Surprise!

My dad used to be a dairy farmer.

(That’s how I mostly remember my father.  I used to describe him as Grizzly Adams.  I think it’s a pretty fair comparison.)

After selling the farm Dad sold tractors and such for a while.  (Yellow and green tractors.  Naturally.)

And then he moved to Wyoming.  (Uh – for some reason I cannot even remember what he did as gainful employment out there, although I do recall that he once starred in a role in a local theatre’s production of Annie.  But I am pretty sure he was never financially compensated for that.)

At any rate.

Now he lives in Florida.

And he drives a really huge tractor trailer.

My dad’s a truck driver! (Yeah – it amuses me a little to say that.)

And he has this new job where he drives throughout the Eastern states.  (Which I am sure is difficult for Jenny and their dog Darrel since Dad is gone more often now.  And that is no fun.)

But it is sort of cool for our family.

Because he called Friday afternoon with a surprise.

He was near our town and had the weekend off and was headed our way if we could only find a place to park his truck.

Of course we could find a place!

Greeted at the door by a mass of clamoring children shouting “Grandpa!”, Dad was welcomed and embraced in his surprise visit.

It was a lovely weekend – despite torrential downpours all afternoon.

Just before the rain hit, Dad was able to take in three soccer games and cheer on his grand kids – a first at our house.  (And Mosely’s pink socks kicked in two goals for her tiny all-boy-except-her team.)  Dad treated us to a delicious dinner at our local favorite Thai restaurant and the kids had the pleasure of cuddling with Grandpa, chatting with Grandpa, telling Grandpa stories and climbing all around Grandpa’s bed in the back of his big rig.

It was a good weekend.

And I cannot believe my Dad just dropped in.

From Florida.

How delightfully surprising!