Leaving Lori and the RV in Llano Grande was a little different from last year, yet knowing how great the RV park amenities are and how much fun Lori was already having made it much easier. I was also, of course, very excited to be going home for the holidays to be with Jim and family and experience Lilah’s first Christmas. I was able to reserve a lift to the Mercedes airport with an CIA agent. How cool is that!
The backstory is that one day Lori and I ordered an Uber from the RV park to the local shopping centre. The lady that picked us up was very nice. Lori noticed that she had an ID badge that said CIA. Lori elbowed me and pointed to it. So of course I had to ask. She went on talking about her work and how she was currently stationed at the U.S.-Mexican border. How the work was very tough given the conditions. She went on to let us know she was with the Chaplains International Agency and her role was to work with the border agents and help them through their emotions given the trauma they were seeing. While we were somewhat disappointed she didn’t work for the CIA (you know the one we mean), we were very interested in what she had to say about what was really happening at the border. The stories were heartbreaking about families being ripped apart, beatings, and other horrors.
Okay, back to the lift to the airport. So this lady worked part time for Uber on her days off. We liked her so much I asked her if I could reserve her for my rides to and from the airport and she was more than willing. This was very helpful as it was a 45-minute drive and I really didn’t want to drive with a stranger – nor risk being late. I flew through Houston which was quite the experience. What a large airport with so many terminals.
Finally home. What a great feeling! I was home in time to go shopping with Jim for a Christmas tree, decorate, wrap gifts (many which I had ordered and shipped home earlier), so it was actually a very relaxing and fun time.
Having a little one around for Christmas brightened up the entire experience for all of us. The kids bought us Raptors tickets for Jan 1st which we were very excited about. This was going to be their first game with the new additions of RJ Barrett and Emmanuel Quickley. We went into Toronto early by train and went out for dinner and then had a great time at the game. So much fun. What a great gift!
