Saturday, August 25
Robert and Mary left for the US today. He woke us up at 5:30 this morning and we were on the road a few minutes before 6. He mentioned he woke up with The Song of St. Francis on his head. There wasn’t much to talk about on the way. There was hardly any traffic. We got to the airport in a little less than half an hour.
After quick hugs and short goodbyes, Donna and I were back on the freeway towards home. It was raining yesterday on base on our way home. And on the way from the airport this morning it was drizzling a bit. I’m writing and I hear thunder and I see lightning out the window towards the horizon at Cadiz skyline. It’s almost 8 and yet it’s still dark out.
Last night Robert and Mary’s friends Mark and Flor were here to say goodbye to them and offered us whatever assistance we need while the former are gone. We updated them on the situation on how Donna and I ended up being the hosts on what started as a European JASHS Class ’70 reunion. Mark and I will pick up the van rental next Friday hoping my temp license gets here on time. If not, he and Donna will do it. He’ll pick us up Friday morning and he’ll take us on base.
It sort of feels strange that we’re here now practically by ourselves in a strange land. I’m full of anxiety bordering on dread as Robert explained all the directions last night to all the places I’m supposed to take everyone hoping my mind will be like a computer storing all the data he’s bombarding me with. I’ve barely learned my way around to and from the airport and now I’m driving people around Spain and beyong! But then I think, how bad can it be? We have maps, I can read them, Donna can speak some Spanish and that gives me some sense of calm.
I’m thinking there’s got to be a meaning to all that’s happening. When we were planning this trip a few months ago, everyone’s aware of Imelda’s Mom’s situation being in a coma. Although Cesar was doing pretty well when he was in La Mirada considering he’s had cancer for three years. And now Imelda’s Mom has passed away and Cesar is not doing well at all. Robert talked with his sisters and brother Jun in Carson City last night and told them they’re flying out this morning. We heard that by the time they get there, Cesar would be home and out of the hospital. I guess the decision was made that he’d be taken home instead of a hospice.
After dinner Donna tried to call Flor to find out if we can go to church with them tomorrow. No one was answering so we decided to take a walk on the beach. A minute after we walked in, the phone started to ring. It was Flor asking us how we were. We told her about the church situation. They’ll pick us up tomorrow at 8:30 so we can hear mass at 9. Robert called right afterwards. They’ve landed in Atlanta for a couple of hours layover. They’ve already called Carson City. Cesar was eating, Romar and Girlie have arrived. I told Robert about the mini storm that hit us this morning. It’s a good thing he put away the huge umbrella/tent-looking-thingy that the kids used to sleep outside when our first batch of vacationers were here. The wind would have blown it away or it could have been destroyed. The cushion of their outside furniture is soaked but Robert said all I have to do is put it out under the sun tomorrow which is what they used to do.
Sunday, August 26
Mark and Flor picked us up this morning for church here on base. I’m on line in the library right now. I’ve been chatting with Girlie and she’s saying her parents arrived in Carson City ok. I've also been chatting with Eph and updating him on Uncle Cesar's situation.
By the way, when Mark started the BMW this morning, it acted up again. So I told him about my experience with it a while back. So he waited a bit, cranked it and it started up. He thinks it may be a clogged fuel filter.
Flor and Donna went to the commissary after church while we’re over here surfing the Internet. I’ll probably go to the Internet Café at the neighborhood supermarket Super Sol next time.
