He's Alive!

My son is alive!

Okay, a little dramatic and over the top, but it's sure good to know he's still kicking it up in Europe. Throughout his travels thus far, I've yet to hear hide nor hair of him. But my philosophy in his regard is no news is good news. Before he left out for Europe, I'd told him not to worry about calling home unless he just wanted to, because I wanted him to know it was okay to just focus on where he was at the time and enjoying the experience, not worrying about back home and all.

So I sent him off with various denominations of pounds, Swiss francs, and euros and with a Visa cash card for extra reassurance so he felt comfortable spending money for food and souveniers without concern of running out of cash. The nice thing about the card is that I can track where he's spending that money and "follow" him throughout his travels.

Only problem is that he hasn't used the dadgum thing! I was beginning to wonder if it wasn't working or if he felt okay spending the money, or what. I'd previously called the bank to let them know the dates he'd be gone and where he'd be so that he wouldn't have any trouble using it when needed.

I'd had a problem like this when I went to Alaska once and the card wouldn't go through because it got flagged by security - I rarely ever used the thing, but a quick call fixed the problem - couldn't be mad or anything, but learned a valuable lesson.

So this morning there was a lovely post reflected in my email - a card transaction. Oh goodie! Of course, it was a souvenier shop in Zermatt, Switzerland, a village near the base of the Matterhorn. I just knew he'd love this portion of the trip. :-) Snow, mountains, and cooler temps are our favorite treats.

So where did we last leave off? Oh yes - they left Paris and arrived in Switzerland on Friday. That was an early morning and a long drive. They were allowed to spend the late afternoon/evening to themselves in the town of Crans-Montana.

Saturday was a morning all to themselves, if they wanted to sleep in a little or get up and around to explore Crans-Montana (I'm wondering what his decision was). At noon they boarded the coaches to tour the Chateau du Chillon (better known as the Castle of Chillon), incorporated into the Lord Byron poem, "The Prisoner of Chillon." A lovely stroll around Lake Geneva to the village of Montreux with a stop at an ice cream delicacy shop along the way completed their afternoon.

After dinner upon their return to Crans-Montana, they prepared for their two-hour sundown Concert in the Alps. Can you imagine the sound of instruments and voices floating in the mountains of Switzerland?

Then Sunday was their incredible day of sight-seeing in Zermatt at the Matterhorn. First it was a thirty-minute cog rail ride from Tasch to Zermatt, then boarding the funiculaire for an IN-mountain ride. Disney's could not possibly match such incredible adventure and breathtaking beauty as the real thing. Deep breath!

While exploring Zermatt, they might have happened upon the famous Climbers Cemetery to view the historic markers or the old log granaries where residents would pilfer "mazot" - thin circular stones, to stop rodents from illicit grain harvesting. Dinner that evening was a special treat, as the Ambassadors were honored guests at the annual Swiss Folklore Celebration, an evening planned with folklore, music, laughter, and general all-around foolishness for their Swiss send-off.

Today it was once again an early morning as they loaded the coaches to spend time in Liechtenstein on their way to Austria.

Just a little more than halfway there - I'm just glad to know he's made it this far.

One Step Closer

Wow! My son received his passport in the mail already. We just ordered it about two weeks ago (right when I was coming down with the junk).

The site said it could take up to twelve weeks. I was sweating it because he has to have a copy of his passport into the organization by February 1st when the last payment is due.

Nothing like cutting it close and living on the edge.

Guess I shouldn't have worried. Maybe this time of the year is a bit slow and they don't have a backlog. Maybe they just liked his picture and some young lady got his application and decided to rush it through in hopes she might get to meet him some day.

Okay, okay - you never know what a girl will do for a cute guy.

So much for the weird thoughts. Anyway I almost fell out of the car when I realized what it was. Figured it might be the copy of his birth certificate. Nope - out fell his passport booklet.

My son was ecstatic!

I think for the first time since all this started the trip became very real, and the passport meant he was one step closer to getting there. It's hard to believe we'll be celebrating Thanksgiving in two weeks. Christmas will be here and then the New Year. My annual writer's retreat in February, spring break and the Memphis choir trip in March, Easter in April, end of school in May and then he's off to London and beyond come June.

My gosh - I better get busy saving some more. He's going to need some spending money too.

Passport Please

Well we're one step closer to the big European trip next summer.

Too bad I'm not going (waaaah!), but I'm still so thrilled for my son with having such an incredible opportunity. Really hope he enjoys it.

Part of the preparations are securing him his very first, very own, United States Grade-A passport. Over the weekend I filled out the form, then we ran to Walgreens to get his passport photos taken (another cool bearded photo-op). Tomorrow we'll run to the acceptance facility and get it off and running.

They take up to three months to get, you know. We're not taking any chances.

