I was walking down through my seventh baggage check and passport showing when when I would be arriving a fellow passenger asks me if my husband knew when I was arriving. "Ahh, a view into the criminal judges by his own condition", I grinned as I silently considered teasing the casual friendly travel acquaintance.  He had just told me stories that indicated my fellow traveler had serendipity enter his life more often than most.  Though I am well rehearsed in free form, off the cuff travel and wondrous surprises, I am committed to embracing the art of planning.  Answering  his questions, I explained how a day earlier I had emailed my husband the details- not as squared away as some would have it, but I was confident it had worked.

"OLAIA…….!!!!," my first indication that the men in my life were there were their voices of joy upon seeing Olaia walk out the baggage claim. It was so reassuring and wonderful to see Jim and Jaimito waiting for us at the airport. Jaimito hugged his sister and then hugged his mommy. My little man looked at least 6 inches taller. Jaimito was not exuberant as he has been at other times, but he seemed so grateful in a calm and sincere way. I think I know that feeling. One can be exuberant when it is a cherry being added to ice-cream, but Olaia and I arriving back into his life was probably more like a relief that he had not lost one of his founding pillars.

On the drive home, Jaimito and I held hands occasionally, stretching from above the front seat to the baby seat behind me. As we came closer home, Jaimito, became more comfortable and started spontaneously cheering: "chi-hi! chi-haa! chi ha ha ha, ah Mami, Ah MAMI, ai-ba-ba!" followed by "chi-hi! chi-haa! chi ha ha ha, ah Oyaia, Ah Oyaia, ai-ba-ba!". He repeated them twice, alternating people he was cheering. It was so earnest a cheer, I don’t think anybody else in the car noticed but I, and Jaimito sang it to himself as if it were before a stadium packed full of people singing with him.

I am glad to be back.