the end

Everything has a last time.  Most often we don't know these last times are happening.  At some point there was a last time you took your kids off your shoulders but didn't know it would be the last.  At some point you tucked then into bed for the last time but didn't know it would be the last.  This trip did have a feeling that it could be the last family trip of such magnitude, the kids are getting older. As always we hope we have given them experiences that allow them to grow. This last day of the trip gave me time in our travels to remember this.  It was a busy day with an early start due to flight changes.  The drive to SeaTac was easy and dropping off the Tank was smooth.  I reminded the kids again to empty their water bottles so TSA wouldn't take them and Amy reminded me that I had told them a dozen times and they weren't children.  Seattle airport was the most chaotic poorly designed and laid out airport we have been in.  Agents were hollering, TSA was telling long lines of people about to miss their flights that they should have planned better, passengers were cutting in line and throwing laptops out of their bags on to screening... Stress and disgruntled travel was permeating the air. The older two asked to use the restroom at this point, I was miffed having suggested it when we dropped off the Tank.... Slightly more irritated when I learned it was to empty their water bottles. Grace was thinking that when the 'kids' move out then the three of us should fly first class. The flights themselves were smooth and we had great food during our layover in MN. It was about 2:30 am before we pulled into the driveway and officially ended what could be one of our last.