Today, my brother Sam and his wife Jaime had a long layover in LA after a fourteen-hour flight from Australia. Sam texted last night and asked if there was any way to arrange a visit for this afternoon before they headed home to Nashville this evening. Ray and I quickly rearranged our schedule to make that happen, and we were happy that Sarah, Gregorio, and their kids were also available. Though our other two daughters and their partners couldn’t come due to prior commitments, the Pacheco Beaty family, Ray, and I had a wonderful five-hour visit with Sam and Jaime at Sarah’s house. Sarah made homemade minestrone soup and also had plenty of Thanksgiving leftovers, so we shared a meal together, heard all about Sam and Jaime’s three-week trip to Australia, and enjoyed each others’ presence. Though we hadn’t seen each other in a year, it felt as if it was only last week since we were all together. Such is the intimacy of our sweet and close relationship.

Sam is my younger brother and he and I are the only remaining siblings of the original six in our family. Our three older brothers and our older sister all died long before their time due to AIDS, cancer, and the long-term ill effects of a head injury. Sam and I were present at the deathbeds of three of our four siblings and also of our mother. We were always close, but those experiences cemented a special bond between us. We have promised each other we will do our best to live for a very long time! Needless to say, I was thrilled that we had this unexpected and lovely visit. Nothing makes me happier than spending time with people I love and these two are very much on that list.

Happy travels, Sam and Jaime, and thank you for sharing your afternoon with us. I love you both very much and look forward to our next time together. I’m glad you had such a wonderful trip to Australia and hope your jet lag isn’t too bad after you finally get back to Nashville. Rest, relax, and revel in those lovely memories.

Here’s to adventure!

Jaime and Sam last week on their trip in Australia. Sam is pointing at what I believe is a koala bear up in the tree behind them.