We stood on the sidewalk of the airport this morning and said goodbye to grandma and grandpa. Grandma cried, told Ouest she’d be back soon, and then disappeared inside. “All right Ouest, let’s go to the market,” Ali said.

“No. Grandma’s coming back. She’s going to come to Bumfuzzle.”

For the past twenty-four hours there had been a lot of talk discussing them leaving, including jokes about where grandma and grandpa would sleep on the boat. Ouest announced that grandma could sleep with her. Grandpa? In the dinghy of course.

“Sweetie, Grandma is going on an airplane and going home to Minnesota to see her puppies.”

“Nope. Grandma’s coming to stay with us.”

I had to leave Ali and Ouest on the sidewalk so Lowe could drive the rental car around the parking lot. After a few minutes they came bounding up to the car all smiles.

“Papa, I’m going to use my pixie dust on the car and you drive and catch grandma’s airplane and fly the car to Minnesota.”

She reached into the little pouch around her neck that was filled with tiny flower petals/pixie dust, rolled down her window, threw a handful onto the car, and I drove out of the parking lot weaving side to side in as graceful a flying motion as our Hyundai would allow.

By the time we reached the highway the drama was over.

Back on the boat tonight and it feels good. Back in our own beds, our old routine, surrounded by water and toys that have been tucked away for an entire week, and new sailing grounds just a couple of days away. Good visit and good times ahead.