Travel (expected and unexpected)

Our friend Scott came down for a 10 day visit on the 4th. We had all kinds of plans - going to the islands, maybe even back to San Evaristo. However, on the 7th, I got the sort of call that I imagine all of us with an elderly parent fear: my 94 year old father was not doing well. A blur of arrangement making ensued. I flew out of Cabo rather than La Paz, because I would get into RDU earlier that way. I had, I thought, thought of everything. Everything, that is, other than how I was going to get to the airport. We had a minor panic when we realized that all of the car rental places didn't open until 9:00 - 9:00 + 3 hour drive to Cabo + 1:00 flight wasn't going to work. Art finally found a rental place that was open, and we all (me, Scott and Art) set off for Cabo. It is a very pretty drive, although we did get stuck behind a very slow moving Corona truck during one of the mountainous sections that had me wondering if I was going to make my flight. Made the flight, got into Raleigh approximately 18 hours after leaving La Paz, collapsed.

I was able to be at my dad's bedside for a couple of days, although I don't think he really knew I was there. He died peacefully on the 11th. He had a good long time on this earth and an awful lot of people who loved him, which to me marks a life well lived.

I had a previously planned trip to Seattle for "business" (boat part acquisition and medical stuff) the week of the 16th, so I came straight here from NC. I fly back tomorrow at the ungodly hour of 6:00 AM. I can't wait to get home to La Paz and Arione. I am one tired camper.