Friday, May 4, 2012

And I think to myself...

...what a wonderful world...

Mr. Jenny is off at a meeting and I am alone in our beautiful hotel suite in San Antonio.   From the large bedroom window, I can see the River Walk winding below.   At my right hand, a heavy mug of room service coffee fragrances the elegant space of the sitting room.

How lucky I am.

Our son is one of the managers at this 4-star property, so we are blessed wtih room rates we can afford in a suite that feels like we are staying on a movie set.

Our drive east from Phoenix was lovely.

At first I lamented the fast forward that occurs with interstate driving.

But then, my mind quickly began noticing details of the country we were passing through...

...un-dotted exclamation points of telephone poles marching in military beat...

...painted mountain backdrops... 

...both the surprise and the linear sleekness of verdant pecan groves and vineyards appearing against  the unlikely umber and khaki subtlety of desert vistas.

...the architectural skeletons of buildings and billboards inspiring myriad imaginings of times and messages from the past.

I am often in a state of suspended animation on road trips...there is an odd familiarity as ghosts of trips past clutter the car along with discarded coffee containers and Quaker rice cake (barbecue flavor please) wrappers. 

I discard the trash at rest stops along the way, but the backseat of the car remains inhabited with memories of my children in their younger years chattering and bickering away.  

The stready thrum of wheels on pavement accompany my musings as I watch dots of black birds dance on the thermals and toy trains slowly unroll down the contained geography of their sunlight- glinted tracks.

Later today I will get dressed and put on make-up and gather my energy for conversation and laughter.

Later today we will explore the city a bit with our son and his lovely girlfriend.

For now, though, I will sit quietly in this rare time alone.  I willl think deep thoughts and take a long bath in the gorgeous marble bathroom and I will rejoice in the solitude of this grand room...

...and I will smile with the knowledge that we have a new Grandson, 8 pound Robert Quinn, born while every turn of our tires took us both farther and closer to family.  

Oregon feels so far away from Texas, but how fortunate we are to live in an age when cell phones and skype allow us to see the tender seashell of a newborn's ear or the marvel of dark, peachy fuzz on the nape of a sweet just-born baby boy's neck.




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42 comments:

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

What a sweet blessing! He's just gorgeous....

Have fun in Texas!!!!

xxoo,

RMW

Jeanie said...

Congratulations! I hope you get to see him in all his sweet smelling reality soon.
Enjoy San Antonio and your time with your son....you will have new memories to relish on your trip home.

Rosalind Adam said...

Congratulations. He's adorable and enjoy your luxury too.

Pat Tillett said...

First off, Congratulations to you and your family on this little bundle of joy!
Secondly, I LOVED this post. To me, you captured the feeling of travel on the interstate. It's hypnotic!
Top notch writing from start to finish Jenny...

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Jenny I have tears in my eyes as I read this and gaze at the image of that sweet newborn baby! God is so good to us. Distance does not seem so far and we share lives we cannot touch in person and are so lucky for it! Enjoy your stay and time with you son and hopefully soon you will meet sweet Robert Quinn in person! XO Linda

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Awwww Miss Jenny, Master Robert Quinn is just perfect!!! Congratulations on that beautiful precious bundle of love.

Oh darlin', your hotel room sounds like heaven. I know who to call next time we want to hit San Antonio. Isn't the River Walk beautiful???

We've stopped to unwind when travelin' back to Mo. from Mom's.

Enjoy time well spent with your son and his girlfriend sweetie!

God bless and have a great weekend!!! :o)

Lola said...

Have fun in Texas!


PS Always stop by, but don't always have time to leave a comment unfortunately! :-(

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on the beautiful new grandbaby.

Naperville Now said...

oh, baby -- such a wonderful blessing. and yes, they smell wonderful :)

Dazee Dreamer said...

Oh, he is sooooooo cute. I'm 21 days from finding out what my newest grandbaby will be. Yeah, that's when the ultrasound is.

I love the River Walk in San Antonio. I went there for a business meeting one year and our hotel was on the walk also. I'm a smidge jealous

Wanda..... said...

Beautiful baby boy and lovely writing, Jenny.

Lorrie said...

Congratulations, Grandma Jenny! Is there anything sweeter than a newborn baby?

Enjoy your stay in San Antonio. I've only been there once but loved the River Walk, and getting out to some of the old missions.

Erika said...

Congratulations!

And enjoy your stay in San Antonio and the riverwalk. It is a place my husband and I like to get away to every once in a while.

Sandy said...

Your grandson has arrived and I'm so happy for you and your family.. sweetie pie he is!
I lived in SA for a few years and the Riverwalk was a special place to walk and enjoy... loved the sidewalk cafe's....
So happy for you!
Sandy

4kids, 2 guinea pigs, 1 happy family said...

Congratulations Jenny on your new grandson, he is so cute!
Enjoy your trip.
x

Theresa said...

