I wouldn't say I fly frequently, but I fly enough to know that I go buggy about two hours into any flight, and by the last hour of the flight I am usually 100% convinced that jumping out would be preferable to remaining in the stale confines of the airplane. Adding further torment to my usual flight agitation are my fused vertebrae that begin to scream for a less cramped position, for which there is no remedy on a plane. However, today's flight had none of the usual travel symptoms. In fact, today I experienced the best, and seemingly shortest, flight of my flying career.
About an hour into the flight, Mom had the perfect solution to the lack-luster in flight movie. She told me she had a usb drive containing 2400 pictures that my aunt Jayne had spent the last year scanning and organizing. I was so excited to look through them that I didn't hesitate to say yes! Three hours flew by as we clicked through our digital history. We laughed, we cried, we reminisced and longed for time gone by. A few times it took every ounce of my being to choke back the sob in my throat as images of Grandma and Grandpa took my breath away.
I will love them forever and miss them for the rest of my life.
Grandma Robinson is second from the left, but I'd swear that's my Abby staring back at me.
I love the look of this picture!
This one nearly did me in. I fought back the tears.
Mom and I were so absorbed in the pictures that I was shocked when my ears began to pop, signaling the plane's gradual descent. We were nearing our destination! I reluctantly gave the laptop back to Mom so she could return it to the delicately quilted, completely girly and cute pouch that she stores it in. (Seriously, I just have a black laptop bag which I now think of as uninteresting and boring!)
I raised the window shades and we craned our necks to view the scenery below. Stunning golden light filtered through wispy, cottontail clouds to perfectly illuminate the fall foliage below. As we banked over the ocean and headed back toward land, rainbow pillars appeared out of nowhere to greet us as we took in the amazing views out the windows. I felt like a child as I oohed and ahhed over steamer ships, sailboats, lighthouses and quaint New England villages. I was amazed to realize that I longed for the land below to be nothing but early 1900's farm houses, and I wanted the people living there to be the ones I had spent hours gazing at in black and white images. I was overwhelmed with a sense of coming home again.
Amber graciously picked us up from the airport and expertly navigated rush hour traffic as she drove us to Norwood where Great Aunt Dottie met us at our hotel. More tears stung my eyes as I heard the echo of Grandma's voice and laughter when Dottie approached us with her larger-than-life personality shining brightly as ever. I struggled to find balance in the joy and sorrow I felt simultaneously. Aunt Dottie is such a wonderful gift to us! We talked and laughed over dinner and were so happy when Chase was able to join us. Only when our travel fatigue caught up with us did we dare call it a day.
I'm still not sure what the plans are for the days ahead... I'm not sure anyone knows yet. But tomorrow I will have my camera ready to capture this adventure, and I promise to write about it!
(Goodnight my sweet girlies. Know that your Mama Bear is missing you tonight. I love each of you so very much and you are constantly in my thoughts and always in my heart.) *MUAH*
Muah!!! This time, don't take anything for granted! Wish I could be there. :) I'm excited to hear about all the fun stuff you guys are doing for the next week! :D
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