
..The morning found it was time to journey on to Wichita and his daughter Sandra’s. Gary’s eldest son Scott offering to navigate the elder Willson north on Interstate 35, the 160 mile trip, a 2 ½ hour venture. Gary reluctantly having to relate a farewell to his daughter and his grandchildren, especially Hollyann, her vigor a paramount architecture bringing new meaning to the Denton family. His departure bringing forth an overwhelming sensitivity of loss, a realization, part of his life is missing.
..The Birzer home was inviting, a two-storied structure with a superbly finished basement entertainment and office room with a large LCD screen, a sectional and Jeremy’s desk. Great Grandma delighted with Brennan who was just beginning to walk, knowing that this new-found experience was fun, his smile a lively exponent reflection of Jeremy and Sandra. The morning found Sandra desiring to shop for Brennan, Gary and his mother about to enter Sandra’s BMW mode of transportation, when Gary noticed, above the rear fender of Jeremy’s pickup parked in the driveway, a bullet hole. Gary questioning his daughter about the abnormality, Sandra laughing, replying she wasn’t supposed to say anything about it, but during a visit by Rob, his concealed handgun fell to the ground discharging, resulting in a bullet hole in Jeremy’s pickup, Gary saying he wouldn’t tell anybody.
..Sandra with Brennan firmly position in his car seat, she proceeded to take dad and grandma on a tour of Wichita. it being almost 10 years since his days of frequenting this majestic city. The evening found his son-in-law adorning his culinary expertise, providing an outstanding specialty meal, including an adorning glass of wine. Jeremy securing a day off from work, entertaining all for a luncheon engagement at a favorite bistro adjoining Old Town, a pavilion that mimicked Brick Town in Oklahoma City. Gary remembering when the area was first resurrected from the old abandoned warehouse district and now a showplace.
..With a solemn feeling, departure time and a return to California having descended, Gary once more having a feeling of loss, a farewell to the meaningful people in his life. Jeremy providing transportation in the morning hour to Wichita Mid Continent Airport, Gary and his mother boarding a United Airlines flight for their return journey to Modesto. Unlike the Boeing 7 57, nonstop flight to Texas, the smaller 7 37 was destined to Denver, a connecting flight to San Francisco awaiting. The delay in Denver was short-lived, but during the escalator travel between gates Gary noticing that his mother didn’t look well. Questioning her about her medication, finding that her nitroglycerin patch that she was required to apply at high altitudes was never exercised, a brief halt was made, the stubborn matriarch Willson complying.
..Gary enjoying the flight from Denver, having traversed this journey many time before, never a monotonous journey, the scenic view from above an august array displayed below the buoyant aircraft. A gentle touchdown at the San Francisco International Airport, a two-hour delay before a welcomed boarding on SkyWest to Modesto. The traveling couple finding an interesting display at SFO, an exhibit of the history of gambling slot machines. The walkway between terminals, lined with these historical relics from the past. Both finding the history absorbing, stopping and reading the placard that accompanied each exhibit. The short Embraer 1 20 flight to Modesto was enhanced.
..Upon arrival, Gary expecting his sister Nancy to meet them and return her mom home to Columbia, to his surprise, it was his sister Katherine and husband Donald. The transient adventure fulfilled, Gary sad in one respect that it wasn’t shared with Fran, but happy to be back. Giving his mom a loving parting hug, thanking her for the time they spent on their journey and their togetherness. His sister and brother in law’s short visit ending before continuing on, and as they left to return grandma back to Columbia , Gary mentioning to Fran, this was only the third time in nine years that his sister Katherine who lives only 70 miles from Modesto had ever visited, he guessed she didn’t have much to say.
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