Up up and away

...or at least she will be tonight. Around 7ish local time, Heidi should be about to start her adventure as she wings across the Atlantic to London. We dropped her off at our friends Barb and Chip's house last night who live southwest of Minneapolis. When we were getting ready to leave, Anna was most upset about leaving the horses and other farm animals, but as we made our move, the reality of her mom being gone for a whole week really hit. And she sobbed. Not an inconsolable sob, but the sob that I'm expecting on the first day of kindergarten. It was a sob of "this is change and I don't like this." She waved and hugged and kissed through all the tears and as we drove down the road, all I could do was tell her that it was okay to cry and to cry as much as she wanted.

We stopped in Mankato at Hy-Vee to get root beer and chocolate - as Anna said, you always feel better when you have chocolate. The Starbucks was closed, damn it, but it worked out all right because I had coffee in the car anyhow. The drive home was incredibly long, but after stopping we were listening to her favorite songs on my iPod and changing lyrics left and right - usually the new lyric involved underwear or Cheeze-Its.

Me? I'm still a bit nervous for her. This is how I feel whenever anyone I love gets on an airplane, no matter how short the trip or how many times they've flown. She's a big girl that is world-wise but for those who are so inclined, think of her as she crosses the pond tonight. And hope that she can get some sleep.

She must sleep, because Mike is going to help her with the story. The book that I just finished moments before we left yesterday. And it's fucking fantastic. A bit long, and there are problems, but it is fantastic. I am biased, I know, but these people are people I want in my life. And I hope that someday, when the movie is being made, everyone will be able to say "I knew her when..."

Traveling mercies, my love. Have a wonderful time in England and watch this spot for developments on the home front.