Because it really is personal…

This coming week is going to be surreal. Sweet Daddio is flying to Chicago at 6 am tomorrow, to return late Wednesday night. Thursday I am driving to JerseyChick’s, so I can catch an 8am flight to Texas, to deal with my Grandad, provide moral support for my aunt (who is REALLY the one dealing with Grandad), and to spend a few days with my Grandmother, who is letting everyone else deal with Grandad. After being married to the old goat for 70 years, she deserves to let someone else do the heavy lifting.

I guess SD and I will just blow kisses as we pass in the night Wednesday.

He pointed out yesterday that this week and a half we’ll be away is the longest we’ve ever been away from each other. I think we’ll both manage, at this point. He’ll be busy with work and I’ll be busy with whatever it is I’m doing. I’m miss his big self in the bed next to me at night, but it will serve to make me all the more grateful, when I do get home.

Y’know, this e-ticket system the airlines has, I can see the cost saving benefits and all, but I sure did like the security of having a printed cardstock ticket, something real official looking, instead of something I printed up off the computer. There’s something about a substantial ticket, whether it’s airplane boarding pass or something getting you into the Braves at Turner Field. Like, “Here’s my ticket, I’m Officially Allowed.” I will say that curbside baggage check is VERY nice, quite fast and since I don’t have anything to hide, I don’t mind it.

It will be interesting to see what happens passing through the metal detectors. Me and my titanium alloy hip. Will they make me show them my scar? Should I wear fancy knickers just in case? I’m going to the orthopedist’s office tomorrow to see about getting a card stating I Possess Implants. Surely I won’t be the first person ever to fly on an airplane with a fake hip. See ing how I *always* (yes, every single time I’ve ever flown) get singled out for the close-up once over, what with me looking exactly like the stereotype of a 24 yr old Male Terrorist, I figure the hip will give them reason the get a little excited. SD pointed out that is *is* somewhat pistol shaped, so I should stick my foot in the air and threated to shoot. No. I won’t do that. That would be silly and probably cause a fuss.

The iPod is loaded with new music, so I can tune out the inevitable talkative-yet-smelling-of-onions seatmate. There’s a pack of doublemint gum in my purse, also a defense mechanism against TYSoOS. An iPod is permission to ignore. The flights are short- 1 leg is 2 hours, with an hour layover in Dallas, and then a 1 hour flight to Amarillo. All told I’ll be getting there around noon. 10 minutes through the airport and another 10 for the car rental, and I could be knocking on Grandmother’s door by 1 or so! There’s a Walmart on the way to her apartment, in case I forget anything, or AA sends my bag to Albequerque. It’s happened before, but they bring it straight to me when it does.

See, I was planning on going in April, during the kids Spring Break, to visit with the Grandparents and all, then Grandad had a stroke, spent time in the hospital (this was last week) and has been put,against his will, in a nursing home. Unfortunately, he really does need to be there. Also as unfortunate, he is fiercely independent, proud, stubborn, and insists on being the one in control. I don’t mean that in the John Wayne independent sort of way, either. He is pathologically incapable of allowing someone else to be in control, even tho right now he cannot speak what he’s thinking, or do for himself. He is proud, and harsh, and has managed to alienate just about everyone he’s kin to. Now he’s at our mercy, and he hates that. Fortunately for him, none of us are planning on taking advantage of his infirmity, even though he’s been accusing us all of doing just that. He’s convinced we’re going to steal his money, and to him, nothing is worse than that.

So that’s what I’m going into. Except that Grandmother will be there, too, the perfect counterpoint for Grandad’s bitterness. She’s sweet tempered, generous to a fault, and simply fun to be around. She will make the dealings with Grandad worth the effort.