March 8, en route to DCA from Quincy

030808 @DCA
So it happened, the ‘baptismal ride’. On our way here, large pellets of raindrops falling on the car, “I don’ LIKE the big raindrops’ says Fia. It occurred to me, as we all joshed around in the familiar cheesy-corn WI humor, that the few occasions this occurred in my life, I was in a vehicle with people that I could spend the rest of my life with, to live and die for. I recalled the trip to Makabebe with Auntie B. and Uncle A, (and again driving on Whitney Way from a quick run to the Dollartree), and a lifetime of random situations with M&D and the PAGASA mission crew – and yes, with dear S. on our 2002 Thanksgiving road trip to WI via Buffalo. More recently, I took Bev & Russ to MSN airport for their trip to Arizona.

Rewind-
Back in my Quincy room, B. awakened prematurely from her nap, on the bed, still in pajamas. I had .. had.. a moment of emotion – thinking about our impending separation – Bro J does a pop-in: “Need any help?” in signature familial samaritanism.. and the emotion turned into tears - mini-aria moment: all for Bella? Of course, she turned belligerent and cried, cried – to the most functional limit of emotion a four-year old can express in utter sadness. “I DON’T want to go! I DON’T want to change! I want to stay here alone! I want to see Mama!” (the Aria peaks). I went ahead downstairs, adrift in the (familiar!) airport-bound tempo.
She and Izz then descend, fully dressed for departure, however still in tears… I requested to bring an apple for baon*, and she calmed down... We then proceeded into the car - SAFETY!
Perfect timing, right before the rain.

*Tagalog for packed food to-go