Texas and home again

Ok so this past Sunday I flew to Texas with one of my brothers (I have six), to go get my parents and drive them home. They are what is called snow birds. They go to Texas every winter and come home in the early spring for the summer. My brother and I flew down there because this past winter my dad has not been feeling that well and he was not able to tear down there fifth wheel camper and drive home by himeself so my brother was going to do that and I was just going to be moral support. Little did I know that this trip was going to turn out to be the trip of many first's for both myself and my brother and even my parents.

The first new adventure was for me I had not flown in over 20 years and so definetly had not flown since 9/11 so the whole security thing was very new for me. My brother came over the day before to see what I was packing and to make sure that I was only bringing a carry on bag which worked out perfect for me and that is all I brought. Then he told me the rules and said to make sure I wore shoes that slipped on and off. I could not believe we actually had to take our shoes off I thought that was a joke but it isn't you really do have to take your shoes off. Then the morning of the flight I of course woke up to my brother pounding on my door because I over slept. Thank fully I was completely ready to go and all I had to do was get dressed and leave. The night before I bassically emptied my purse of all no essentials so I would not have to worry about it so I figured security would be a breeze. Boy was I wrong they ran my purse through the scanner three times at least and then took me to a special corner and searched through it. I had to many coins so it was messing up the machine. No one told me to thin out my change. Once that was fixed it was smooth getting through the airport.

Then while waiting to board the plain I went to use the restroom and on my way out I heard a littl girl. she was 4 at the oldest, say to one of the adults with her "remember that time when the guys head got sucked into the jet" in response to that one adult said to the other adult. "I have never heard a little kid say so many things that could go wrong with a plane just before we are about to board one."
I just laughed to myself and thought gee I wonder at what age does fear start in our lives because she obviously was not afraid. The flight was amazing I absolutely loved it and would do it again in a heart beat. Take off and landing I am still getting used to but I would fly either way because the view is indescribable.

Then once we got to Texas I foung out this was the first time my brother had ever been there. This surprised me because he used to drive truck over the road so I thought he had been everywhere. It was very hot and humid down there, I did not like it as much as I did the one other time I was there in the middle of winter.

Finally we got on the road heading home from Texas to Minnesota and we are driving along. It took us a day and a half to get through Texas. Once we got to the south side of Kansas just before we go through the toll for the turnpike we notice emegency light and what looks like water on the road and sure enough the Arkansas river was flowing over the interstate. We could no believe it. the one side was completely flooded and the side we were driving on had the overflow running on it into the ditch on the other side. I tell you I was never happier that my brother was driving if it had been me I probably would have cried. We think they shut the interstate in that section down shortly after that because we did not have any trafic behind us the rest of our drive that night and it was still early only 7 or 8 at night so there should have been trafic.

I loved the trip and the time with my brother who I have not been able to do in quite a while but I tell you the next trip I take I am hoping I will get to fly both directions and none of this driving stuff and if I do drive I want to be able to stop and sight see once in a while.