"Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city." - George Burns

The quote up there isn't true. We're sitting at gate D11 waiting for our flight home from Seattle having said goodbye to my folks, brothers & wives. It's especially hard to leave mom & dad behind, so getting back sooner rather than later is a priority.

I left Phoenix one week ago today for Grand Rapids and had a very productive stay in that very cold city. Several conversations there will play out over the next days and months. And the too-short visit with family here in Seattle ranks as well worth whatever effort it takes. With parents who are 92 I realize I'm never going to think, "That last visit wasn't important."

Because I've been on the road my news junkie fix has been met with quick, short trips to online sites and early morning CNN coverage of what they consider marketable "news." I've got some serious catching up to do when I get home.

I also need to get back to work on the truck. I made a list of part I need to complete current stages, including a steering wheel nut, wiper switch, firewall grommet, and under dash lighting. I learned that the wire running from the light switch up to the dome light was installed at the factory before they welded the roof on. I tried running a wire down through the A pillar but it ain't gonna happen. So the dome light I installed before leaving is "cosmetic" only and I'll put some LED lights under the dash wired to the switch as a replacement. And because the truck didn't come equipped with a door jamb button switch to activate the dome light I'll get and install one of those, too.

Saturday morning I had coffee at Diva's with friend Jim, after which we walked the Phinney Ridge neighborhood. At some point during that two hours someone put a large ding in the passenger side door of my rental car, big and deep enough to take the paint off. I called Allstate to get a claim number to give to Enterprise when I returned the car this morning. "Oh, that's too small to worry about. If it's not bigger than a golf ball we don't require any claim be filed."
Woot!!
So another call to Allstate cancelled that claim, which will save me hassle AND deductible.

My head has switched gears. It was very good to be with VIP's in Grand Rapids, and time with family is wonderful, but important tasks and responsibilities await me at home. Given the choice I'd abandon them and call it good, but it's time to pull up my big boy pants and face life's harsh realities.
Here we go.