galmc2Report

This sh— is getting real. We have been planning, saving and dreaming about this trip for 5 years and it has been at a distance for so long that it’s hard to wrap our heads around the fact that it’s actually here – we fly (hopefully), in 2 days.

Signs it’s about to happen:

1. We sold our car. We have had just 1 car for about 3 years now but it turns out that a mini is not the best car to have with 2 active dogs.

2. Chloe has moved all of her stuff upstairs to our room so that her roommate can move in as soon as we leave. We have also moved our things from the living room and a few paintings have been moved around or taken down to make room for Chloe’s books, and recently purchased artwork. (A few people asked if we were offended by the re-decorating- not in the least is our reply. We are thrilled that she is making it her own and secretly hope that new feeling of ownership will increase care and cleaning of the house).

3. There’s a storm! Our first big trip in 2011 was delayed by 2 days due to Hurricane Irene (downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it landed in Newport, Rhode Island, where we were staying with Paul’s sister Karen and her husband Craig). There is currently an extreme weather warning that has left many people either stranded at the airport, sitting on the tarmac for hours and hours or canceled flights and/or trips altogether (like our good friends Nancy & Scott’s trip to Mexico).

4. We have said our goodbyes to Chloe and the dogs, who have gone on a little Christmas vacation to the cabin. Tears were definitely shed as we helped pack up the car and hugged our daughter and cuddled our sweet pups. 8 months feels like a really long time when you’re saying farewell.

If all goes well, our next post will be from a warm, sunny Indonesian island.

Heather