Christmas Carols and Late Night Stars

D discovers that Christmas carols have started playing on a local radio station. He grins and turns up the volume. “But it isn’t even Thanksgiving yet,” I say in half-protest. We are on our way to pick K at the airport for her Thanksgiving break. It is just me and Big D as M has to work at the airport at 6 am. I know he has to stay behind to get a decent night’s sleep, but I find myself fretting over the hour drive in the late night darkness. K’s flight time was changed, and not only is she is coming in much later than originally planned; her flight is now delayed.

After being diagnosed with keratoconus in my left eye, I am more cautious driving after dark. The vision in my left eye is distorted and blurry unless I have a hard contact lens in which I can only wear for a few hours a day without feeling like glass is scratching my eye. Before we leave for the airport, I grimace at M, “I know I said it was OK for you to work tomorrow, but why didn't I realize the complications that could occur?” I understand that there is nothing he can do about it, but I still grump over having to face my fears alone. LOL. My mom calls before I leave saying that my dad has offered to drive me. I am thankful for his thoughtfulness; but it will probably be after midnight before we are home so I reassure her that I will be okay driving and that D has promised to keep me company.

D pats my shoulder and says, “I will help see for you.” I laugh knowing there wouldn’t be much he could do. “I will carry K’s bag; that is what a man does. He carries the girl’s bags.” I smile, “You are a true gentleman, D. Your dad and I appreciate that.” I think about a segment on the Today show where the question is brought up about whether or not gentlemen exist. They still do in my home. Manners are etched in D’s public behavior every time we are out in public with statements from his father like “Hold the door open for your mother, D.” His sister repeats, “Ladies first, D.” Some people might find our expectations to be too much, but I know D has a kind heart and a beautiful soul.

We are humming along with the Christmas music, and D leans forward in his seat to get a better view of the stars. It is a dark, clear Tuesday night out as we drive out east towards DIA. As we get close to the airport, I exclaim, “There is K’s plane! She’ll be on the ground by the time we get there!” I have no idea which moving blip of light in the sky is K’s plane, but as I check the clock I know she is close.

We park just as K calls and we agree to meet her at baggage claim. D and I wait, and wait, and wait for what feels like hours, but it is only fifteen minutes. We are at the farthest baggage claim. I watch as slowly passengers from what I assume to be K’s plane start getting closer to us. And there she is in her red BU sweatshirt. She is home! D hugs her and we laugh at how he is almost as tall as she is. Wow, I guess he really has had a growth spurt this fall. I hadn’t realized how much until I see him standing next to his sister. Cool. D waits for K's cue on which bag is hers as he pulls it off and carries it to the car grinning from ear to ear.

Christmas carols fill the car as we ride home and talk. At that moment, everything is right in our own little world. The drive goes fast just as the next few days will. But for the moment, I am thankful for the peaceful, warm contentedness that fills my heart knowing my family is all with me for Thanksgiving. We won't think about next week's reality after K goes back to college until then. :)