A trip home

I traveled back to Wyoming and Utah in early May to attend H's graduation from the University of Utah. 

I left DC very early on a Saturday morning and, by a whisker, made my connection to Denver in Charlotte (by a stroke of extreme fortune the arrival gate of my flight from National and the departure gate for my flight to Denver were literally right next to each other - and good thing, too, as all other passengers for Denver had already boarded by the time I got off the DC plane). I spent a leisurely hour in Denver and then boarded the puddle-jumper to Riverton, where R met me at the airport. We met my Dad for lunch and then headed to Lander.

I love Lander. It's the perfect home town: quiet, laid-back, beautiful, with friendly people. Each morning during my visit R and I got up and walked four or five miles so that I could breathe in that Brigadoon-like place. I don't know when I'll get back there again, and it was great to wander around all of my favorite places one more time. On one of the walks we met a woman with a camera, just leaning against the side of her truck waiting for the blue herons who had nested in nearby trees to take flight. R and I stood for a moment watching the birds from afar before continuing our walk. I tucked that little memory away, though, and bring it out from time to time to remember what a special place Lander is.

At different times over the next five days I met friends for brunch, lunch, dinner, and drinks. I started to refer to the visit as my Great Lander Eating Tour. It was so great to be home, even for a little while.

On Wednesday, R and I signed the paperwork to sell our house - a bittersweet moment. I love the house, the street it's on, the backyard, and the memories we made there. But of course we can't keep it. And the sale of the house, probably more than anything, marks the end of an era for me.

We traveled through snow over South Pass to get to Salt Lake on Thursday. H arrived around the same time, her boyfriend flew in a little later, and we picked up L at the airport later still. My sister and H's boyfriend's parents joined us for the graduation ceremony the next day.

The family after the graduation ceremony.

H and her boyfriend.

Cliched, yes, but I can't believe that H is old enough to have a doctorate and be out there living her own life. She and L have accomplished so much already - and R and I are proud of them. But beyond academic success, they're just really nice people. I like to talk to them and hear their opinions and thoughts. I like being around them and feel privileged to be able to be part of their lives.

I took the red-eye back to DC on Saturday night and returned to Spanish studies. The respite was wonderful while it lasted.