Choctaw, Oklahoma. By the time our plane touched down at Will Rogers Airport, the four of us – typical of folks anywhere who’ve just traversed nine time zones were ready for an environment change.

From our plane’s beginning descent to Will Rogers, I had begun pondering afresh the hazy landscape stretched before us. The vast and wondrous place we had grown to call home – the continent of Africa – lay in our past, at least for now. Images from a rearview mirror freshly called into view stir a special gathering of comforts to the soul that are not readily on hand when squinting through a windscreen on a foggy morning.

Shifting my mind to the immediate future a sense of happy anticipation began to percolate. The same warm stirring of emotion emanated from Ann and Scott and Amy. Our reunion with Julie lay just ahead. How had she grown up so fast? A mere two weeks out she will take my arm and I’ll escort my beautifully-gowned princess to the wedding altar and her waiting groom. Meanwhile, here in the present moment the bride’s ever-practical-thinking mother muses, will the dress fit well?

Catching sight of Julie – her bright smile signaling her pleasure at spotting us – caused us to pick up our pace. Two years before, having brought her to the states after finishing high school, we had bid some teary farewells. Our journey back to Africa, noting the obvious fact that our fami- ly’s ‘fifth passenger’ seat sat vacant, did nothing to lift our spirits.

A tall, handsome young man donning western wear stood at Julie’s side.

Seeing her daughter’s fiancé for the first time, Ann’s mind went momentarily to a particular garment that had recently been in the works. A near-complete, carefully-packed wedding dress – making its way right now (hopefully) toward the baggage claim carousel.

The drive from OKC to Choctaw and the ever-welcoming presence of my sister and brother-in-law was covered in short order. Betty and Gene’s tree-adorned residence had, since the early 70s, served as our home base during mission furlough times. Soon, we were shuffling a small parade of luggage across the entryway. The beginning of a new transition.

©2023 Jerry Lout Writer/Speaker Jerry Lout grew up in Okmulgee County. Jerry’s “Living with a Limp” and “Giants in the Rough” are available through Amazon. Current projects include “Inside-Out” and “Thresholds” – a string of narratives highlighting surprises, sorrows and adventure in the post-Africa years. Jerry welcomes reader comments at jerrylout@ gmail.com and 918-857-4373.