Saturday, July 10, 2010

Firsts and Lasts

July 8, 2010
[We haven't had Internet access for a couple of days so this was written a few days ago]

Today has been a bit surreal. We corralled 6 duffle bags, two kennels, two dogs, and 4 carry on items and packed them in our rental van. Good thing the seats folded down, because no way that would all have fit if they hadn't. We timed our lunch so we had a half hour to run the dogs. Found a great park next door to the somewhat suspect restaurant we ate in (the food was pretty good, but I wouldn't have chosen to go there if Husband hadn't had prior experience there).
Then off to the airport. Drop the 6 bags and me at the door. Park the rental van. Help me check in the six bags (I had three that were 49.6-49.8 lbs., two that were 51.6 and one that was 40.0 They let me slide on the slightly overweight bags (I could easily have evened them out with the underweight bag I had, so it all becomes a wash in the end). Bring the rental car to the arrivals doors. Unload the dogs and the kennels and my carry on and put all on one of those cart thingies. Husband takes rental car back to agency. I wait with dogs and kennels and make sure they both make proper use of the "pet area". Husband gets ride back to airport from rental agency.

Check in dogs and say goodbye to their sad faces (it hasn't been long enough since the last plane ride for them to forget the awful noise of the plane, so they are very anxious). Pass through security and walk up to the gate where the flight was already boarding. WHEW! We made it. FINALLY! Now there is nothing more to do for this move for the next 3 hours!

Today is a day of lasts for awhile...last time we'll eat in a franchise restaurant; last time we'll order coffee in a drive thru; last time we'll see grass, vegetation of any kind, mountains, 70 degrees, a sauna (sister and brother in law have one), dishwasher, garbage disposal, wasps (sister and brother in law have lots of those too!) and mosquitoes (I hope!).
First time we'll see our new house, meet our neighbors, get the dogs off the plane, see the Arctic Ocean not frozen (it was frozen when I was there in May), see if the boxes we mailed made it, explore the town on our own, sleep in our Arctic bed.

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