Day 8 part 2
Trip Start
Aug 07, 2008
1
11
Trip End
Aug 13, 2008
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Friday, August 15, 2008
We arrived in Cincinnati, Ohio on time for which I was really happy because I only had a little over an hour to catch my next flight and besides having to collect my luggage, clear customs and immigration (a breeze with the blue passport!) and re-check my bags, I also had to switch terminals via the painfully slow and blistering hot shuttle and clear security. This, while time consuming, went smoothly. Once I was checked in at the gate (which was NOT a hike away thank God!) it was but a short walk to the puddle jumper of an aircraft that would take me home. The flight ended up being delayed 40 minutes but they made good time and landed an hour or so later only 20 minutes late.
As we taxied up to the terminal it really hit me just how much I had missed my family. They couldn't get us off fast enough. I collected my hand luggage and walked briskly down the arrivals corridor, I love small airports! There at the end of the hall was my husband waiting to greet me. I nearly cried for joy as I set my bags down and ran (OK so it was kind of a waddling trot) the last couple steps to him. As he enveloped me in his strong, protective arms I knew that I never, ever wanted to travel so far away without him again. He thanked God that I was home safe and kissed me gently to welcome me home. We just stood there for several moments in the middle of the arrivals hall and held each other close. The people streamed by and probably wondered what was up. All I wanted was to have a few minutes with my head on his broad chest listening to his heartbeat with his chin resting on my head assuring me that I was safe and that is what I received. Eventually, I let him go and he retrieved my bags, collected my checked bag and settled me into the car. We had to pick up the girls from their Oma's house before going home. Such a happy reunion! My daughters are my joy and it was so good to hold them again and hear them babble about their week. We were a family again.
Postscript:
While I had enjoyed every moment of the crossing and was so glad that I went I will make sure to take my family with me next time as being away from them for so long is just too hard! Also, I hope to add more to this blog as time allows over the next couple weeks. The videos are proving troublesome to reformat for editing and take forever to upload as some of them are quite long. I would recommend either subscribing to the the blog for updates or checking back every so often to see the interviews and pictures that were missed the first time. I hope you enjoyed reading about my travels!
