I’ll spend time in three different states today. As I take a crooked flight path from Chicago, through Cincy, to Washington D.C. This will be the final leg of my coast-to-coast-meet-and-greet. After cuddling with my new grand-baby this morning, I made my way from a crowded “dee-luxe” hotel room to a much more crowded O’Hare security line. (See Post #609) In the process, I spent an intimate moment with a TSA officer, as he prodded, patted, and pondered my privates. I had also be pulled aside in Portland as I started this trip, so I must appear suspicious. I’m currently waiting out a weather delay in Cincinnati.

My first meet-and-greet was with a recently discovered cousin that lives in Plainfield, a suburb of Chicago. The next was with my newly born third grandchild that happened a day earlier than expected. As a result, my son and his family also got to meet this close connection to my birth-mother. Finally, I will meet a potential relative, as my wife’s daughter introduces us to her year-long boyfriend that may propose soon. Regardless, I’m sure we’ll enjoy tonight’s dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab. Just for the record, I tried to order these rejuvenating crab parts last night at Bob Chinn’s Crabhouse but they were out. I enjoy  the idea of eating something that grows back.

Last night’s dinner was loaded with garlic, but a favorite of my daughter-in-law’s family. It had been ten years, two kids, and a husband since she’d been there, so I was glad to join her efforts to repel vampires. After all, this trip is all about family – present and possibly future. An unexpected side benefit was talking about adoption with my nephew at Wrigley Field. His wife is seeking the identity of her father, so he was more than interested in my quest. Also his mother, my sister, is adopted, but found her birth-mother years ago. Sadly, it has ended-up creating a lot of stress in her life. So far, mine has unintentionally resulted in stress for my birth-mother, as she refuses to accept my existence.

D.C., our nation’s capital, here I come, along with a welcome reunion with my wife after a couple of busy days apart. I hope neither of us gets “crabby” this weekend. We’ll have another “de-luxe” room at the J.W. Marriott, and I definitely won’t miss the cross- beam support that makes a fold-out couch so uncomfortable or the smell of garlic in a confined space!