WHAT a sweet little one! I would love to squeeze him:) Enjoy your trip my friend, I know you will! HUGS!

Ms. A said...

Jenny, HE'S BEAUTIFUL!

Hope you are enjoying Texas and not sweating too much. Have fun!

Tami Von Zalez said...

You are blessed indeed! thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com

21 Wits said...

You must be so very proud, and I do believe he looks so much like you! :) This your first grandson, and what a joy that is...I have four! Ha ha! and two girls....! They sure are the joys of our days right! and nights and etc! Thanks for such a lovely accounting of your trip, because I must have been in the backseat, cuz from your descriptions I feel like I saw it all too!

"Alone again.... naturally!" said...

Congratulations, he is adorable!

Gail said...

Sounds like a wonderful trip. Enjoy!

Gail said...

Sounds like a wonderful trip. Enjoy!

Pondside said...

I've been waiting to hear - congratulations to everyone! He is lovely - you must all be so happy.
Enjoy that time in San Antonio - a city that I hold fondly in memory from a visit many years ago. After all the hustle and bustle of the last weeks you deserve a treat, so enjoy that hotel room to the fullest!

Carol said...

You always put me there with you when you write!! I love it! Enjoy your time, after everything you've been through....you both deserve it! Congratulations on that sweet lil boy! Hugs!

Anonymous said...

Very descriptive and evocative-- nice word painting. Enjoy!

vivian said...

so precious Jenny. Congratulations!
enjoy your trip and your family!! and take pics of that sweet baby boy. my new grandson should be here at the end of this month as well!
xoxo
vivian

Terra said...

what a wonderful story told here, and a blessing to boot! He is adorable!

Jim said...

Congratulations to Jenny, Grandpa, and the Mom and Dad, and others who need the congrat's.

We are away visiting a couple of our granddaughters or I'd say to stop in and see us. We live just north of Houston.

You took me off the hook this week and out of the doghouse by doing my Sat Cen. But I have been missing those.
..

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

Aw, congratulations! Keep basking in your blessings, Jenny. This little guy is so precious.

xoRobyn

anitamombanita said...

Great piece, Jenny. I felt as though I were in the back seat. Road trips are so fun if you make them that way. Congrats on that handsome young man...what a cutie pie. I just learned (thank you Skype) that we have another grand on the way. Yeehaw!

Laurel's Quill said...

What a great post, Jenny. I will be leaving on our road trip in a few weeks, and I look forward to all those things you mentioned. Great post...and your little grandson is precious. Laurel

Judie said...

He's so sweet that I just want to kiss the screen!

Susan Anderson said...

Congratulations, Grandma! That is one handsome little boy you've got there!!

And I hope you get to luxuriate and luxuriate...

=)

RNSANE said...

My dear Jenny, I haven't been in touch in so long...you knew, I think, that I was away in India for four wonderful months, then in Hong Kong for five days...now home 25 days....in the hospital with cellulitis of my left ankle from the
23rd to the 26th of April.

At any rate, this was a beautiful post. I love San Antonio and have been there several times...last at the Hyatt River Walk, right across from the Alama, for a forensic nursing conference. Found a great place that made mango margaritas and that was our hangout.

Isn't skype the best? I now have mobile skype on my cell so I can call India at such reasonable prices from anywhere in the US.

What a precious grandbaby! I'm still with just granddogs.

Am planning to return to India...this time for six months. By the way, I lost 25 pounds...need to lose 25 more.

Anonymous said...

YES! It's a wonderful world indeed. Baby is BEAUtiful. Enjoy.

Busy Bee Suz said...

Enjoy your visit....and congrats to you on the new beautiful baby boy!!!! xoxoxo

Unknown said...

What a beautiful new grandlil you have! And enjoy san Antonio and the beautiful hill country...if you're going in that direction and have the time, the natural bridge caverns and a joining wild life safari are always a treat!

Unknown said...

What a beautiful new grandlil you have! And enjoy san Antonio and the beautiful hill country...if you're going in that direction and have the time, the natural bridge caverns and a joining wild life safari are always a treat!

Esther Joy said...

Such a beautiful baby! Seems like only a few days ago that I was holding one that little. How quickly they grow... Enjoy!

Sue said...

Oh, I'm so glad I scrolled back and got to see this precious new one! Congratulations to all! Isn't it nice when our kids get jobs that offer parent perks! My daughter is a hotel manager too, but we usually don't use her discount for hotel stays. It is Disney and there are way too many kids for me to enjoy the pool etc. However, we certainly enjoy being able to run into the theme parks for lunch or just a couple of hours without having to buy those tickets anymore!

Splendid Little Stars said...

aaahhh....What beautiful writing! I can see it all!
sweet, precious baby! Congratulations!

J said...

1. He's adorable.
2. Now I have "What A Wonderful World" stuck in my head. :P