Flying to Denver and a lost suitcase adventure

 Recently I have read these two books from our church library.  I picked them because they take place where I have traveled recently.

The East coast through the Appalation mountains and on to the West coast.  Oceans and mountians.

My school reunion had come to a close and it was time to head out.  We set the alarm for 4 am.  We were leaving really early along with Harper to the airport.  Tim and Martha graciously, willingly drove us to the airport at 5.  Bless them!!

It took quite some time to get through security.  We had time for some breakfast too before it was time to fly out.

I was excited because I would get off at Denver and spend a few days with our daughter Mindy and her girls!!  Papa was bummed because he wouldn't be able to see them this time.  He has this thing called a JOB. 

Al had some reading he brought along.  I could have read my book, but I just LOVE to look out the window to see what is below!!  He often leaned over to look out at things I would point out.

Leaving San Diego.  Sea World in bottom right corner.  The tall building is a Hyatt (had to look on Google Earth and get into ground view to confirm this.  I love Google Earth!)

Point Medanos

Out over the Pacific before circling around!  (I have a friend who doesn't fly or drive.  This picture is for you so you can experience it somewhat.)

Isla Coronado off the northwest coast of Mexico.  Mostly uninhabited except for a small military detachment and a lighthouse keeper.  There are tours there for whale watching and to see other marine life.  And also fishing.  We saw these islands when we were on the trolley tour.

Back over land.  Below is the Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach Airport, a navy facility for helicopters.  The "Helicopter Capital of the World."

Also the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge.  Beyond that is Mexico.

The Salton Sea, a shallow, landlocked, highly saline body of water that lies on the San Andreas fault.

Mohave Valley

Lake Havasu

I gave up trying to find this on Google Earth.  Somewhere between Lake Havasu and the Grand Canyon.

The south part of the Grand Canyon.  We would have seen it clearly if we'd been on the other side of the plane.

Monument Valley

Maps showed that we were flying just north of Durango.  I couldn't spot it though.

Hi, Mike and Debbie!

We found out that if we brought up Google Maps on our phones, it would spot where you are so you can tell where you are flying.  See the picture above compared to the map?

Landing in Denver!

Al and I kissed good-bye and he took the train to his terminal.  And I took one to the exit.

Mindy picked me up.  The babies stayed home with Jason.  As we left the airport, a car honked at us.  Figured it was because he wasn't happy she had pulled in front of him.  It was crowded and we didn't think much about it.

But when we got to Mindy's and opened the back hatch, although my book/makeup bag was there, my red suitcase was GONE!!???  My mouth dropped open in shock!

"Where's my suitcase?"

Evidently it had fallen out as Mindy was pulling out.  The back door had not completely closed before we left.  No wonder the guy honked at us to try to get our attention.

Kaia thought it was all funny!

A phone call to the airport Lost and Found and the suitcase was located!   An answer to prayer.  When I told Al, he was certain that it had either got run over on the highway or someone had stolen it.  

Well, instead of Jason taking an Uber to the airport for his flight to Chicago, Mindy drove back and took him.  Tenley went along.

It was fun for Tenley!  And it would be a sweet time having girl time!!

The Trolley

One of the options for our CAJ reunion was the open air San Diegio trolley tour.  Originally it was scheduled for Saturday, but because rain was forecast all day, they changed it to Sunday afternoon.  There were enough of us for 2 trolleys.  Next 2 photos by Daniel Sims.

Martha McMahan, who took this picture, knew totally that Harper was doing this.

I had no clue until photo showed up later!

Point Loma

We were here in 2014 with friends Don and Kathy.  When they brought us, we actually saw a submarine emerge out of the water!   Here is a picture of it!

Photo by Daniel Sims

"Woodrow Wilson established Cabrillo National Monument in 1913, in recognition of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and his voyage of exploration. Cabrillo led the first European expedition to set foot on what would become the west coast of the United States, and the first to chart the coast of California."

Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, a federal military cemetery.  It overlooks San Diego Bay on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other.

Our friend Don had served on this navy ship and when we were here with them in 2014, they took us on board!

Over a 50 year span, Bob Hope used to bring his variety shows to military camps and war zones to entertain the troops and encourage them.  He befriended injured soldiers and would write personal letters to show his thankfulness for their service and sacrifice.

Harry and Merry-Zoe

Convention Center - Al had a pharmacy convention here when we came to see Don and Kathy.  We did not know that my mother was dying until we got a call from our daughter.  Mom hung on until we got home.  When we had left for California, she had said to me "Go have fun.  Don't worry about me."  She died shortly after we got back to Kansas.  Her last words to me were "Debby, you're here!"  Had we any inclination, we would not have gone.  We never know, do we?

Crossing over the bridge to Coronado

Hotel del Coronado

This was our 3rd time here.  Once with the kids on a trip here.  Then in 2014 and then now.

Crossing back to the main land

The tour lasted 4 hours and we were ready to return.  It was soooo cold!  We had been hoping for 70's but it was in the low 50's and in an open air trolley, a little miserable!  They had heaters and we could have put down the plastic sheeting for the windows, but thought we wouldn't be able to see very good out of that.  Not any good photography at any rate.

That evening, the class of '73 went out to dinner at the Wine Bar.   The place is usually closed on Sundays, but they opened it up just for us!!  How hospitable!! It was just the owners without staff so service took time, however, we were all about visiting anyway!!!  Time was not of any consequence.  The food was incredibly delicious!

Meggie (on the right) was an awesome coordinator for much of this spectacular weekend!!

What a great time of fellowship!  We found things in common and I am so very grateful for this time we had!

As I have thought about all of us MKs raised in Japan and also all our spouses, some who grew up in other countries or had never left their state, I had to think of Acts 17:26-27.

"And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands and territories.This was so that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grasp for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us."

I truly am glad I grew up in Japan and really have enjoyed having friends who understand and "get me".  We have gone through many similar experiences together.  We grew up in another culture.  We speak another language - Japanese.  We went to school together, many of us in a dormitory situation.  Some of us got in trouble together.  We have grieved together.  We have laughed together.  We understand the inside stories.   I'm happy Allen and I went to this reunion together and met others who are TCKs married to those who aren't, or those who were both MKs.  So blessed!

When we got back to the hotel, Al took photos of the ships in the bay.  Wish we could live by the ocean.  But God has placed us smack dab in the middle of the country for now.

The next day we'd be flying out of California.  Headed for Denver and Kansas.