"But What Will We Do Until Then?"

These were the words spoken by my granddaughter when we left my son's house (the middle son) after picking up my dog. We visited for a little while and I had taken over some food, nothing I made but some prepared food I got from Earth Fare on the way. We had been home only an hour before going across town in the rain -- and half the drive home was in really heavy rain -- and I said she would see her uncle and his girlfriend this weekend. In the meantime, I explained, they have to work every day (although my son is going to try to take off Friday afternoon) and I have to work several days. I told her she'll have to amuse herself for some of the time she's down here. Like most kids her age, she spends a lot of time on her phone. I will say, however, that she knows I mean business when I tell her she needs to put it away during meals. And on the drive home, she mostly left it alone and we played "the license plate game." That's probably not what it's really called, but we make a list of all the different states whose license plates we see. We've never actually finished (gotten all fifty), but it's a good way to pass the time. We have another one we do (which I had forgotten until just now) in which each person has to find a word -- written out on a billboard, car, building sign, whatever -- that starts with each letter of the alphabet, in order. That one we usually do finish, and on long trips we play it several times along the way.

We're having a nice time, and today's drive home was a short one -- just two and a half hours. I'm getting to know my new vehicle a little, but I still have moments of panic about five times a day when I question the reasoning of getting rid of my beloved Fernando. The new truck is Esteban, accent on the first and last syllables, at the suggestion of my youngest son's girlfriend. It suits him well. He carried us in fine style to Orlando and back, and in the storm on the way home he bounced water right off and wiped away what was left. He has a nice feature which allows me to start him before I get in, perfect for cooling down on a hot day. I'm sure a lot of cars have remote start but I've never had it before. We're adjusting to each other, and it's going well. My granddaughter said Esteban is probably tired of hearing me talk about Fernando, and I should stop or he'll act up. I think Esteban will understand, but it is time to put the past in the past.