Our daughter-in-law gave birth on Friday night to their third child – and our third grandchild. We’re planning a trip to see them soon, and I’m hoping there won’t be any foul weather, new COVID variances or restrictions, or other issues that could get in the way of our plans. It wouldn’t be the first time.

Their first child was born almost three years ago, in the middle of January. We gave them a bit of time to get settled into their new family dynamic before visiting them in April, and we figured that by then, the worst of the Minnesota winter would be over.

We figured wrong. A record-setting blizzard brought snow, sleet, fierce winds, freezing rain, and whiteout conditions during the weekend of our visit. We still had a wonderful time with the family, but left a little earlier than we had intended in order to try getting out of town before the worst of the storm hit.

We didn’t quite make it. We managed to get to the airport, but our flight crew didn’t, as they were on the other side of a jackknifed truck blocking the off-ramp leading to the airport – one of many accidents that weekend. Numerous flights were canceled or delayed, but we managed to get on one that got us back to Georgia, and dry weather, in the wee hours of the next morning.

Our second grandchild was born in July of the following year, which made for much more agreeable traveling weather. Except that the year was 2020. The pandemic kept us from visiting them for eight months, but as soon as my husband and I had both doses of the vaccine, and passed the two-week waiting period, we were on the road heading north to meet our grandson. We visited again a few months later – to celebrate his first birthday, and to make up for lost time with them all.

I hope I don’t jinx myself by saying I’m pretty confident, and very, very hopeful, that all will be well for our next trip. Three’s the charm, as the saying goes, and I’m going to count on that. I can’t wait to meet the newest member of the family, and to spend time with his big sister and brother, as well as their exhausted – I assume – parents.

Our visit won’t coincide with the Thanksgiving holiday, but I’ll be giving thanks this year for our happy, healthy, and growing family. And I’ll be dreaming of the time – though it’s at least a few years down the road – when everyone’s grown up enough to travel and they can start coming here for a visit. On holidays, birthdays, summer vacations, or anytime they’re able. No matter what the season or the weather, I know that will always warm my heart.

November 8, 2021
©Betty Liedtke, 2021

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