Day 120 (October 20): Time to Show Up

Four generations of Maklers

When your grandfather turns 99, you show up.

When you plan a round-the-world adventure, arrange the itinerary so that you can show up.

When you embark on a 30-state RV adventure, you get to Grandpa on the weekend closest so his 99th so that you can show up.

So it was that we pulled into my parents' driveway on the evening of Friday, October 18th. The onboard travel calendar said, simply "October 19th: Hot Tub." This is one of the kids favorite features of the house in Los Altos and it was all the motivation they needed during the final hours of driving.

So it was that the kids go to see their cousins, Theo (17) and Winter (13), their uncle Chris and Aunt Danielle throughout the weekend. There's something special about older cousins and these visits did not disappoint.

So it was that the kids got to have endless snuggling with their grandparents while reading books, watching movies or jumping into and out of the hot tub.

So it was that the kids and their great grandfather, at the start of his 100th year, blew out the candles on his birthday cake together, sharing a laugh and a smile.

My grandfather tours the RV and tells me he would be terrified to drive such a vehicle. I assure him that the feeling is mutual. He has told me that he thinks were crazy for embarking on this trip and I think daily that this feeling, also, is mutual. But on the other hand, this is an extremely worldly man who knows the art and literature of cultures from around the globe and civilizations from the the dawn of human history. As much as anybody, he knows what can be gained through travel and why we're doing this.

I feel very lucky to be able to celebrate his 99th birthday with him. I'm optimistic that there will be a 100th party a year from now and, of course, we'll show up.