Boise, ID

After our three young grandkids moved to central Idaho two weeks ago, our house has become silent. The pitter patter of little feet and giggling has left our humble abode, an empty nest for the second time in our lives.

The first week of silence has been unbearable. We find ourselves waking up early every morning, with plans on taking the grandkids to the park or other adventures, some of which have been posted here. But they are gone.

This past week, the wife and I joked that we would now have to become a couple again instead of grandparents. “What in the world are we going to do now?” I asked. We kicked around playing cards or board games, but fell back into the habit of watching mindless television.

Weekends are usually reserved for doing maintenance on my widowed mothers manufactured home or taking her to lunch or dinner. I’m not complaining, but it’s not the same as spending quality time with your spouse.

This past Saturday was spent prepping my mothers house for painting. Since mom had left on vacation to visit relatives, I informed my wife, that Sunday was going to be a date night-or in our case a date in the sun.

“What do you have in mind?” She asked with a grin.

I informed her that I had been scanning the local paper for weekend events around the area and had come upon one that we have both enjoyed in the past. Turns out the “Thunder over Nampa,” air show was going on from 10:00AM to 4:30PM on Saturday & Sunday. I also told her the event was being used to raise money for the Meth Project-a local drug prevention program and that they were asking a donation of five bucks per person.

The price was reasonable, it was for a good cause, it was an all day event .The fun part was we could hang out together and just relax for a change.

We took I-84 To the Garrity exit, and followed the air show signs to Airport road and the Nampa Airport. We followed parking directions from members of the Nampa chapter of CAP-Civil Air Patrol. (I was a member once, and the fun part was parking cars- then going to whatever event you were working for free)!

Mary and I were lucky enough to find a parking space next to the entrance road. With cameras and chairs in hand, we followed several people down a paved corridor. A few minutes later we came upon a row of tables with people whom were taking donations. I joked with an old-timer, that I liked his hat and would gladly swap mine for his. “I bought this one for five bucks, but if you got ten, I’ll make you a trade!” We both laughed.

Mary made our ten dollar donation, then we entered the airfield. We made a beeline for a temporary fence near the runway. We found a shady spot under the wing of a plane on display and set up our chairs. “I’m going to get a coke, and read my book” She said. “Why don’t you go take your pictures and I’ll meet you back here for the show.” Of course, I obeyed her command and left to photograph the planes & other equipment on display.

Part 2-Birds of a Feather