Gettin' Out

It's been more than a calendar year since we "got out" (Alaskan for getting out of Alaska.) It's true we got out last summer, for our children's weddings, which were totally fun, but not necessarily vacation in a vacation sort of way. Last year we stayed close to home and enjoyed Alaska's version of summer weather. An oxymoron. We had no summer in 2012.

But this year we did get out, and embarked on our big trip of the year. We first went to Newport Beach, CA for two conferences held back to back at the same hotel, involving a lot of the same people. We enjoyed summer weather, reconnected with old friends, learned a lot, stayed up late, and Deb enjoyed some good old fashioned Southern California mall shopping. I watched my wife decompress before my eyes. And we got to see a full-on Bollywood wedding at the hotel. (It's just what you think it is, by the way.) Oh, and I got food poisoning, but that doesn't bear comment (even though I just commented.)

After five days we left the "OC" for Reno, NV (by way of Phoenix, which last I checked is not on the way) to connect with our daughter and son-in-law in Lake Tahoe. We had not seen them in six months. Reno was burning up, but Tahoe was perfect as Tahoe most always is. We went to the beaches, learned about boat motors (where oil and water still do not mix), did a little stand up paddle boarding, ate like kings and queens, played surrogate parents to one rambunctious retriever puppy and thoroughly enjoyed our children's company. I was blessed to share a deep, gospel-centered conversation with a friend of thirty years. Our time there was glorious.

Four days later we made our way to Bellingham (by way of Seattle, which is on the way) and subsequently to Lynden where we moved in with our son and daughter-in-law and their two young men in training. I hadn't seen them since their wedding day almost a year ago. Together we enjoyed lazy evenings in the backyard, played a little badminton and went out to dinner where we were blessed with a quick drop-in visit from a dear friend representing her dear family. Our time with those Rydman's was equally glorious.

We were and are reminded that Alaska is a long way from our children. Fact is, Alaska is a long way from just about everything. Even as empty-nesters now somewhat experienced, we are increasingly aware of the realities of distance parenting. I still write letters to both young couples each Monday; we still talk on the phone with the daughter (frequently) and the son (less so) and make due with what it is. We are so proud of our children, all four of them now. We live a long way away. We're even separated by a foreign country.

But our children are called, respectively to be where they are, and we are called to be where we are. Sometimes we just wish we were all called to the same place.

They would like Alaska.