those were fantastic summers. I was thrilled to get home for these visits not only to spend time with my family, but it was the only way the kids were going to get to know their Grandma and Grandpa and uncles (it was too far to make more than one trip each year).
Every summer now, Evan flies home, usually at the end of May or first of June. This year, however, was different. Since Evan graduated from college, he had to do some job hunting before he could come out. I didn't know when he'd make it out here, so I wasn't talking much about his flying out yet. I guess, because of my silence, he decided to once again try to convince me to let him drive out. His plan, since graduating from high school, has been to drive from Houston, through Kansas (to visit Aunt Ann like we always did back in the day), go on up to Omaha to spend a couple of days with Grandma and Grandpa, see Uncle Jerry Mark and Uncle Tim, the other Aunt Ann, and Jordan and Jessica. After a couple of days, the trip would continue on to California. I have never let him make this trip. Until now. I don't know what came over me.
Evan made it to Aunt Ann's house in Hutchinson, had car trouble (I don't think a relative of Evan's father has ever made the trip from Houston to Nebraska, Kansas, or Iowa without car trouble, one of the reasons I've dreaded the thought of the whole "road trip" idea), had his truck fixed, then drove on to Omaha. He and Grandpa have played several ABPA baseball games (I think Evan has won every game. What happened, Daddy??!!). This afternoon, Evan and the 'rents trotted on over to Jerry Mark and Ann's house for a visit. They took pictures!
Aside: Yesterday, I texted Evan: "Don't forget to take pictures." Evan's reply: "Of what?" Really, Evan?
I still have to deal with Evan's driving through the mountains to get here. You know, just last week it was snowing in the California mountains. And then, in several weeks, I have to deal with his driving back to Houston. Through the desert. You know what happens to lone travelers in the desert, right? No? You must not see many movies. I am so wishing he would have just flown home!
The whole week has felt weird to me, knowing he's with my family. I keep thinking, "How did it happen that Evan's old enough to drive himself around the country?" The kids should all still be little, I should be sitting in my parent's living room cross stitching or working one of my mom's jigsaw puzzles, my dad should be taking Evan and Brett for a walk around the lake or to buy baseball cards, and Bethany should be chewing on the coffee table (at which time, I would pick her up, set her down, and hand her a baby toy). After dinner, Daddy and I would be going for a ride to look at clouds, old barns, cemeteries, or picking Queen Anne's Lace. Yes, those were the days.
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