runlindsayrun

The One With One Last Goodbye (And A HELLO!)

Speaking of processes we've almost perfected... It was Going Home Day today. We woke up, packed up, and headed out. Since Briony was born, we've started flying out of Vancouver instead of Abbotsford. It's a little bit more driving, but it means one flight instead of two (the flights between Winnipeg and Abbotsford always stop in Calgary) - and so, in the end, it's just easier.

Today, we left exactly on schedule so we had time to grab a quick lunch before Marilyn dropped us off at the airport. We're all kind of a well-oiled machine with our goodbyes at this point, which strikes me as a little bit sad. Still, for all our practice, it's sometimes hard not to feel like a terrible person when I carry Briony away and through the Departures door. I try to dwell on the fact that we are incredibly blessed to have family that loves us like crazy in two provinces, and we are incredibly blessed to be able to visit them as often as we do.

On the way up, Geoff pointed out that we were flying over White Rock. Sure enough, I could see the coastline and the shape of the pier, the hill where Aaron + Cait's condo building sits... Yep, waterworks all over again.

I'm really okay. It's just such a strange feeling to have my family leave. It's kind of MY job. I leave, and they are here when I go and when I return. It turns out that it's not nearly as much fun to be the one who DOESN'T leave. I don't like it.

We made it home without incident, despite the fact that Briony didn't nap again. She did great on the plane, and my parents were there to greet us (who are we kidding... they were there to greet Briony). She had immediate smiles for them, and reached out for them with all her typical giggling and babbling and silliness. I had to turn away for a second. It's just incredible to watch one grandma love her as we get onto an airplane, and then to watch another love her as we arrive at the other end. What a lucky little girl.

Labels: Aaron, Briony, Caitlin, Family, Our Other Home, Travel

posted by Lindsay @ 12:49 AM