Bennett Lear Fairorth

West by Southwest: the Umbrella Man's Final Flights Bennett Lear Fairorth

The author, 81, a retired English teacher, decides to leave his several volunteer tasks for the community to fly west from Abington, Pennsylvania, 12 miles north of Philadelphia, to visit a granddaughter in Las Vegas, Nevada; a sister in Portland, Oregon; an older son in San Francisco, California; and a younger son in Austin, Texas, and the people these 4 live with. He is sure that these travels the 2nd half of August 2007 will be his final flights.

After 3 weeks of visiting his family, the author returns home to his 3 volunteer tasks, tutoring 6 Korean women in correct English writing, delivering Meals on Wheels, and working 3 mornings for 3 days in Abington Hospital. He makes plans to spend 10 days in New York City the end of September to attend several Metropolitan operas and several Broadway shows. Before 2007 ends, his older son's daughter makes him a great-grandfather.

The author looks forward to his Las Vegas granddaughter's wedding in Atlantic City in June 2008 and to the presidential election November 4. He becomes a great-grandfather for the 2nd time just before Barack Obama is elected President of the United States.