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The logistics of a day return to Istanbul and back prove taxing.

Why on earth, you might ask? Why not make a long weekend of it?

Well, it’s February, so the city will be bleak and cold. In any case, this is no leisure trip.

The plan is to safely deliver my elderly mother-in-law to relatives, with enough leeway to account for Turkish timekeeping and traffic.

We might share a brief cup of tea, and pleasantries with my smattering of the language.

But then I’ll check myself back in for the journey home to my family.

Seems like a lot of trouble, you may say. My wife’s siblings agree and suggest we simply dispatch her with special assistance.

But that doesn’t sit right with me. No, let me be the dutiful son-in-law, serving the mother of my beloved.

So back to the logistics. An early start, arriving mid-afternoon, for a late night return.

Or a midmorning flight arriving early evening, then a night kipping in the airport for an early flight nextday.

Ah yes, then back to work Monday morning. Or maybe I’ll take the day off.

You’re right: this does seem a lot of effort. But these are the things we do for family. Bismillah…