A few highlights gathered during the trip --
When I saw some parents (more than once) getting stressed over traveling with children, I told them that it would get better, and that mine are even paying their own way this time.
Several times I repeated that I have lived my whole life in Vermont - except for the last 40 years.
I swam in Lake Willoughby a couple of times. I had forgotten how refreshing a swim in clean lake water can be.
Using nothing but bread and crackers, I trained a few families of wild ducks to come to the dock in response to my waving my arms.
While we driving to Ben and Jerry's factory (one son driving, the other son and daughter in the back, and me navigating and providing a tour-guide's commentary on many mountains, rivers, buildings and bends in the road), my daughter asked me to tell her something they didn't know about me. I started to tell the tale of the first time I made love to my girl friend until all three begged me to stop. I managed to get as far as the mosquito bites on my ass.
I was pleased that my son who was driving wanted to play the whole Sgt Pepper album every day.
I was happily introduced to the Mount Rushmore podcast.
After we got back (our Delta flights had only modest delays, made up on the way; the boys arrived 5 hours late on United to Sacramento), my son texted us that someone had taken the plates off his car (I got that taken care of today, and I am going to Sacramento Monday on Amtrak to resolve associated paperwork issues).
A new sight from the plane window - a big forest/brush fire somewhere in Arizona or New Mexico. I took me a while to realize what that strange pattern of lights was.
When we got back to SAN, the parking shuttle driver was Filipino. I don't know what my wife said to him, but he took us right to my truck instead of the nearest designated stop.
On the way, everyone going to Burlington was happy to be going there. On the way back, everyone going to San Diego was happy to be going there.