FORTY-SEVEN YEARS LATER - David

This is the sign at the grocery store David manages. 

I am not sure how to write this blog.  How many times can I use wonderful, amazing, awesome, fantastic.  All these are words that describe what happened in Bagley, Minnesota on October 1, 2014.

As we approached I got more and more excited.  By this time I had a new cellphone and was texting back and forth to David.  They were all at home waiting.  Watching out the window for us.

About this time, I was giddy with excitement

 After circling their block a couple of times, we were there.  David, Stefani, Nickolas, and Lizzy ran out of the house to the truck.

 It felt so right!  There were tears all around.  And hugs, lots of hugs.

Stefani had her camera ready.  She got some memorable shots.

And then we talked, and talked and talked.  Doug and I were mixed up by the two time zones we crossed and ended up keeping them up until nearly midnight. 

Doug is looking so tired.  A long long drive.

The next morning we took a drive around the little town of Bagley (population 1,395). 

David was Deputy Mayor until recently

 

 The staff at David's store was anxiously waiting to meet us.  All really nice people.  

Last night (after Stefani bought a new car!!) I cooked for them.  Lasagna, garlic bread, lemon meringue pie and cookies.  

David invited his dad, Milo.  Milo is an amazing 87 year old man.  Strong as an ox and sharp as a tack.  He remembers the day they picked David up in North Vancouver.   He was so happy to meet me.  I thanked him for raising my boy to be the wonderful guy he is.

This one is blurry but captures the emotion

I had brought little gifts for the kids.  Canadian gifts.
 Toques for both of them, a Canucks cap for Nickolas and a Canadian girl t-shirt for Lizzy.

 And they had a gift for me....

 

This is Dave and he says it all!