Thanksgiving 2008--Burbank, CA

November 25, Dick and I headed out to California for Thanksgiving and for our introduction to grandson, Jack Bowie Wardlaw, born Oct. 22, 2008

we flew from Baltimore to San Francisco to Burbank. The trip got interesting when our flight from BWI landed at an International gate and we had 45 mins to get to the domestic terminal, go through security again, and catch the next plane. We had passed security in Baltimore with no problems, but Dick's titanium shoulder set off the alarms in Frisco. He was detained, frisked, and delayed by a second screening of his meds and his belt. We made the connection with 3 mins to spare, and the United ground staff were not very sympathetic to our plight.

From there on it was smooth sailing or flying if you will. Amy and Jack met us at the airport, and the vacation was on.

Andy was able to take off Weds. and Friday so we had a long weekend with all three family members. I am in love--my grandson is everything a grandchild is meant to be [even if he does have colic; that just gave me more excuses to hold him].

Thursday Dick and Andy drove over to Claremont to pick up our nephew Alan, who is in college there. He joined us for Thanksgiving dinner and stayed over till Friday. I think he enjoyed his time off campus. A&A had a delightful mix of people over for dinner on Thursday, so there was plenty of conversation for everyone.

On Friday, I went back to Claremont with the guys. While Dick and Alan toured campus, Andy and I visited one of my mother's longtime friends, Frances Bray who lives in a retirement community made up of clergy and missionaries. Frances and her husband, Bill, were missionaries to Japan. I've been able to get over to see Frances each time I've been in California, and I consider it a very special treat.

Saturday evening, Dick and I gave A&A an evening off for a date. They did dinner and a movie.

Sunday morning, Dick and I got up and went to church at St. Judes in Burbank, a small, charismatic Episcopal church. It was a most interesting experience for us. After church, we took Jack on an extended outing; we had lunch with A&A&Jack at A&A's favorite restaurant in downtown Burbank. The young man did very well with his travels.

Sunday evening was a wonderful time for Andy, Dick, and me. Andy took us up to the famous Griffith Park Observatory. Other than the Christmas light display nearby, the observatory seemed to be the place to be on a sultry November evening. While we were waiting to go into the planetarium program, a staff member pointed out the conjunction of the moon, Jupiter and Venus. He told us that it would not occur again until 2040. Monday night was the closest point of the conjunction. So we tried to get photos Monday evening right after sunset. Our little point and shoot cameras didn't get a very good shots, but we know what they are.

Monday my longtime friend and editor, Mike Block, came over from Fullerton and we visited for a couple of hours. Mike and I have stayed in touch via email every week as we pass articles for the ACS web site back and forth. It was great to see him again.

Tuesday was the return home day. It was so hard to say goodbye to A&A and especially Jack. I am already looking at flights for perhaps February.

We had a most blessed Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends--old and new. It is right and good to give God thanks and praise.

I am going to be very lazy this time around and just post the photos in one place. It is rather tedious to insert them one by one.

May you all have most blessed Christmases and New Years.