A Very Special Homecoming

Today is our high school's homecoming. The festivities began yesterday with the usual homecoming parade. Today (Friday) and tomorrow are the county's Pumpkin Festival with all kinds of activities planned. Tonight was the high school's homecoming football game (we are winning) and related activities.

Since our kids graduated way back in the late 1980s, husband and I haven't been involved in school activities. We live next to the school, so in a way we are privy to all the comings and goings on that take place. In fact, you can hear the announcer loud and clear in our house during the game and the lights from the football field light up our back yard.

Today we had our own special homecoming. Because this is now officially Fall, I developed a real taste for homemade chili. As I was driving home from work today, I was talking with daughter and mentioned that I was going to make chili and kidded her about coming over to share it with us. She just laughed it off and said there was no way they could come visit. Later on in the afternoon, after I had finished my bowl of homemade chili and husband and I were enjoying a movie, I received a call from daughter and she asked if there was any chili left and what were we doing this evening. I thought she was kidding. We just laughed and laughed. We hung up and not two seconds later I hear kids running into the house and start screaming for me. Well, what to my wondering eyes should appear but darling daughter and her three young'uns all fired up and begging for bowls of chili. I just stood there with my mouth down to the floor. I was stunned.

They had driven 70 miles to surprise us and to eat my chili. How's that for the ultimate compliment to my cooking?

I love my family more than life itself and spending precious time with them is absolutely the best. I wish everyone I know could experience the joy we felt today with their surprise homecoming.

All I can say is: