Natalia and I just returned from 24 days in the United States. What a huge gift from our favorite guy in the whole world (Monte!). He cashed in the last of his frequent-flyer miles and sent us to Chicago on June 20 to spend a few days with my soul-sister Kim; from there we made separate trips to Nebraska and Seattle, and then back to Chicago for a few more days before heading back to London on the 13th of July.
It's difficult to describe how enjoyable and meaningful and emotional it all was, so I'll just list a hundred highlights:
- Reconnecting with Kim, Brian, Tricia & Leah (my sweet, dimple-faced goddaughter)
- Visiting my grandfather and his lovely Leonora in Omaha
- Meeting my brand-new nephew, Samuel Randell
- Watching Natalia make memories with her sweet little cousins, Katie and Grace
- Scratching and petting and sleeping with our old dog, Swede
- Seeing my oldest friends on earth -- Crystal (in Lincoln) and Jorie (in Minneapolis) on my way to Seattle
- Having dinner with Jody and Anita (vanpool girlfriends of 10 years!) after landing in Seattle
- Breathing the fresh salty air on Alki Beach
- Visiting our house (a somewhat surreal experience, as it was full of other people's stuff)
- Sharing lunch and dinner with Microsoft friends, and then wandering the halls of Building 16, unescorted -- thanks, JP!
- Talking to Natalia on the phone (something I never do because I'm always with her!) while she had the time of her life with her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins in Nebraska
- Driving on the right side of the road (well, actually driving in general -- it had been 8 months!)
- Sleeping at Ken & Joanne's house, and feeling like part of their family
- Enjoying a massage at Head To Toe Day Spa with Kati ... just like old times
- Dining and shopping and battling downtown-Seattle gridlock with Emily
- Attending an appetizer party with old neighbors in Molly's new kitchen
- Shopping at Target with Derek
- Meeting old neighbors unexpectedly on the street, and popping in to surprise others!
- Dining alfresco with Kari and Pete
- Being in the USA on Independence Day
- Watching a kick-butt fireworks show in Aurora, Neb., with both sets of Natalia's grandparents, and actually tearing up during that sappy song, Proud to be an American!
- Attending the Frazier family reunion and seeing several new faces (Jason, Brooke, baby Jackson and Bonnie)
- Visiting the Omaha zoo
- Spending more time than expected with Sabrina, Jim, William & Andrew (due to a cancelled flight from Omaha to Chicago)
- Going out on the town with Kim while Brian put all the girls to bed (on two occasions -- what a guy!)
- Celebrating my birthday in Chicago with the best people on earth, and getting to stay a few extra days...
All that being said, the best part about being gone for so long was returning "home" to London. Monte left for the Paris Air Show on June 16, which means our family was apart for a whole month. How sweet it was to see his face at the airport, to feel his arms around us, and to settle back in to our lovely home in Richmond. We feel so blessed. A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who made our first visit back to the States such a meaningful one.
Want photos? See link at top left! Cheers!
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