The Checker

After a hectic week in Montgomery with Hoyt finishing up duties at WSFA, we made a quick one-day trip up to Connecticut to be with Kate’s family. Her amazing mother, Deb, had passed away on Monday after a courageous battle with cancer for several years. It was inspiring to be with the Seymour family – what a wonderful inspiration they all are to us. We flew back in to the Atlanta airport on Saturday to await the arrival of our Japanese guests – Yoshiko’s husband and her parents coming in from San Francisco and Yoshiko and girls returning from Oklahoma City. How foolish to expect things would go smoothly! Here are just few highlights:

- Missed flight in San Francisco; re-routed through Denver; luggage did not arrive with flight in Atlanta which got in at midnight. Plane from OKC also late, but I took three Japanese girls back to Highlands to put them to bed by midnight; Hoyt and rest of group got to Highlands at 3am.

- Temperatures in Highlands for the week set new records – high’s in upper 80’s. We have no air conditioning. Fortunately, nights are still cool and some sleeping possible. Claire and children join Hoyt Hudson and Kate, who have flown in from Connecticut to see Yoshiko. Hoyt and I go to local B&B because our sleeping accommodations for 12 people won’t work for 14 folks.

- Still no luggage delivery. After five calls to United Airlines  – and five different stories – luggage gets sent to Asheville and driven down to Highlands. Delivery time: 2:30am. At least our guests now have a change of clothes. I am also now known as Mad Mountain Mom and all Atlanta employees of United Airlines quake at the sound of my name.

- On Tuesday, Hoyt drives one vehicle and I drive another to get Japanese contingency back to Atlanta airport to fly west; on Wednesday, Hoyt and I take Kate and HH to Asheville airport to fly back to Connecticut. Claire and children stay for remainder of week. We call to inquire about air conditioning installation.

In spite of unexpected challenges, it appears that everyone had a wonderful time being together. We are already planning a reunion in Hawaii (when Max gets a little older!) – and I guess by then we won’t have to worry about taking any luggage aboard a flight. We will just plan to buy everything upon arrival. Should make the lines shorter, anyway. Sayonara!