Completely in the Dark

We didn’t say a final goodbye to anyone.

July 31, 1976, was a beautiful summer Saturday and, the diary reports, “that’s a good feeling.”

While all the campers at Shamineau trudged up to a last late-morning service, Loren, Sherri and I packed our stuff into the Volkswagen and drove back to Minnetonka, arriving around 2 that afternoon.

I’d come down with Loren’s ’flu, and had a fever of 104. At home, I called two friends but crashed out, sick all night.

It was the beginning of the end of the season.

***

Just over 31 years later, I’m standing outside my parents’ back door in Florida. Thanksgiving 2007 is over.

I’m on my way out to the rental car that will take me to Tampa, where I’d catch a flight back to Minnesota.

Mom was the last to see me off, standing by the other side of the…