The Last Night...

It's 11:20, and the kids are tucked in bed.  I'm contemplating to the soothing swish of the dishwasher -- 5th load today, I think.  Who can tell anymore?

We have packed and unpacked and repacked once or twice now.  Each suitcase weighs about 50 pounds according to our luggage scale, but who knows really until we get to the airport?  Michael the rule follower (seconded strongly by Eleanor, the chip off the old block) declared emphatically that we must lose three pounds from each of the overweight suitcases.  I, the optimist & coper, say blithely that the scales are all different and they're usually pretty nice about one or two pounds.  They only get agitated when you're way above the prescribed weight.  Sort of like the doctor, I guess.

In any case, I plan to be the check-in official, and will let Michael blend into the landscape along with the five kids.  I figure our chances of getting through the baggage police are better that way...I always chat them up & find out how many children they have, where they're from, when their next vacation is, and their favorite recipes.  By the time we're finished, the bags are well on their way without a murmur of protest from the weight enforcers.

And our carryons? As is typical with us, they weigh more than the suitcases.  Sigh.  Packing for a year is an interesting thing to do.  You have multiple seasons with their concomitant shoe changes (Michael does NOT understand that).  I'm a low maintenance gal when it comes to shoes, but even so!  Jeans are tremendously heavy.  And (guilty secret) I actually broke down & am taking some yarn to Italy!!!  Mostly in the form of projects that are in progress, though -- so it's not too embarrassing.  What WAS embarrassing was having to use a "sucky bag" (you know the vacuumable bags that reduce everything?) in my hand luggage.  As in my "personal item."  But it did help shrink my wool an impressive amount, leaving a bit of room for snacks on the way!

I attach a picture of what it takes to get seven people abroad for a year:

And that doesn't include everyone's "personal item" -- generally a backpack.  Luckily, Leonardo & I both came to our senses and decided that we really needed 2 vehicles to meet us.  I suspect all of us will pile into Leo's van, and the luggage will accompany his other driver, but we'll see what happens.

Tonight we enjoyed our last ethnic flavor:  the best barbecue Georgia has to offer, in my opinion.  It was outstanding.  Spiced Right was every bit as good as Michael has claimed over the years.  Bonnie & Bob went in with Anna and Chris to feed us our last Atlanta meal (thank you again, guys!), and (can you believe it) the Tucker location closes early on Monday!  And here's where they show the love:  B&B actually drove out to Suwanee to pick up our barbecue.  Wow.  Without even complaining.  They weren't going to tell us, but we wormed it out of them.

Much laughter & many hugs later, we spent another hour or so scurrying around like busy ants, doing all the last-minute items that had to be done.  Thank goodness I'm not trying to clean the house for our renters (no, we don't have anyone lined up yet -- feel free to let me know if you hear of someone nice who wants our house)!  Tricia's friend Slavica is going to do that for us, and I'm thrilled because I know I can trust her to do a fabulous job.

We have been so showered with love in the past few days.  Thanks to all who attended the house cooling, and to all of you who have been so incredibly helpful throughout the summer!

With much love and gratitude,

Alexandra