News From The Borderland (Las Cruces, NM)
THE FOLLOWING IS NOTES FROM THE 7/25 AND 7/26/2007 - When I traveled to New Mexico.
====================================================
The saga began, yesterday (July 25th) , at 8 am... Robbi and I, neither of whom is usually doing anything that requires eye-hand coordination at this time of day, were on the road to the Providence airport. Although my flight was at 11:15 am, I had to get there very early so that I could get my special breathing equipment checked through security. Aside from that, I move very slowly and knew that I was going to get scrutinized for all the electronic stuff I travel with. I was also requesting wheelchair assistance to get me to the gate.
The ride to the airport was emotional on several levels. For one, it's always that way when either Robbi or I are traveling to be with Jayme. Which ever one us is going - that one is doing the work of both of us... 1 hug from both parents... 1 set of eyes that looks at everything as though we were both there... it's a mission of love.
Secondly, as noted in the previous posting, Robbi and I have many things to work through - and last nite I added another one to the mix. You'd think that after 26 years I'd figure out how you avoid land mines... and how not to create unnecessary problems. Think again.
When we parted at the curb, I cried. In the best of circumstances I hate leaving her... this time was extra tough.
Walking is tough normally, now I'm walking with a wheeled duffle bag, 15 lbs. of computer on my shoulder, and the Portable Oxygen Concentrator, which is also a wheeled cart. The Transportation Security Agency(TSA) had just raised the Alert Level to ORANGE! - Like that will ever make a difference... (Who are they trying to scare??? Terrorist?) The raised level means that everyone is expected to do all the things they get to paid to do every day. For travelers - it means nothing.
The flights were fine. These days, every plane is booked solid. As a matter of fact, each of the flights I was on (and several others at the same gates) were over booked and the airlines were offering incentives to anyone who would delay their travel.
The total travel time for me (10 hrs) got me into El Paso about 7 pm (9 pm at home). Jay to me to dinner and on a tour of the TV station he works for (until Friday). It was cool... very cool. Got to sleep about 1 am (my time).
The air out here is pretty dry, but it still got to me. I had trouble sleeping. Even though Jay's condo is air conditioned, my breathing was labored throughout the nite.
Today, I got to see Jayme work. He is a true professional. He interviewed family members of a guy being tried for child abuse and murder. I stood there and watched him talk with the guy's brothers and prepare them for the live interview, for the 12 pm news. The jury had just begun deliberations and these brothers were calm and articulate and believing in their brother's innocence. As soon as they were done, he shifted gears to catch up with the DA in the parking lot to get her feelings about a situation that had just developed last nite - a home invasion during which the home owner shot at the intruder. I was standing in the background, hoping to appear like I belonged with the cameraman, when the DA cut Jayme off and asked who I was. Jayme didn't skip a beat, (while I tried to evaporate into thin air), and he immediately introduced me, and joked and told everyone how I had come out to NM to help him pack and move home. Then it was right back to questions about the home invasion issue... When you realize that the DA and her assistants are real people dealing with real (often tragic) issues, and they are talking with MY SON as he searches for serious answers... it's just too awesome.
After seeing all that, I had to go and find a way to pack Jay's car to fit everything that we wanted to bring back East. I found a roof-rack set that I had to assemble. It was about 95 degrees outside... Robbi says that the New Mexico weather is like living in front of a hair dryer. I have to agree. Everytime I was outside for more than a few minutes, I had to struggle back upstairs into the condo, to suck on the Oxygen machine. I was so glad that I had it to rely on. It's not that it was a miracle worker, but it helped me calm down and not struggle for long periods of time. Perhaps it was as much a psychological benefit as it was physical.
Friday nite, the 27th, Jayme's best friend Andrew (and his daughter, Eileen) came ove to pack the car. I wasn't able to do anything other than sit and give orders. They were all very patient with me and did a great job of packing up 90% of the stuff. The rest would wait for Saturday AM.
On Saturday, Jay and I finished the TO DO list that included all the things that Robbi wanted us to do to "present" the condo for potential renters or buyers... finished packing - which still amazes me that we were able to fit it all in! Then we hit the road!!!
