Gary receiving an unexpected call from Columbia, his 89-year-old mother proposing a trip east to see her great-grandchildren in Oklahoma and Kansas, Sarah, Allison, Hollyann and Brennan. Gary acceding to his mother’s desire, asking Fran to accompany them, but his wife declining saying she would stay home and accommodate the other two members of the family, Sammi and Little Bit. Gary’s sister Nancy making a very rare trip to convey their mother to Modesto to spend the night for the early morning flight. The two boarding a United Airlines SkyWest, Pratt & Whitney powered twin turbo propped Embraer 120 in the twilight of the morning, this being a third time for Gary traveling on the 30 seat turboprop non-luxurious aircraft. The morning flight as in the past, a tour over the wind turbines Altamont Pass, San Francisco Bay coming into view, a descent and an alignment with the San Mateo Bridge, the circumnavigating craft banking right for its approach to SFO the San Francisco International Airport and a its final quay. Gary having made this landing dozens of time at home on his computer utilizing a Logitech joystick, enjoying the Google Earth flight simulator, the scenic view on Google Earth a realistic visual depiction, a marvel of modern science.

Google Earth flight simulator screen when landing at SFO
Embarking from the Embraer on the ground level mobile stairs to the SFO upper terminal awaiting a 7.56 a.m. departure time for the 1460 mile nonstop journey to DFW, Dallas/ Ft.Worth International Airport. Commencing a United Airlines 757, their seating arrangement providing Gary with a window seat enabling an animate visual view from aloft. The aircraft raising to its cruising altitude of 37,000 ft. on a southwesterly course, a flight time of 3 ½ hours, their arrival at DFW expected at 1:45 p.m. central standard time. Thirty minutes into the flight, the cabin lights dimmed and a host of TV screens descending, the in-flight movie to begin. Gary vigilant, noticing that everyone seated before him pulling down their window shades, the featured, the animated movie “Up” about to start. The interior of the aircraft now shadowed in darkness, Gary, to the duress of many of the other passengers, the only person to allow the acquiesce glowing signature of nature to abide, leaving his window unadorned with a shade, the blue sky and bright sun giving presence to the majestic lapsing earth below.
The Boeing 757 airliner discerning its station, the two disembarking descending to the unsecured lower level, Gary’s son Rob and his crew cab pickup awaiting for the trip to the recently purchased home on Shady Glen Court in Fort Worth. Gary very much impressed with Rob’s and Nancy’s home, although not completely furnished, the beginning of a showcase, Dad having always recognizing that his son was perfectionist. The father recalling Rob’s youthful days in high school, when given his grandfather Chevrolet Blazer to drive school, keeping his namesakes pride immaculate. Arriving, dad and grandmother introduced to the soon to be family member Nancy, the lady sporting a radiate smile and cascading personality. The couple having a third member of the family. a five month old Boxer pup named Lila, another charisma in the family. That evening another introductory, an introduction to Nancy’s mother Sanjuana and two younger sisters Daisy and Lucy, the families having dinner at a charcuterie food establishment. Gary having been delinquent in having any meaningful time with his son in the past ten years, partly because of Rob’s military career, but acknowledging Rob’s forethought for this an analogous introduction to Nancy’s family.
The morning finding a decision to journey to Dallas to experience Dealey Plaza, the Texas school book depository and the grassy knoll where circumstances lead to President John F Kennedy final destiny. Gary having prospected this realm 25 years earlier, but a first for Rob, Nancy and his Mother. Approaching the upper cemented pillars of the grassy knolls concave, the two couple joined some others mesmerized by a local elderly historian relating what transpired on that monumental day. The person professing to be an eyewitness to the unfolding events of November 22nd, able to name those who attested as witnessing the event. The historian affirming that Lee Harvey Oswald didn’t act alone, concluding the assassination was a conspiracy and that Oswald was duped, being the fall guy. The elderly narrator was very convincing in his dialogue, Gary observing people acknowledging their wallet including his mother contributing a token of gratitude for his mesmerizing discourse. Gary suspect that this animate elderly person having found a livelihood, arraying himself on the grassy knoll each day, articulating and describing very convincingly the scene of this historical event, his narration a profiteering enterprise. A walk to the Texas School Book Depository Building, the sixth floor from which Lee Harvey Oswald, according to the Warren Commission’s Report fired the fatal shots, the entrance and sixth floor now a museum, the cost of observation being $13.00 per person, although interested, the group deciding against participation. A sandwich lunch at a local bistro fulfilled, the four returning to Rob and Nancy home preparing to leave on the 3 hour, 200 mile excursion to Gary’s eldest daughter Marlo and her family in Edmond a suburb of Oklahoma City.
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