Grandmother & Great Distances: an Aviation Story of Lasts

Alaska is my home. But it wasn’t always my home. At one time I called Utah home. Nestled in the heart of the Salt Lake Valley, I grew up in a fading farm community.

While I could tell you about the troubles of my childhood, those are all-too-normal in today’s world. Like anytime or anywhere else, growing up at this time and in this place had it’s challenges.

However, I had something really huge going for me: my Grandparents lived next door. They helped prepare meals, snuggled while we watched Disney movies, and had a large effect on me as a child. In part they raised me. The cumulitaive efforts of their small influences no doubt helped shape me into the man I am today.

Fast forward 20+ years. Now I live in Alaska, where I was born and briefly lived as an infant. Choosing to live in Alaska means that I miss out on many family functions, events, and overall can’t maintain normal face-to-face relationships like I would be able to if living in closer proximity.

However, we don’t live in the dark ages.

Flying to the Lower 48 may be a long flight, in the dead of night, with unfavorable schedules and other potential things to complain about, but it is still possible to get to Utah on a regular basis to see my family. Overall, it’s affordable, fast considering the alternatives, and usually goes without incident on a predictable schedule.

And so this last November my wife and I flew to Utah to be with our family for Thanksgiving. When we go on trips like this, we pack a lot of things in. Between my friends, Chelsea’s friends, and our families, our schedule fills up quickly. We visit many wonderful people, eat some amazing meals, and reconnect with those we love.

During our visit to Utah we visited my Grandma, Pearl, at her assisted living home. This would be a special and rare visit for Chelsea and I. But perhaps routine for Grandma. She gets frequent visits from mcuh of the family.

Besides, her and my Grandpa intentionally — and with great effort — facilitated strong family bonds between all of the posterity. As a result, I know well and consider my cousins to be some of my dearest friends. Each of my Aunts and Uncles I knew intimately. With each member of my family I share special unique memories, just between us.

That is all thanks to my Grandma and Grandpa.

Grandma couldn’t hear very well, but we managed to communicate briefly here and there. While pleasant and special, one could get frustrated with visits as well. For this reason, I think many families end up forgetting their loved ones when they enter these sort of establishments. It’s frustrating, hard, disheartening, whatever- it adds up to be difficult at times.

Things went mostly well, though! We were able to communicate well and have a great conversation.

Grandma Pearl is very pleasant. With low expectations, Chelsea and I took our time, enjoying what conversation we could, admiring pictures and paintings speckled around the room, and snapping a few pictures to preserve the memories.

Our time was short, although not rushed. What we talked about I don’t quite remember. Most of what I remember was seeing my dear wife of a few years engage in a loving way with my grandmother of many years.

Roughly 6 months later, now with great distance between us, I talked to my Grandma one last time on FaceTime yesterday. Late last night, after having been surrounding by the strong family she had raised, she passed peacefully and gracefully.

While typical readers of my posts can never fully know the deep love I have for family and particularly my grandmother, perhaps you can relate.

Also being aware that you come to this writing space for aviation material, let me get to the point: Aviation connects us with those we love. Would I have been able to be with my grandmother one last time, in person, if it wasn’t for the aircraft that I flew down to Utah, in a number of hours?

Aviation quickly connects us to that which matters most. And when we aren’t cruising along at Mach.84, it’s time to slow down and focus on the things that matter. We jet to distant lands, and then engage in unique, special, and otherwise impractical experiences- like getting to see your Grandma for the last time.

So the next time your airplane is delayed by maintenance, or your flight gets canceled and you have to call some hard airport bench a bed for a night, remember the age you live in- the Age of the Airplane.

This is truly an amazing time to be alive. As is each moment.

In reflection at this sensitive time, I say this: Travel Often. Slow Down. Love Truly. Foster Relationships. Capture Memories. Reflect.

Enjoy the journey, quite often on the blessed wings of an airplane.