It's amazing how quickly the new school year came on. Less than two more weeks and my baby turns 16. June will get here before you know it. I don't want there to be any last minute hangups.

Well, I may get a little hung up...or wrung out. But that shouldn't be my son's problem. I just need to make sure he's got all his ducks in a row early on so he has nothing to worry about by the time next summer rolls around.

Then I'll watch him fly off into the sunset, bound for an adventure of a lifetime.

DC Excursion

My mom and dad are in Washington D.C. this week. It makes me think of my trip there in 2003.

Once again, I was there to work at that time. Took my mom and my son with me for an educational adventure. They played while I worked my tail off in meetings all day. The last day I finally got to join them in the later afternoon when our conferences ended.

They'd gone to the Smithsonian that day and we eventually met up near the castle. Then we walked. And we walked. Did I mention we walked? Oh, but we saw some incredible sights! My feet were sore, but my heart was full.

Seeing all that history gave me such an appreciation for what our forefathers endured to make this country a nation - the most powerful nation on earth.

There's nothing like visiting the hallowed halls of the Capitol Building, sitting on the steps at the Supreme Court, then standing at the feet of Abraham Lincoln. It is all too much to take in in one mere afternoon. I'm just glad my family was able to enjoy more of it.

Too bad the National Archives were closed for some reason that day. Someday I hope to return and actually vacation there and see the documents that began our history.

Until that time, I'll just have to look upon the pictures we took in my brief moments around town.

He's Home!

My little, baby boy is home!

Okay wait, not so little, no longer a baby, young MAN is home. There, that's better.

My son had a great time at International Youth Convention in San Antonio. Some interesting stories too (such as the River Walk - don't ask). He saw someone he knew from another church among all those thousands of teens. There was even someone referenced on the IYC board that I went to college with.

The world is a small place indeed.

They arrived earlier than expected, just before nine this morning. They weren't supposed to be in until noon. I ran over and picked him up, brought him back to my office where he promptly ate a little bit and then crashed on the floor of an empty office for about four hours. I woke him for a late lunch.

For the afternoon, he sat in that office and read his book that I bought him especially for the trip. I think he read one or two chapters at the beginning of the trip and then got so busy and involved he didn't have time to do anymore reading until he returned today. He's about halfway through it now.

While he was gone, his best bud called a couple of times, so my son called him back moments ago. They're making plans for him to go over to visit this evening. Even though he just got back home. Even though he's waivering on his feet.

I remember the days. Thanks, Mom and Dad!

The Texas Traveler Strikes Again

Normally I don't post on Sundays - it's our family day. But once again my son is leaving on another trip.

He's become the Texas Traveler. Call him Chuck Norris, if you will.

International Youth Convention is being held in San Antonio, a place that I have unfortunately never been yet to visit. They leave tomorrow morning at 4:00, at least they have to be there at 4:00 am. Oh goodie once again.

He's already been to Dallas twice this year and now San Antonio. I think he's looking forward to it. You know, another week of summer without dear old mother breathing down his neck. :-)

That's okay - I hope to get some writing done sometime in the evenings. We'll just have to see what the muse comes up with.

In the meantime, I pray for a great time, safe trip, and to come away with more awesome friendships. Gee, I think parents day this morning has already gotten to me!

Ah Home

There's always something wonderful about coming home from a long trip.

Traveling is second nature to me. I've ambled about the good 'ol U.S. of A. extensively in my "young" years (just celebrated my 39th in San Diego), sometimes for pleasure but mostly for business. However, I've seen some incredible places in those business jaunts.

If it hadn't been for my job, I'd have never seen various places in Alaska, New York City, San Francisco, and many excursions in between. Living in the middle of the country does have its perks in that you can get virtually anywhere in a short period of time.

This time San Diego was a real treat. Traveling with our entire entourage from the office, we experienced just about the best places around for dinner. The Hotel del Coronado has the BEST lobster bisque, not to mention the views! The weather was in the sixties and seventies, zero percent humidity, and did I mention the views? I loved the sound of the waves crashing upon the shore, the smell of the brine in the air, the toot of the horns as the carriers, cruises, ships, fishing vessels, etc. left harbor. We worked hard during the day and ate well of an evening.

By Friday, I was so ready to leave.

It wasn't that I didn't enjoy being there. I did - every minute of it. But it wasn't home.

The final leg of our night flight felt much longer than the two hours we were up in the air. But when we landed, I breathed my first sigh of relief. Once again we were on good old Kansas soil. When I rounded the corner and saw my house, I breathed my second sigh of relief. And when I stepped into the house in the wee hours of the morning and heard the familiar cry of my kitties, I sighed deeply.

I was welcomed home. There's not a greater feeling in the entire world, no matter how amazing the views.