Ok, we are going to Del Rio again.

The last time we went was a quick weekend though.

It was too quick, so we are going back.

Mostly because I feel like I didn’t get to say goodbye to my grandparent’s house.

Seems like a weird thing to say.

Seeing their house again was sad though.

It was sad because they were not there, and because it still smelled like them.

It smelled like it did when I was eight years old.

It’s the summer, it’s hot outside, and dinner is ready.

I need a shower, but I don’t have time to get one before dinner.

My mom and grandmother are in the kitchen cooking and setting the table as my grandfather calls us in

I come in the back sliding-door and the cold AC hits me in the face as I pass through the threshold.

That instant.

It still smells like that.

But a hurricane hit Houston last week and everyone is in a scare about possible gasoline shortages.

In their fear, everyone is running to fill their gas tanks and gas stations are – in the short-term anyway – running out of gas.

Don’t even get me started on economics.

I hope we make it back.

I love you.

–Dad

I have a duck and a goose.

In case I don’t call either of you that forever, I just wanted to document it here.

H, we call you a “goose” quite a bit.

K, we call you a “duck.”

For some reason, both have stuck, at least for now.

Does any nickname really stick over the long-term?

Anyway.

You are the best.

I am so proud of both of you.

I answer as Jacob did.

Genesis 3:5:
And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, “Who are these with you?”
So he said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.’

I love you.

–Dad

It has been a long week.

I alluded to this when I said mom had gone to work before school started.

The short of it is that mom has been out of town all week for training.

She is driving back and forth everyday.

But it has been a tax on everyone.

She is getting up earlier that usual, spending four hours a day in the car, and getting home late.

I am waking you up, getting both of y’all ready for school, picking you up after school, and feeding you dinner.

You kids?

Your love-tanks are empty.

You both miss your mama.

You light up when she gets home.

Not only do you light up, you basically want to have a party when you see her at the end of the day.

This is around bedtime.

And this means we all go to sleep late.

Everyone is exhausted.

Come on Saturday.

I love you.

–Dad