Scottsdale Morning Without a View For A Bit!

Dinner  on Ed and Dot's Patio with Claire and Henry

The Happy Couple

My View at 5:45

My View at 6:45

Well, I am in Scottsdale, with Grandpa Ed and Dot.  It's 5:45 and I  am up reluctantly but also expectantly until I walked into the living room to find that Ed has put down the metal door, blocking the view of the mountains through their patio doors!  Rats!  I was up, with my light pull over, expecting to have my coffee outside on their patio, watching the sky lighten over the mountains.  It's not to be until someone gets up because I am not sure how to open the door and don't want to wake anyone by doing it.  So I sit here, in my darkened living room, waiting for the break from my walled in prison.

Yesterday could have been a nightmare, as our flight was delayed a couple of hours.  We got to the airport early, by an hour at least, boarded the plane on time, buckled our seats, then were notified by the pilot that they had discovered a gas leak on one of the wings and we all had to disembark immediately.  They were pretty good about keeping us update and trying to get us to Phoenix.  They put us on a place three hours later, that had come in with passengers from Dallas, so instead of getting there at 2:00, we got there at 5:00, not the worst scenario but annoying.  We were happy that the leak was discovered on the  ground, however, as the plane had come in from Tampa.

Claire, Evie's sister, was waiting for us at baggage claim, so we did not get lost, a possibility since the Phoenix Airport is huge, putting the likes of Cleveland and Buffalo to shame.  Henry was waiting in the car, so we threw our bags in the trunk and within twenty minutes, we were at Ed and Dots.   How nice to be picked up and chauffeured home.  Claire was thoughtful enough to bring water, a couple of cold beers, and  Henry!  What a sister in law. They have been here since November, loving the weather, the change of pace from their home on Long Island.

Both Dad and Dot seem good, happy to see us, I hope, though I know any change is often difficult and upsetting to anyone, more so if you are ninety three.  Dot had dinner ready for us, roasted pork with assorted side dishes and a salad.  Claire and Henry stayed as well, and we had an enjoyable meal, sitting outside on their patio, sipping wine, catching up on the gossip, enjoying being with each other after almost a year.  Claire had made dessert, amazingly tasty lemon squares, with lemons from their trees, the size of small grapefruits.  About 8:00, Claire and Evie dropped Henry off at home and went to pick up Laura at the airport, as she was arriving at 8:30.  I stayed home with the parents and we chatted a bit and watched a crime show on TV until Laura and Evie arrived, about 9:30.

It's great of Laura to come and stay for the week and I know it's a strain for her as she is currently undergoing chemo again and the last thing she wanted to do was fly up here.  But she did.  What a women!  She is her usual self, upbeat and tough, ready to deal with anything life throws her way.  Last year, when we visited, she also came up, so we have lots to look forward to this week, with both her and Clarie and Henry, as well as Dad and Dot.  The last time we were together like this must have been in the summer of 2009 for Dad and Dot's going away party at their Euclid home.

Finally, Claire  knows Evie and I have enjoyed hiking this past winter from our blog, and she and Henry have enjoyed  hiking some of the trails around Scottsdale.  So this morning, at 8:00, Henry is coming over and he, Evie and I are going to hike for about an hour on the Mc Dowell Sonoran Preserve, a web of  trails near by.  We are anxious to hike it, but I wonder how we will deal with the heat as neither Evie nor I much like hiking when it's hot.  Anyways, it's the start to a great day, a great week, with our family here in Scottsdale.