More about that in future posts...
====================================================
The saga began, yesterday (July 25th) , at 8 am... Robbi and I, neither of whom is usually doing anything that requires eye-hand coordination at this time of day, were on the road to the Providence airport. Although my flight was at 11:15 am, I had to get there very early so that I could get my special breathing equipment checked through security. Aside from that, I move very slowly and knew that I was going to get scrutinized for all the electronic stuff I travel with. I was also requesting wheelchair assistance to get me to the gate.
The ride to the airport was emotional on several levels. For one, it's always that way when either Robbi or I are traveling to be with Jayme. Which ever one us is going - that one is doing the work of both of us... 1 hug from both parents... 1 set of eyes that looks at everything as though we were both there... it's a mission of love.
Secondly, as noted in the previous posting, Robbi and I have many things to work through - and last nite I added another one to the mix. You'd think that after 26 years I'd figure out how you avoid land mines... and how not to create unnecessary problems. Think again.
When we parted at the curb, I cried. In the best of circumstances I hate leaving her... this time was extra tough.
Walking is tough normally, now I'm walking with a wheeled duffle bag, 15 lbs. of computer on my shoulder, and the Portable Oxygen Concentrator, which is also a wheeled cart. The Transportation Security Agency(TSA) had just raised the Alert Level to ORANGE! - Like that will ever make a difference... (Who are they trying to scare??? Terrorist?) The raised level means that everyone is expected to do all the things they get to paid to do every day. For travelers - it means nothing.
The flights were fine. These days, every plane is booked solid. As a matter of fact, each of the flights I was on (and several others at the same gates) were over booked and the airlines were offering incentives to anyone who would delay their travel.
The total travel time for me (10 hrs) got me into El Paso about 7 pm (9 pm at home). Jay to me to dinner and on a tour of the TV station he works for (until Friday). It was cool... very cool. Got to sleep about 1 am (my time).
The air out here is pretty dry, but it still got to me. I had trouble sleeping. Even though Jay's condo is air conditioned, my breathing was labored throughout the nite.
Today, I got to see Jayme work. He is a true professional. He interviewed family members of a guy being tried for child abuse and murder. I stood there and watched him talk with the guy's brothers and prepare them for the live interview, for the 12 pm news. The jury had just begun deliberations and these brothers were calm and articulate and believing in their brother's innocence. As soon as they were done, he shifted gears to catch up with the DA in the parking lot to get her feelings about a situation that had just developed last nite - a home invasion during which the home owner shot at the intruder. I was standing in the background, hoping to appear like I belonged with the cameraman, when the DA cut Jayme off and asked who I was. Jayme didn't skip a beat, (while I tried to evaporate into thin air), and he immediately introduced me, and joked and told everyone how I had come out to NM to help him pack and move home. Then it was right back to questions about the home invasion issue... When you realize that the DA and her assistants are real people dealing with real (often tragic) issues, and they are talking with MY SON as he searches for serious answers... it's just too awesome.
After seeing all that, I had to go and find a way to pack Jay's car to fit everything that we wanted to bring back East. I found a roof-rack set that I had to assemble. It was about 95 degrees outside... Robbi says that the New Mexico weather is like living in front of a hair dryer. I have to agree. Everytime I was outside for more than a few minutes, I had to struggle back upstairs into the condo, to suck on the Oxygen machine. I was so glad that I had it to rely on. It's not that it was a miracle worker, but it helped me calm down and not struggle for long periods of time. Perhaps it was as much a psychological benefit as it was physical.
Friday nite, the 27th, Jayme's best friend Andrew (and his daughter, Eileen) came ove to pack the car. I wasn't able to do anything other than sit and give orders. They were all very patient with me and did a great job of packing up 90% of the stuff. The rest would wait for Saturday AM.
On Saturday, Jay and I finished the TO DO list that included all the things that Robbi wanted us to do to "present" the condo for potential renters or buyers... finished packing - which still amazes me that we were able to fit it all in! Then we hit the road!!!
More about that in future posts...
posted by DesktopDavid at 1:34 PM
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