Parting

Today, January 6, we went our separate ways. Keenan to Java, Borneo and possibly Thailand, to hike mountains, climb volcanos, see the Orangutans and do other things that young people do, just because they can.

She caught the bus to the ferry terminal between Bali and Java at 9AM this morning. Her and her Mom had every thing all scoped out last night, there are three different types of buses here. Tourist bus, costs more money and is modern, and two types of local bus, a large one and a medium one.

The large one has luxuries like an opening and closing passenger door, floors without rust holes, more seats, etc. But because of all these luxuries it is slower as more passengers take it. Loreen had this one all lined up, in her mind, as the one for Keenan to take.

Off to the tourist info booth, where they would help Kee flag down her bus on the street. The first bus along was a medium bus, like a 1954 ford econoline, oh! that's right they didn't make the econoline until the 70's. Oh well, it was still like a 1954 ford econoline modified for the bus trade. The side door had been removed and framed in with a wooden sill for ease of entry and exit, the rust holes in the floor by the doorway were not that big, small enough to step across, and seat belts, well they were like the closure on my life jacket, if you had enough string you could tie yourself in possibly to the springs sticking out of the seat cushions.

We were on the wrong side of the street, so it made a five point turn in traffic and back it came to pick Keenan up.

So while Mom's tears flowed freely, I hid mine behind a stoic stiff upper lip, as the Brits say, at least until my back was turned and she was on her way.

Poor Loreen, after the dive boat, and then seeing her daughter riding off into the unknown in this, it was just about more than she could take. On the way back to our room to catch our air conditioned van to the airport, here came the bus again, and Keenan happy as a lark waving at us out the window.

I guess no matter how old your kids get you still worry and have times where both pride and sadness kick in!