I am having so much fun!! I have now seen both of my kids and their spouses AND met my new granddaughter all within the last week. I knew it would be great, but it has been awesome. And Karen flew in from Pittsburgh on Monday night so after 7 months we are rejoining, picking up our new marriage that had a rude interruption. We had only been married four months when the foreign job thing started to pop up and then India got serious. We were together for 7 months after the wedding and now have been apart that long. But, we are so excited about all this and going back to India should be most interesting.
We have received our revised travel plans from the company that involves my training in Dallas and also involves staying one extra day in order to see the Superbowl game. On the trip over I had asked the flight attendant if American Airlines has live TV on long flights and would they be carrying the superbowl. She said they didn't have that option yet, although it was being installed in many of the planes. Last year I was AT the superbowl in Tampa, although the only part of the game I saw live was the flyby by the Air Force Thunderbirds from the parking lot of the huge hangar where we were having our superbowl party courtesy of Bombardier. So, to totally miss the game this year was just unacceptable. Staying in Dallas over the weekend will also allow me to see some friends in Texas so that will be great. I am looking forward to lunch with Errol and Bonnie Eder. Errol is the Texas Conference treasurer and Bonnie is Educational Superintendant for the conference.
Anyway, back to California and my friends Doug and Penny Jones from the above picture. When I totally changed careers and left the ministry to become a corporate pilot 30 years ago next month, one of the first people I got acquainted with in Tennessee was Doug, who at the time was flying a King Air for his father's business while I moved there to fly first a Pressurized Beech Baron and then 6 months later, a brand new King Air, in the hangar right new door. Doug and I had a lot in common with both of us being flying nuts and water skiiers. Many a night we would talk on the radios as we flew back in to Cleveland, TN airport and decide not to even go home but to head straight to the lake and ski until dark. That is why Brad, my son that I am visiting in CA who has the new daughter, basically grew up on the lake, going out camping and skiing all the time. Doug and I have been through a lot together and we are so comfortable with each other. Our families just groan when we are together because we can talk nothing but airplanes and flying for hours at a time. But, our stories are SO GOOD. My son Brad lived at Doug and Penny's house the first year he was in California and he heard I was coming all the way from India to see my grandchild so we all got together and of course it was our favorite Mexican restaurant. We have that in common, too. Mexican food is always at the top of the list. Penny is an animal lover just like Karen and so the trip to visit their house was wonderful. There are at least 10 cats and 8 dogs, as well as a ferret and a sugar glider. Penny has a big heart when it comes to animals. Strays have been picked up off the roadside or when they come to her house they never need to check out. Karen was just thrilled to see so many animals and to be able to play with so many at one time. Our favorites were the Scottish Fold cats. They just have this look about them that says, "I run this show and you better pay attention." My son Brad says that the gray one, Princess, likes to sit like a baby human in your arms and act like she is in charge of everything.
The time with friends just flew by so fast. Tomorrow morning we have to again be at the airport and leave for Dallas.
My little granddaughter, Sadie, has been busy sleeping, eating, and doing what babies do. She is so sweet and fun. We have taken her out to eat, last night we were going out to eat Indian food at Brad and Jessica's favorite Indian restaurant and so Sadie got to wear her new baby Sari. She was so cute in it. I will put some pictures up with that soon. A friend in India bought it for me and it is just so cute.
Well, it's time to take the 145 pound dog for a walk to chase her frisbee's. Ursa is a wonderful big, black Newfoundland dog. They are so big and gentle. She loves her frisbee chase and I need some exercise so here we go. I'll put up some more pictures soon.
Take care, my friends. Dan
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