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| Homecoming! |
After Martin’s Cove, Dad leaned back in the passenger seat: “I just want to get back home to Kare and my own bed.” This road trip was the longest number of days and most road miles that Dad had ever travelled in one journey in his life.
As I punched the gas and scooted towards Salt Lake, Dad worried, “I hope we don’t arrive too early or Kare won’t be home from the Temple. It would be so sad to get home and not have Kare there.” Dad was excited when he called Mom and she was already home getting ready for him. He told Mom our estimated arrival time, but when it became clear we would get home an hour earlier, Dad quipped: “Better call Kare and tell her to hide the booze.” I honestly don’t know where that line came from.
When we pulled to a stop at Sherwood, Dad asked me for some gum to freshen his breath, combed his hair and stepped into the house. He stood in the piano room for a full minute just smiling and watching Mom move around the kitchen cooking. Then Dad stepped into the kitchen and he and Mom hugged for a long time. Dad moved to his favorite chair and started telling stories from the road smiling at Mom like a school boy with a crush repeating over and over, “You haven’t changed at all. You just haven’t changed.” Mom didn’t quite know what to make of those comments and puzzled, “I’m not sure if that is a good or a bad thing. I’m just the same. Don’t be disappointed. What did you want me to do, go to one of those makeover factories?”
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| Wyoming Prong Horn Antelop - Dad's Favorite |
After a short while, Dad stood reaching for Mom: “I just need another big hug.”
Then he leaned into Mom, “Will you give me a back scratch.” While I tried to do many things for Dad over the past weeks, I never gave him a back scratch (and he never asked for one either). Mom wiped the cookie dough off her hands and scratched Dad’s back evoking his traditional grunts of pleasure.
Mom explained, “With Fielding away, I got a glimpse of how it would be to be a widow. You walk into a room and you are invisible. A man helps give you visibility and recognition.” Then she turned to Dad, “So you better not die anytime soon, buddy.” Later she explained that, “It was sad to not have Fielding to tell all my stories to. He really understands those stories. Others listen politely, but they don’t have the background that Fielding and I share to really understand and share our stories.” It was clear that having 56 years of history provides a basis for Mom and Dad to share their stories with the most understanding, meaning and mutual validation.
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| Deer at Martin's Cove |
Then Dad yearned, “Kare, I really wish that this one night, you would come to bed at the same time that I do and not stay up late. Mom explained that she had especially started her cookies and other chores early so that she could be there for Dad when he got home: “Yes honey, I’ll come to bed with you, but first you have to take a shower and put on clean pajamas.” During the past weeks, Dad has repeatedly explained how he does not like to take showers and would prefer to sponge off with a wash cloth because he thinks that is easier. But, after family prayer, it wasn’t too long before I heard the shower running and Dad bumping around in it. Then Mom and Dad actually went to bed together – which was the first time I ever remember seeing that happen in my entire conscious memory – a fitting end to a perfect road trip.
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| Sky at Martin's Cove |
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| Mountain Meadow Massacre Memorial - St George |
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