Story # 2

Melanie Schwarz

Venti Starbucks coffee, cream and sugar

Dulles Airport, Northern Virginia
_____________________________

Running, just keep running,
she said C17 is right off the tram! Not off the tram, down 3 really long hallways, up an escalator!
Have to get there! They can't leave without us.... Then I saw her, my sister in terminal C17

I yelled "Too Late?"
She yelled "Too Late!"

Damnit! We missed our flight.
I want to cry, I got no sleep, I have been up since 4am.
The flight was supposed to leave at 6!
Its 5:50!

"I understand maam however policy says that we complete boarding 10 mins before departure time. The flight has already taxied."
I could punch her.
But I wont.
That's assault.

I looked at my sister as my dad and brother finally make it to the terminal.
She could punch them
she might.

Then I saw it, my coffee.
She texted me 20 mins ago saying she was at the terminal and would get me a cup.
She handed it to me and I said "thank you" still trying to catch my breath.
Taking my first sip just trying to wet my throat. Still hot

"Mind if I asked what happened" my sister asked as we waited in line to re-book our flight.
We both turned to our dad and brother.
They were both still packing at 4:30 when we needed to be at the airport at 4:45

After finding out we had another 9 hours until our flight took off we started walking back to the van to take us home to wait.
I joked that now we had time for 'a fun family event!"
Michelle suggested we go to the shooting range
not received well.

We piled back into the van with all of our luggage and headed for dads house. Sipping on my coffee I heard dad say "while I have you all together..." which stimulated a simultanious groan out of his three children. This would undoubtedly be labor intensive, or a full lecture on some topic none of us wanted to discuss at 6 am.
We turned into the grave yard... Oh goody

Dad turned 60 this year. Which realistically is the new 40, but I think everyone looks at thier own mortality at some point and it is a natural and responsible thing to do.

He started showing us different spots around the grave yard where he would like to be buried. Telling us instructions about what he would like to have done and his wishes for his eternal nap.

We all fell out of the van for a short walk to the top of a little hill overlooking herndon highschool and the church my brother, sister and I were confirmed in. The sun had just started peeking above the highschool and created a beautiful picture . I used to see sunrises a lot in nursing school but it has definitely been a while :o)
I took a sip of pretty cold coffee and contemplated my morning. The flight we were now taking at 3:45 pm was flying us to Kansas city for a 4 hour drive into Hays Kansas. My grandfather was turning 91 the next day and we were going to celebrate.

I was prepared to go out there and say good bye in case it was the last time I saw my grandfather. Standing in the graveyard reminded me that we need to live like we may not see tomorrow. I finished my coffee and told my family that even though standing in a graveyard at 6am was really fun, I just had a full cup if coffee and I had to poop.

I saw a sign on that trip on my cousins bar that said something like "life is not meant to be carefully preserved and placed into a grave, it should slide in sideways yelling 'holy shit what a ride!'"