In Which Haroosh and I Take One Final Trip Together, and Some Lessons Are Learned
Are you packing your suitcase again?
Yes.
Does this mean you’re going on another adventure?
Yes, Haroosh.
Wonderful! Do I get to come with?
Yes, of course. I think it’s important that you come on this one. You might learn something. It’s time to teach you about things greater and more important than Adventures.
Where are we going?
Florida.
For a holiday? I mean, a vacation?
Not exactly.
Oh. What is it, then?
I”m not sure what to call it, exactly. We’re going to see some family. To pay our final respects.
What does that mean?
It means that someone has died. In my family. And so my uncles and my mother and I are going to go say goodbye, and be with some of our family for a few days.
Oh. And I get to come with?
Yes.
It doesn’t sound as much fun as the other trips we took.
I know. This one is different. This is a trip we need to take together, my uncles, and my mother and I. The last trip, perhaps.
The last trip? For me?
For many of us.
Oh.
Are you okay, Haroosh?
Yes. Maybe. I don’t know. I… I thought we were going to take a lot more trips together.
I know.
We were supposed to see the world. That’s what Kyle wanted you to do. With me. See the world.
I know. And we did. A small part of it. But that’s all done, for now. I have responsibilities, and it’s time you got back to Kyle. I’m sure he misses you.
I haven’t seen him in a long time. Will he be different?
Probably. He’s a little older now. He’ll be in high school next year.
Oh.
Will he still want to have me back?
I think so. I think you’ll be with Kyle for a long time.
I hope so.
So, we’re going to all drive together? All the way to Florida?
All the way to Florida. Without stopping for the night.
What’s it like down there?
It’s warm. Very warm. I used to live there, a long time ago. We’re going to say goodbye to my cousin, who we used to spend a lot of time with, her and her sister and her parents, when I was younger. We went on camping trips together, rode horses together, had pizza on Friday nights. She used to drive me to school. I had to sit in the backseat, but sometimes they’d let me play some of my music on the car stereo.
Was she nice?
Yes, she was very nice. She was a teacher, like me. And she loved animals. Horses, dogs, cats, even pigs. She would have liked you very much, Haroosh.
I bet I would have liked her too.
Are you ready to go, Haroosh?
Yes, I’m ready. Let’s go.
The photos are from the last time we visited Lorri and the rest of her family, in 2004. We went down to spend Christmas with my sister and her family, and took a day to drive over to St. Cloud to see the old neighborhood and to catch up with Lorri and Jenny, Jane and Mike.
I’ll write a bit more about the trip, and Lorri, in the next day or so.
In case you’re wondering who Haroosh is, I suggest starting here and then reading the rest of these entries.
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