Back In The Land Of Catfish and Gospel

Steven watching "Dirty Jobs" on Discovery

We're back in the land of the Delta Blues. In addition to being known for catfish and gospel, they are also known for August temps in the triple digits and humidity close to triple digits and this trip is no exception.

In my usual mode of last-minute planning, I made my reservations late so the only (reasonably priced) flight we could get left at 6:00 am. I was doing laundry and just starting to pack the night before at 9:00 pm.

And I think we set a record for late arrival at the airport post 9-11, I did check in online but we were checking bags at the airport only 25 minutes before our flight left.

You'd think we'd learn, but the truth is, arriving that late has its advantages. They said our luggage wouldn't make it on the plane, but it did and when we got to Memphis, our luggage made it to the baggage carousel before we did. We were out of the airport before even a single other bag was coming down the ramp. We spent way less time in the airport than all those folks who arrived on time.

The only other time this happened was when we got the airport 12 minutes before takeoff, but we were both in tears when we got to the gate that time, I wouldn't recommend it, just a little too much stress.

Tomorrow we are booked almost solidly from 8:45 AM to 5:00 PM, the great bulk of that time being taken up by the first half of his annual cognitive testing and the brain MRI. We should get MRI results Tuesday. Our schedule is here.

When we were here in February we visited baby Rayley and before we left we were praying that we'd be able to visit Rayley in August.

Things didn't happen that way, the halls of St. Jude are filled with love and compassion and friends and the ghosts of friends lost. I think we're staying in the room Regina was in the time we were here the same time as them for a week.

If you are inclined, keep us in thought and prayer this week. We are scheduled to arrive back in San Diego Wednesday night.

- Kathleen