One Pastor's Perspective

Saturday morning we got up … ate breakfast … and waited.  Waited for the caravan of cars to go back to Del Rio.  Then, in a strange twist, the caravan left us.  Long story.  But we made our way back on our own!!  (All I need is Mr iPhone!!!)

We actually beat the caravan back by about an hour, since they stopped for pizza.  Here is where the Omni Colonnade part of the story starts …  Yes, the great Omni Colonnade of San Antonio, where I shall NEVER stay again!!!  Our issues started last Tuesday when Diana was trying to make sure Mom and Dad had a wheelchair-accessible room.  The rocket scientists that work there kept transferring our call to the national reservation hotline, who told us we HAD to talk to the local folks and would transfer us back.  After the local folks picked up and hung up on us twice, we decided to wait a day or two.  On Friday, Diana called and finally convinced them to talk to us and NOT transfer us back to the national folks.  She made the necessary arrangements and even got Mom and Dad a noon check-in time.  We thought we were set!

We arrived at the Omni at 2pm.  Mom and Dad’s room wasn’t ready, but ours was!  If not for the handicap accessible room, we would’ve camped them in that one.  But we waited for the room that was supposed to be better set-up for the wheelchair.  And we waited.  And we waited.  And 3pm check-in time came.  And we waited.  No room.  No room until 4pm.  And it wasn’t even wheelchair friendly!!!  By that time, Mom and Dad were so tired it didn’t matter to them.

Long story short, we got settled in and went out for supper.  When we got back … went to bed .. went to breakfast early Sunday morning.  Then found out that Jake’s cousin had been ROBBED!!  Well, at least his room was … Someone took his MacBook Pro, his iPad, and his iPhone from his room.  It seemed like an inside job, but the front desk reminded that no one really knows who got it.  The police came out, filed a report, and that was all.  Housekeeping was in our rooms after we left for supper, because they left a little something in each room.  I thank God no one took my MacBook Pro or my iPad, which was charging and in plain sight.  Moral of this paragraph and the last:  DO NOT STAY AT THE OMNI COLONNADE IN SAN ANTONIO.  (Ironically, Diana had read a story about the exact same thing happening to another person a few weeks ago at the same hotel on the web.  Staying there wasn’t our choice … )

We left our hotel, ran downtown, did the high-speed self-tour of the Alamo, and got to the airport.  Once again, the US Air folks were great.  TSA left a little to be desired.  We got back to Charlotte and found it cold, rainy, and 40 degrees.  We got Mom and Dad loaded back up, on I-85 South, and we headed home!!

In the five days of this trip, I flew over 2,200 miles and drove over 800.  I’m tired!!

Yesterday was the formal graduation.  We went to the base early, to the Rudolph Anderson Hall … (Rudolph Anderson was a U-2 pilot shot down during the Cold War.  He was also a native of Greenville, SC!!)  There, Jake won three awards:  Highest scores in the pilot aspect of training, best officer, and he was one of two distinguished graduates.  I smell a career if he wants it.

Afterward, we went out to the flight line where my sister and her ex pinned his wings on him.  We took tons of pictures and we were done!!  FOR THE DAY!!  And it was 1pm!  There was a formal dinner last night, but my sister knew better than to let my dad (or ME for that matter) attend … No Clampetts allowed!!  We had lunch so late that mom and dad didn’t want to go anywhere last night.  I went to Wendy’s drive-thru at their request.  So, that left Diana and me to explore the nightlife of Del Rio!

Off we drove, into the wild dark yonder, driving fast through the terrain …  And wishing the van was armored.  Remember, we are about 1.5 miles from the border.  The hotel clerk recommended a place for my trusty iPhone took us there.  No dice.  Had Diana allowed me to bring my gun, maybe … but no dice without it.  We then hit the Urban Spoon app on my iPhone and found a place that got good reviews and high ratings.  But it was off the beaten path …

Ponchos!  It was a family owned and operated restaurant.  (Do NOT confuse this with the chain in New Orleans and other cities that is an all-you-can-eat Mexican place.  DEFINITELY NOT that one!!)  This restaurant was the authentic Tex-Mex we’ve been looking for.  And I think Mexican food is now ruined for me …  It was THAT good!!

Today, we drive back to San Antonio and basically wait on our flight tomorrow …  Would love to see the Alamo and Riverwalk.  Gonna try!!

We got up yesterday and immediately set out for Del Rio, which was almost a 3 hour drive from San Antonio.  I drove on yet ANOTHER segment of US-90, which runs from Florida to Japan (probably) and is the road New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is on.

This segment of 90 is kind of barren and brushy.  Texans have assured me this is NOT a good sampling of what Texas really looks like.  I write this to you now about 1.5 miles from the Mexican border.  This is an interesting place, to say the least.

On the drive down there were two fascinating road signs.  One of them said “Welcome to Hondo, Texas. This is God’s country.  Don’t drive like hell through it!”  The other, in the middle of nowhere, said: “Do Not pick up hitchhikers … They are escaping inmates.”  It was a serious sign and a sobering reminder we were driving past a prison …

Anyway, Drew and I got to go spend some time in a couple of simulators.  I’ve got to say the USAF has the COOLEST COMPUTERS!!!  Then we all attended a “Retiring of the Colors” ceremony.  There I had an unexpected surprise:  I had to remind Dad that he is unable to stand when decorum would require standing out of respect for the American Flag.  He understood.  When they played “Retreat” and then the National Anthem, Dad sat up as straight as he could and held a salute the entire time.  I really wish I could’ve taken a picture, but I refuse to disrespect our flag like that.  But it was a special moment, and one I won’t forget.

After a reception at the Officer’s Club and most of us going to a restaurant in town (I came all the way to Del Rio, TX to eat at CHILI’S!!!), the day was over and we all collapsed in bed.  The end!

Why is it a mega-journey??  We’ve never tried to do anything remotely like this with Dad since he’s been in the wheelchair.  And, all things considered, the folks at US Air earned their money yesterday!! They basically transferred Dad from his wheelchair to a rolling stool and rolled him in and out of the plane.  Dad really wasn’t able to help much with the transfer … But between the US Air guys and Drew, we made it happen.

So, now I sit in one of THREE different hotels I’ll be in for this trip.  We make our way to Del Rio in a few hours and the graduation festivities begin today.  Informal stuff today, formal stuff tomorrow.  Hoping Mom and Dad are up to this!!

Life is full of them … If you are LIVING life, you will face challenges.  Tests of your mettle.  Opportunities to succeed or fail.  And if you are running from those, you are running from life itself.

I look at where both of my children are in life, and they both face great challenges.  And they seem to face them well:  With resolve and faith.  Don’t get me wrong:  I know my kids aren’t perfect.  But they both are in places in life where the challenges are coming and they are stepping up to the plate. They are, and many of their friends are in the same places and doing the same things!  And that’s good!