It’s no wonder women gossip, because half the human race is not very forthcoming. Sixty years ago my mom told me the only way she could find out anything from my brother was to fire questions at him. He would volunteer to spread gravel in your driveway or lead devotions before school started, but volunteer information? No way! It wasn’t part of his makeup. John is a bit better than that with me. I get the bare bones of a story and have to pump him for details or make them up myself. My story today began after John hung up from talking with grandson Nathaniel several weeks ago.

John began with the summary. He said, “Nate won a cake-baking contest at school, and they are going to fly him to the Providence campus to compete in the next round.”

The summary was all I was going to get without mashing his brain for more. What did he bake? Does he have a photo of it? When is the trip? How long will he be gone? How will he get to the airport? Will somebody meet him in Providence? What will he bake next? Will he get to see his friends up there? When will he know the results? Was he excited?

I didn’t get any more information, because the grandson didn’t give him details. I’m sure both fellows were totally satisfied that they had sent and received the bare facts as required. No more needed to be said.

Fast forward to the present. I was aware that Nathaniel was traveling today and had him in my thoughts. My phone dinged, and this photo is what I found with the caption, “Wish me luck.”

Because there is an old family story about condensation on a plane, I asked, “The plane isn’t leaking, is it?”

He replied, “Nah, I’m on a large plane.” I had forgotten that he was once on a small plane and took a photo of water dripping from an overhead bin. We chatted back and forth with totally inane conversation until he said the announcement came they were taking off.

[I could not get the Gutenberg editor to let me position this photo with an earlier paragraph. This is most frustrating.]

Nathaniel texted again to say he was in Philadelphia. He wrote, “I am at my next gate! First time ever in Philadelphia I’ve had a short walk!!! Usually I am booking it across the airport.”

I finally asked one meaningful question. “Are you doing anything to prepare for the competition, or is everything last minute?” He said, “Last minute. I have no choice.”

Make that two good questions. “What time shall I be praying extra hard for you?”

He replied, “10:45 – 11:45 on Friday.” A few minutes later, “Taking off now, bye.”

A little while later he sent this photo of his motel room. I could fill in the blanks for that. Someone picked him up at the airport and dropped him off. He also said there would be a nice dinner in the evening. Three friends who were with him in the high school culinary program are students at the Providence campus. They will see each other after the competition. John did mention that Nathaniel had the option of flying back to Charlotte Saturday or Sunday. He chose Sunday and will spend all day Saturday with his friends.

You don’t have to tell me that I complained without cause. I wasn’t any better at getting information than John. What I do know for sure is that I am one proud grandmother. I can’t believe this grandson won a contest and was jetting about the country by himself, and he is only 19 years old. Well done, Nathaniel!

It’s no wonder the boy likes cake.  When we celebrated his birthday, his mom always bought him a beautiful cake.  The photo shows him at age 10.