Departure!

Some last minute travel guide perusing (Beth), algebra test-taking for 7th grade placement (Anna) frantic packing (everyone!) and we made it to the airport just in time...but with so few people traveling our later than suggested check-in was fine. We had fun people watching, snacking and stopping Michael from hitting people with his yo-yo, until it was time to go through security and then the sadness hit. 4 months?! A year ago when we conceived of this trip it didn't seem so long, but as we kissed and hugged goodbye and left Daddy standing there all alone, the time and distance sunk in. It was quite emotional, but there was a plane waiting.

And wait it did. We sat on the tarmac for almost an hour with all power out (meaning lights and air circulation) while an electrical failure was repaired. We were patient though because Michael had his Sony game, Anna was watching Twilight (oddly the airplane movie system was working...) and I was finally relaxing after a busy few months and able to get excited about the upcoming adventures. Again, few people traveling these days meant a half empty plane (lots of seats to stretch out on) and empty airports. Travel on this Thursday/Friday was a breeze!

I had promised Michael for days I would teach him Solitaire on the plane and he brought his new red deck of cards, so that was the first order of business. And that lasted about 15 minutes. Not satisfied with the lack of human competition with whom to whine and gloat, he then cajoled a game of War out of me. And another. And another. It is amazing how many games of War one can play on a trans-Atlantic journey, I lost count somewhere over Greenland. I told him to please leave me alone for a little while, let me rest, and he said, 'Ok, but can you help me with dinner when it comes?' 'Of course,' I replied. Well, my eyes were closed when it came and I was indeed resting, and he was so sweet he handled it all himself. I started peeking to see what he was doing with his grown-up meal - I hadn't realized that this was the first time he had to organize all those 'little' dishes on his own. He was a trooper, talking to the flight attendants about drinks and tea (why would they ask an 8 year old if he wants tea or coffee?!). He did it all like a champ, going dish to dish, opening foil package after foil package. And then it came to the butter and roll. He proceeded to take the little pat of butter completely out of its wrapper and placed it on his hand, then he looked a little confused. Dug out the plastic knife with the other hand and started spreading it on top of his roll. At this point I decided to *wake up* and gently show him how to keep the butter from getting all over his hands and how to cut open the roll to spread it inside. He looked crestfallen that he had gotten it wrong, but I reassured him there is not 'right' way. I never realized how many little things we learn in life, and that spreading butter on a roll in a tiny airplane seat can be a challenge the first time.

Meal over, we had sustenance for more War. Finally, the English countryside appeared out of the window (I think it was actually Ireland, but close enough for me.) The green checker board so far below always makes me pause and silently say a little prayer of thanks to my ancestors for connecting me to such a pretty place. Landed, luggage, customs (so GREAT to use our UK passports here, I love the 'Welcome Home' the immigration guy always shares, often these days with a thick Indian accent: what a wonderful international world we live in, Americans being welcomed home to England by an Indian!)

We hit the Tube, went all the way across London, literally from last stop in the west to the last stop in the east, and ended our journey in Upminster to stay at our friend Michelle's house. She just left the same day for Singapore with her son (again, quite the international world), so her mum, dad and sister took care of us: cups of tea, biscuits and warm baths. Tomorrow: visiting friends in Cambridge, more tea and enjoying the sun while it's out! Anna is very, very excited to see her friends from Cambridge and Michael is a little weepy because he misses Daddy and our doggie Macey, and he's worried Daddy is too lonely. Bill sent us a little video, though, and Michael keeps playing it and cheering himself up.