Funny that the
main goal for an entire 10 day trip to Columbus was
achieved within hours of stepping off the plane. The
Journey desperately needed this video...
...and as are most
things that involve Vienna, my inner-editor just can't
make the obvious cuts. He lets the video drag until
the last possible second of music 'cause it just needs
to sink in. These are the times that the distance from
your family aches. I will capture hours of
personal video during this trip, and it will never be
enough to make up the eventual lost time. I wish that
wasn't the first thing that comes to mind when making
this video, but it's the truth.
To those happening
upon this video without a back story, my father was
unable to visit last fall because of a coinciding
heart surgery the month Vienna was born. So nearly 6
months later was the first time he or my step-mother
Lonna had to meet her. It's tougher yet because they
both still have day-jobs that won't allow them to
spend more than a handful of moments with her during
this trip but for this one day, everyone was able to
breathe a sigh of relief because all was right. Even
Lonna making Vienna laugh within seconds was just
wonderful... as if she had always been around and
Vienna instinctively knew she was part of the
family.
It's very weird
calling my father Papou, and I assume it's
strange for all new fathers the shift within your
family names. A little different for Talya in
that her mother's moniker for Vienna is Oma, and Talya
didn't call her grandmother that... but for me? Papou
is that old guy. Ironically, the guy who was in
HIS FORTIES when I came into the world... so my
father, at 62, more than fits the name - but it's
remarkably surreal to me. As is any of this actually
happening. It's all SO fast. Which, damnit, brings me
right back to that feeling of time slipping through my
fingers as I try to pack as many moments as
possible.
This will be a
bittersweet week, but one I am so excited to start. So
many first meetings ushering in a new chapter of my
life.
