Saturday, May 21, 2016
Just when I decided that the fun of our trip exceeded all expectations, it got better! We received a wonderful surprise. Dalton, our grandson in the Air Force, telephoned to say he could drive to Branson to spend some time with us. As if this didn’t give us enough pleasure, Dalton brought Rachel, a special friend from their high school days.
Rachel and Dalton arrived as a joint package of entertainment and easy-going congeniality. Following our required, one-minute tour of the motorhome, we took them to lunch. The four of us then toured a museum of the Titanic, which displayed parts of the actual ship retrieved from the ocean’s depths as well as authentically displayed replicas. The museum tour included walking up and down a recreation of the famous staircase.
Later, we enjoyed a cappella musical program called SIX. Brothers created every single sound we heard: percussion instruments tapping, trumpets blaring, cars squealing, and animals screeching. All sounds, along with music came from the mouths of six brothers.
The following morning, we toured the ferocious to the fanciful by enjoying museums for dinosaurs and butterflies. To Dalton’s horror, Rachel daringly put her head in the mouth of a vicious dinosaur.
All of us marveled when butterflies landed on our nectar cups. Again, Rachel and Dalton topped my expectations as they applied scientific methods to closely examine one another’s faces.
More than any exhibit, show, or meal, we enjoyed being with these two young adults. Rachel and Dalton provided interesting conversations, in-depth insights, and loads of silliness. Grandparents can’t ask for more.
