The Saddest Time of Aloha

Aloha has many meanings. It can mean hello, love or good-bye. I guess it's sort of like Shalom.

Today, it was farewell and it hurt even more to say good-bye to my daughter, Tif and our granddaughter, KC than I thought it would. I was dreading this moment so I tried to put it out of my mind but today's pain was always looming in the background.


Tif and Art started the morning by getting some Beard Papa's cream puffs. The store is very close by but we never get them because we figure anything that tastes that good has got to be bad for you. For KC it was love at first bite.


Then she had lots of energy to go outside and do some sweeping... at least that's what she said she was doing.


She thought it was rather funny to play peek-a-boo with her broom. She may have been a bit tired of me following her around with my camera trying to record her every move.


KC loves flowers so she made it a point to water the orchids one last time.


Too soon it was time to go to the airport. KC seemed to understand what was going to happen.
"Grandpa come, too?" she asked.
"No, KC but we'll see you in spring," Art said.
"Grandma come, too?" She tried another tack.
"No, I'm not going but you'll be seeing your friends soon and Daddy will be picking you up at the airport," I reassured her.

She grabbed some toys we'd bought for her to play with during her stay and asked Tif if she could bring them with her. Tif said she could select one if grandma said it was OK. I wondered what she would take. What she chose wasn't a toy that she played much with during her stay but today that toy horse was imbued with strong emotions and significance.


The toy never left her side from her ride to the airport to the security gate.


Tif hand carried two heavy backpacks (filled with snacks, diapers and assorted baby stuff), KC's carseat, a laptop, a stroller and sometimes, KC. I have NO idea how she does it. I'm just grateful she's willing to do this just so she can spend extra time with us. It's a red-eye NINE hour flight back to Illinois non-stop. As I write this post, she's been in the air 5 hours and I'm feeling her tiredness.

I asked KC at the airport what she was supposed to do on the airplane. She said, "KC quiet."
I asked her what she should do with her feet. She said, "Down." I hope she remembers so the person in front of her doesn't get foot jabs on the flight.


The house is too quiet now. Much too quiet. If I close my eyes I can hear Tif talking to me. I can hear KC's shrieks of laughter. I can feel her arms around my neck. I can almost smell her baby smell. As she looks at that toy horse, I hope she can see us, too.

This is so painful.

But then... tomorrow, we'll have Skype!