a few months back when i told beth i'd take emma to st. jude for her appointment in memphis, i really didn't think through what i was just getting into.
we got bumped from our 3:16p.m. flight out of detroit.
okay... i'll admit it... we missed it because i thought the flight was at 3:40 even though i looked at the tickets 2 times. so we checked-in too late to get through security and to the gate at the very end of northwest's huge terminal. and yes.. i was the one who refused beth's offers to drive us over and drop us off in plenty of time instead of insisting i drive myself and save moolah by parking in the $9 per day "big blue" and take the shuttle to the terminal.
and yes, i was the one who stayed too long at westwinds and then had to stop by the atm... and the gas station... and grab something to eat on the way instead of buying the higher priced food in the airport terminal.
okay... i admit it... it was all my fault... and i'm a cheapskate! i'm sorry!!!!!!!!
anyway... enough groveling.
we ended up on standby for the 5:04 flight. but when it looked like we were going to be bumped again and be on standby for the 7:04... and possibly bumped to the overbooked 9:04. well... when that single seat came available for the 5:04... it just made sense that emma should take it.
she's 15. she has to get there. and she can handle it. she's not afraid. st. jude will pick her up at the airport and safely deliver her to the memphis grizzly house. no problem. she'll be fine.
why does "dad-sense" seem so reasonable at the time? that is until the plane is pulling away from the gate at which point "mom-sense" kicks in... and i suddenly remember that i should have given her some money. and why does "mom-sense" come packaged in beth's voice which is now clearly ringing in my ears? or is it "wringing"?
aaaahhhhhh!!!
dads... you already know how the rest of the story goes.
before i got a chance to make the call home to tell beth that her precious "baby" is taking a plane to memphis by herself... my cell is ringing and it's "you-know-who"... who somehow sensed that something wasn't right in the universe. i considered letting it go to voice mail in order to give myself a minute or two to think through how i'd spin it to sound like it was totally the right thing to do.
but... i hike up my pants... take a deep breath... answer the phone and say... "she'll be fine."
"really... it's okay honey. she'll be fine. no... a... i forgot to give her money. (wince) it's okay, i told her to call me the moment she lands and i'll stay on the phone until she gets to baggage claim and on the shuttle to st. jude.
oh... you're right... i'll be in the air when she lands. a... a... a... i'll leave her a message to call you when she lands. i'm sorry schnuckums. i'm sure she'll be fine. what?... you're never letting me take her anyplace again? i understand. no... you're right... you're right. if she gets kidnapped it will be all my fault. i know... i'm a terrible dad. (okay... i only imagined her saying that last part.)
thankfully all went well... she arrived safe and sound to the hotel... and i arrived 2 hours behind her.
enough excitement for one day!
emma's appointments the next day went smoothly... we thank G*D that her tests came back great. now being 5 years out from treatment... she's placed into the hands of the after-care staff and will only return to memphis once a year. they'll follow her for another 10 years, but they don't anticipate any problems. thank you, G*D! it's amazing to think about all she's been through and how much she's grown over the years since we first walked that scared little 8-year-old through the doors of the hospital.
all glory to G*D.
one of my warren grade school friends who now lives in memphis with his wife. (ted & robyn gibboney) we got caught up on each other's families (poor emma!) and they gave us a tour through some parts of memphis we hadn't seen... and we got a glimpse of the motel where m.l.k. jr. was shot. it's now a museum and i'm thinking it will definitely be on our tour list for our next visit.
it was indeed a good day. no... it was a great day!
we like great days.
we like even good ones!
Praise God for a good report, yet again! You just can't grow tired of hearing the drs. give good news! All thru my journey, the only thing I knew could be worse was having it be my child in that situation. I'm so thankful for continued good health for me, you and Emma! Thanks LORD!
Posted by: Janet Hurt | April 10, 2008 at 10:17 PM