Wake up before 6, out of our hotel room by 7. It's dark in Paris then. I take no photos -- I'm keeping the girl focused on moving along, on counting her stuffies. On being responsible for her two bags. Both purple! -- she tells me. Easy to keep track of. for a purple loving girl.
We say goodbye to the Baume staff and cab over to the airport. Winter bags are too heavy for me to navigate through the commuter train system. The 10:30 long distance flights bring out hoards of people and it's always crowded at the airport at this early hour, but that's just the way it is. I still prefer this departure. Leave early and you get in early (expected arrival before 5 pm). Leave later and you drag in close to midnight.
My airline loyalty serves me best at the Paris airport. Here I benefit from shorter lines and space to zone out. We eat breakfast, she plays Wordle.
I think about how tired I was last night. Not the kind of tired where your legs ache and you want to sit down, but the kind of tired that comes with age, when nothing is functioning at optimal levels. Head spins, stomach churns. Travel is becoming like that for me: in the mornings I am raring to go. By evening, I'm a bowl of wet noodles. Limp. Soggy. Useless. I keep hoping I can keep this at bay, that I can keep traveling, alone, or with a grandchild. In the mornings I always think -- of course I can! In the evenings, I'm less confident.
We board our Delta flight to Detroit. This is probably the most traveled leg for me -- Delta to Detroit. I like Detroit best of all the entrance destinations (even though their TSA at International is awkward). The airport is rarely crazy busy. And the last leg from there to Madison is under an hour.
Her dad picks up a radiant Snowdrop. She just loved this trip -- up there
with the one to the Italian lakes, she tells me. Maybe she is at heart a
mountain goat? But one who still wants to see the world. She'll tick off
countries she wants to visit. There are many.
We are home. Cats, chickens, Ed. All quiet. Such a contrast to the days that just flew by! It was a 24/7 watch over the girl. Total responsibility for her well being. She gives me plenty of downtime, but I'm always there for her. My focus, my energy is completely directed at keeping her excited, happy, in a learning mode. At home, I am responsible for feeding chickens and a few cats and occasionally Ed. That's it. When a challenging trip ends, if all goes well, I am hugely relieved. Satisfied. I wanted to create memories. I've done it and they were good. I'm so happy.
But, too, I am happy to be home with Ed in that bubble of quiet that we love to share. My time to think, to exhale. To smile at all that life has to offer. And most importantly -- I am so grateful that all went well, that all is well.
with so much love...
