Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

I don't like goodbye's. I really despise goodbye's. I will even go as far as saying I hate goodbye's, as strong of a word as that is. If given the opportunity, I will always shy away from ever having to say goodbye; it's just easier that way. I am a bona-fide crier... I tear up and choke up at everything happy or sad. So making me say goodbye to the people with whom I've shared my life for the past 3 years, well you can only imagine....

We left Israel in the wee hours Tuesday morning. I'm still in a sleepy haze and haven't quite grasped the concept that we won't be returning. A 10 hour time change and only a few hours sleep can do that to a person. I have to remind myself that this isn't a vacation, and after our almost 8 weeks in the States, we won't be going back to our Embassy owned house in Herzliyya. I won't be patronizing the Online Cafe for my morning cappuccino. Sheridan won't be going into the Teddy Bear class next year. I won't see my girlfriends, my preschool friends, the teachers, my daughter's 1st ballet recital.

Monday was filled with a lot of organizing and packing, and even more tears. I was melancholy from the minute I woke up, knowing that throughout the day my heart would break every time I said goodbye. With every person I hugged I wanted to hold on just another second longer. With every kiss I gave, I needed to give two. I shed a tear with every friend I left, and behind the doors of 35 Shazar, I continued to cry, knowing that I was leaving my security blanket, my family, the place we called home.

We woke up at 1 am on Tuesday morning. We showered, got dressed, closed up our bags, and got the girls ready to go. Our drivers arrived at 2:15 am and helped us load everything in the car. While Matt was supervising them and dealing with the girls, I did a final walk throughout the house. Every closet was empty. Every bed stripped of the sheets. Every bathroom clean. Every wall bare. Not a hint that anyone lived there. The only things left were in the refrigerator; a lone coke I didn't finish drinking and 3 old sippy cups that leak and weren't going to make the trip. I took a deep breath, walked down the stairs into the garage, locked the final door behind me, and shut the garage. I couldn't look back for I knew that I was leaving a piece of me behind. When I got to the car, I needed Kleenex to wipe away the tears.

The entire trip to California was relatively uneventful, albeit very Perlman-esque. We had minor difficulties checking Libby at the gate... no record of her flight, no paperwork to check-in animals, no one to care. The flight to Frankfurt was delayed for almost 2 hours. The children's meals we ordered on both flights to Frankfurt and to Los Angeles were "lost", despite my calls to verify that they were indeed in the system. And what would a trip be without a little vomit? About 3 hours before we landed in California, Sheridan vomited in her sleep. I didn't think it was possible, but let me tell you that it is! She covered herself, her seat, and my shirt. Thank goodness for the extra clothes.

We arrived about 30 minutes early at Los Angeles International Airport. We quickly got through customs, got our bags, got the dog, and met my in-laws who were happily awaiting our arrival. They put all our bags and the dog in their van, and we took the car rental shuttle to Hertz. I had reserved a full-size car for our stay, but when I got to the counter, I asked if they still offered the $5 / day upgrade to a mini-van. The manager had absolutely no personality, and even less people skills. After offering just about anything to upgrade, including my second born, he emphatically told me, "NO"... though as a consolation, he'd give me a brand, spanking new car with only 5 miles on it. Two kids and a dog and a brand new car? They'll learn to regret that decision in 41 days. What kind of car is it you ask? A Mercury Sable - pimped out - with chrome wheels, faux ash wood grain dash board, white leather seats, and a sunroof. Yeah....right...

We're slowly settling in and trying to acclimate to the time change. The girls relatively slept through the night. I went to Starbucks today and got my favorite drink, a Caramel Machiatto. Tomorrow is the big haircut day; all three of us are getting new 'dos. Afterwards the girls are getting their ears pierced... I think.

Welcome to our vacation. Stay tuned... there's lots to come!