Ruth is still Flying

I AM NOT A FREQUENT FLIER

I renewed my passport in January 2017, its month of expiration. On Sunday I am going on a cruise to Bermuda.and though U.S. citizens are permitted to sail without a passport I thought I would I feel more secure knowing I had one. My mother Ruth advocated for all of us to maintain current passports. In her world view one never knew when a travel opportunity might arise. Whenever I  renew my passport Ruth is present in my mind. I had a passport when I was young and will have a passport as I grow old.  And this leads me to our passport miracle. Read on.

MY CURRENT PASSPORT

Ruth's Writings
In May 2010, two months after Ruth died, I wrote a blog story about my search for Ruth's writings. She was an observant writer and I wanted to have what I could find to keep her spirit accessible...notes, postcards, letters, occasion cards, any scrap with a communication on it. 
I found a bunch and wrote about them and included some samples. Here is the link for the story

http://liamlicks.blogspot.com/search/label/Letters%20to%20Carol

One letter I found contained instructions on where to find her treasured documents should she pass away suddenly. It was dated October 2003. She drew a map to help us in our hunt. Well, I had not remembered its existence in 2010 when we were cleaning out her apartment. Paul assured me we had checked all the hiding places. I agreed. I surmised Ruth must have changed her hiding place. I did have most of her old passports; only lacking the most recent one. I figured she had kept it out in plain sight and I missed it. Here is her 2003 letter.

2003 RUTH LETTER

I had wanted Ruth's last passport to complete her life story. Traveling was her passion; it defined who she was. She was compelled to do it. As young singles Ruth and my godmother Eileen Scott traveled all over the country. They had wild adventures. Think an early Thelma and Louise. When she began seriously dating my Dad, she convinced him to not pursue his teaching dreams but to work for TWA so they could fly for free. He agreed, applied to the TWA, got the job and they eloped (flying for free to Catalina Island)
Ruth quit American Airlines, got a better paying job with the Port Authority and they were set to start their traveling life. See her souvenir from the Port Authority's opening day December 14, 1950.

RUTH'S PORT AUTHORITY PAPERWEIGHT

My parents became world travelers and my sister and I benefited from the free flying perk until we graduated school. After my dad's death in 1997, Ruth's yearly trips to Spain continued solo.
I felt the coda to her life story would have been securing final passport.

In January 2014 I received a call from Marcia, an administrator from UniversityVillage, Ruth's last residence. I recognized her voice; we had dealt with each other while I was there in 2010. Marcia told me a new tenant in my mother's apartment had discovered Ruth's passport under the sink hidden in the pipes. Just as she had described in her 2003 letter.
What!!!
Gobsmacked!
Marcia said the passport was current and had some years left. She asked me if I wanted it and I told her I had been missing it. We joked that Ruth was still flying.
Here it is. Ruth renewed in it 2007. There are no new stamps on it. She had not had the opportunity to travel abroad after its renewal..
I'll dedicate this Bermuda trip to her.
Ruth has until July 24, 2017. See below

RUTH IS STILL FLYING

Oh and Liam has something to add.


If I were a service dog, I would fly. I am not. In my dreams I am flying.

I'M FLYING TOO!

Woof, Woof