Death, Taxes,. . . and Decisions?

We got back to our home in Kpalime on Monday afternoon after three days of travel. It was hard going back home knowing that I couldn't stay. Or could I?

We left my parent's home on Saturday morning. I had said my farewell to my grandmother the night before knowing that I would not see her again. On the way to the airport we were so worried about getting checked-in on time that we forgot to fill up the rental, which would mean $4.50 a gallon instead of the lesser, yet equally ridiculous price, $3.49. At the rental place, the young man said he had it covered (THANK YOU Mr. Wonderful). We paid the extra $80.00 for being 20lbs overweight (the bags, not me) and made it to our terminal 30 minutes early. Yeah for efficiency. We arrived in New York well after midnight and slept in the lobby of terminal 2 because we're too cheap to stay the night at the only hotel with availability - the Crowne Plaza. :) Sunday morning I was awakened by passengers arriving from Phoenix, AZ. Tristan and I made our way to the international terminal and spent most of the morning downloading music on ITunes. When it was finally time for us to leave (14 hours after we arrived), Tristan was asked to talk to an airline representative about a baggage concern. Being who I am, I wanted to take his place because I would be a bit more aggressive had the airline notified us that our baggage had been destroyed (we had to sign a waiver) before we left. I sat patiently and watched three of our four checked bags climb into the airplane. Surely someone got into our red bag to take all the goodies we've purchased at Wal-Mart. I watched as Tristan walked back to his seat with a somber look and inquired about the red bag. He quietly told me that it was his mother who phoned to inform us of my grandmother's passing. It was so bizarre. I had been in the states five weeks helping out my mother and now I would not be there with my family during this time. But, the plane had not left. What to do? Get off and find a flight back to Texas? Continue on?

Decisions. They're almost as certain as anything else in life. Every decision I have made has had it's consequences, good or bad. Joining the Peace Corps was a HUGE decision. Now, I was in a position to make another decision that would change my life forever (not to sound too dramatic.) I phoned my mom and asked if she wanted for me to be there with her. No, she said. "Your grandmother saw you and you spent time with her. She is grateful." So many thoughts crossed my mind at that very moment. In the end, I decided to return to Togo. So, I'm here as a result of a decision I made. And, despite the circumstances, I'm thankful.