I Hate Flying

First of all, I nearly always have severe ear pain when flying. One of my doctors suggested that I use a nasal spray so I do and that has helped. I also take a Tylenol Extra and use wax ear plugs that completely cover the ear canal just before the plane departs and have not noticed as much pain as I had before doing this. Then, too, it seems that Bob and I always end up in the wrong line and have to be directed to the correct one. I find that I'm always the one who is in line for expanded security checks of some kind; must have a target on my back or something. Even when I flew from Tulsa to Lubbock after having gall bladder surgery and was in a wheel chair - yep, they went thru my carry-on bag, checking my lingerie carefully! I was scanned and patted down in Tulsa last Thanksgiving. Guess grandmas are suspect. Next month we'll fly American Eagle from Roswell to DFW and then have to change terminals there to change planes and fly on to Colorado Springs. It really stresses me out to not know what tasks I have before me and to not be familiar with my surroundings in any situation. I searched for a link to the DFW airport and the terminals this morning and learned a lot about Skylink, which terminals AA uses, security, etc. There were videos of each terminal and it was almost like being there to take the tour which showed the gates, Skylink entrances, etc. I hope that with all this information we won't seem like such country bumpkins when trying to change terminals and planes. We're looking forward to Brandon's and Lisa's wedding and to seeing John, Mary, Scott, Vicky and Taylor, as well as Brandon and Lisa and meeting her family. 'Til next time, G'Ma

Changing Times

How can an event make you so happy and so sad at the same time. Last weekend our only granddaughter graduated from Baylor University. We were so proud of her excellent grades, honors, beauty, morals and just the sweet young lady she has turned out to be. She is one of the fortunate who has a job waiting - with Unitrends in Boston, MA and she is excited to be moving there in just a few days. I was sad when I read that she "has a one-way ticket to Boston!" That sounds like she's never coming back home to Irving. Right now she thinks it's great to leave home, have her own apartment (in the same city where her boyfriend, Paul, lives), and be independent. We know that she will eventually realize that she misses the whole family she leaves behind - her mom and dad, brothers and even Goldie, the cat! Plus us - the grandparents in New Mexico - just 8 hours away from her old home in Irving. I remember when I left my job and family in Oklahoma, also at age 22, to marry the love of my life in Albuquerque, NM. Thought I'd never look back. That changed when, just a week later, Mothers Day rolled around. Tho Bob never knew it, I cried most of that weekend when I'd think of my family gathering to honor my mother without me for the first time in my life. I hope, tho, that Kathleen finds, just as I did, happiness, love, success, and many precious memories of the first 22 years of her life.