Family

I flew down to my parents house in Southern California today. My Grandma Alice passed away last Friday. On Saturday, I made travel arrangements to get home. I was tipped off by a friend about this great program offered by most airlines. They are called compassion fares, and are discounted airline tickets for the immediate family members of gravely ill or recently deceased individuals.

All I had to do was call up American Airlines and tell them the information of the funeral home, and they got me a ticket which turned out to be about half price. The only drawbacks are that the time of the flight isn't that flexible, and they stick you with a phone ticket purchase fee. But other than that, it is a bright spot in a not so bright situation.

But this is what you do for family. Right? Wedding's and Funerals. The only two real times you can manage to get the whole family together. It's not that it is an obligation, it is just what you do.

I am really looking forward to this time. Granted the circumstances surrounding the occasion involve a loss, but its one of the few times we will all be together. I'll get to see some family I haven't seen in a long time, and we will get to share some of our best memories of Grandma Alice. So I will use this rare occurrence for what it is, an opportunity to remember and reconnect. I can't imagine Grandma Alice would want it any other way.