Together

Jim flew to Detroit from Houston tonight. Adam flew in from Denver on Friday. Jacob and I flew to Texas last month and back to Michigan last week. Nancy and Richie both flew round trips between Detroit and Houston within the past few weeks. Luckily, none of us encountered any of those nightmarish scenarios with airport security that have been popping up regularly in the news recently. The six of us flew on three different airlines, so we went through several different TSA checkpoints. Richie and I were the only ones who got to experience the full body scan machine, and it was not a big deal at all. I don't know how I would feel about undergoing an "enhanced" pat down, though. I have received regular pat downs several times, and, again, those were not big deals. Unfortunately, I doubt that there is an easy answer to this difficult security question. On a lighter note - airline entertainment is certainly reaching new highs. With the availability of Direct TV, I was able to watch Wednesday's episode of Survivor at 39,000 feet at the same time that it was airing at home.

Since Jim arrived in Michigan tonight, it marks the first time that he, Adam, Jacob, and I have been at the condo concurrently. We have owned the place for almost six months, yet the four of us have not been here at the same time. It isn't as if we haven't been together in the past half year, because we have stayed in hotels, at Adam's apartment, and at the house in Texas simultaneously. Not surprisingly, the thrill of this lovely family togetherness didn't last long for Jim, and a few hours after getting to the condo, he went to bed.