What flight?

Friday, 8:22 am

By Kate

May

27

2005

There’s a rumor that the sun may make a cameo appearance sometime today. We’re all awaiting the grand event with enormous excitement. Sun has a busy schedule and won’t stay long, but promises to return for a longer visit. We’ll take what we can get.

Meanwhile, back on the ranch…

A couple of days ago, the lad handed me the phone and said it was Mrs. F. She’s the Mom of one of the lad’s close friends. She and her husband are almost like the lad’s second parents. They love him to pieces and always do the nicest things for him. Last week when he broke his personal best time in the mile race during the last spring track meet, they said that the titanium spork that he’s wanted for camping is now his. They were so proud of him. Naturally, he was thrilled.

So, Mrs. F and I have had many occasions to talk and we usually do New Year’s Eve together. Good folks all around, but sometimes a little spacey…

I picked up the phone and Mrs. F said, “Hey! I think it’s so great that you’re going to let him go with us. Did he give you the itinerary? We leave on the 25th and will come back home on July 10th. We’ll spend all our time camping and hiking...we’re going to the Grand Teton National Park, And I think we’re also going to try climbing Pike’s Peak again. We tried last year, but there was still too much snow. He doesn’t have to bring anything but his pack. We’ve got 3 tents and all the gear. Do you know what flight he’s going to be on?”

Uh...flight? Pike’s Peak?

“J, can I call you back in a couple of minutes? Just a couple of minutes, okay?”

When I hollered for the lad, I used his middle name.

“What flight? What camping trip? Pike’s Peak is in Colorado!”

He looked at me a little blankly and said, “Well, I talked it over with Dad and he thought it was a great idea. Mrs. F was supposed to tell you about it and give you the details and see what you thought. What did she say?”

“She asked me what flight you were booked on!”

“Oh.”

Why was I not surprised? I called the lad’s Dad and we talked about it. He said the lad had mentioned the trip on Tuesday evening and had wanted to run it by him. He thought it was a great opportunity for the lad. He’d assumed I had already heard about it. Well, no. I do eventually managed to find the page everyone else is on, but it takes a while in many instances.

I had no problems with the whole camping in Colorado/Wyoming concept. Mr and Mrs F are experienced packers and they’ve traveled the world hiking up mountains. The lad has gone with them a couple of times, more locally. They all love back packing and camping and climbing and they all have a great big mutual admiration society going for them. So, yeah, no problem. I just need to know these things a little in advance. Not much in advance, dontcha know—an hour or two before booking a flight is usually good.

I got back to J and we talked details. She gave me their flight numbers and schedules so I could attempt to get the lad on the same flights. She was still super excited that he’s going, not even realizing that just a few minutes prior, he wasn’t going by virtue of not having mentioned anything about it to me. But then again, in her excitement, I guess she forgot that she was supposed to talk it over with me first before she got all excited about him going.

After she gave me their itinerary, she wondered if I’d like to go, too, I quickly assured her that I think I’ll be fine right here. Before I try climbing Pike’s Peak, I probably ought to start out with something a little closer to the ground. It has been a long time since I’ve gone packing.

So, now we are all on the same page. The lad has his e-tickets confirmed. He’s on the same flights as everyone else and pretty much all I have to do is get him to the airport on time. A grand adventure awaits and I must say that the lad is a fortunate young man to have this opportunity and to have friends who think so much of him. Well, maybe also for having a Mom who adapts fairly quickly to new information. Not that I’ve haven’t had plenty of practice or anything.