“Maybe that’s the best part 
of going away for a vacation — 
coming home again.”  
~ Madeleine L’Engle

A week in the Bahamas. My time there was restful, a bit stressful, memorable, enjoyable, and essential. To wake up each morning and see the spectacular colors of the waters of Nassau Harbor from my hotel window was invigorating. The hospitality I experienced, from the airport to the hotel and restaurants to the campus of St. Augustine’s College, reminded me of what a warm and welcoming culture exists in this little island nation. Each day was a gift. I had the opportunity to see several former students, many now in their sixties, and reminisce about our experience at SAC forty-eight years ago. I was also blessed to meet a variety of others who, while not directly affiliated with St. Augustine’s, will more than likely be lifelong friends from this point on. In all, it was a remarkable trip.

While I felt very much “at home” in the Bahamas last week, I’m well aware that Nassau is not my home. I called it home for one year, August 1974 to August 1975, but I knew it was a temporary situation. Yes, that one year had a profound impact on my life. Yes, I got “sand in my shoes” and it found its way into my heart. But home, for me, is in San José, California, with my wife, Kathy, my sons, and their families. My time in Nassau was magnificent, but short-lived. The memories, however, will remain strong.

Kathy and I work as a team to provide daycare for our grandchildren here in our home. The older two are now in school full time (kindergarten and second grade.)  The other two are with us Tuesday through Friday during the day. Their other grandma drives down from Discovery Bay each Monday to spend the day with them. They are absolutely delightful, but by the end of each day, Kathy and I are exhausted. It takes a lot of energy to take care of toddlers, and we’re not getting any younger!

My older son is attending a conference for a few days in Napa. His wife had the opportunity to go along with him. So their two kids spent the night with us last night. Kathy took them to their school this morning and picked them up this afternoon. For awhile we had all four grandchildren with us this afternoon. Charles Dickens described the situation perfectly: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” For awhile, they laughed and played together like best friends. The older ones took time to help the younger ones with art projects and by reading to them. Then, not surprisingly, things got a bit chaotic. They were all tired. They were all hungry. And while Kathy prepared a delicious dinner for all of us, the kids made it known, in no uncertain terms, that they’d had enough.

By that time, my middle son and his wife arrived to join us for dinner. Having the additional adult support made things significantly more tolerable. We enjoyed a nice dinner, visited for a few minutes after dinner, then Steve and his wife took their kids home for the night. Now it’s just the two older one downstairs, content to watch a movie before going to bed. As for Kathy and me, I expect that we will both sleep quite well tonight. 

I am home, and grateful to be here. Memories of my most recent visit to Nassau linger in my mind every day. I think of my friends there with love and concern. But I know that this is my home.