Monday was the day. The day we were to leave for Norway. We loaded up the cars (yep, it took cars to hold all our stuff!) and headed for the Tallahassee airport. There was some serious rain and tornado threats cancelling our flight to Memphis. So we loaded back up, this time stuffing everything in Mama’s car so Ali could go home and went back to Cairo. This delay did allow us to have our Zaxbys meal that we’d been wanting. Mmmmm – wings & things.
On Tuesday we tried again. This time our flight out of Tallahassee was still a go, but it had been delayed. We were getting nervous….but were repeatedly reassured that we’d make our flight to Amsterdam. Then we were repeatedly told they’d hold the flight for us because there were eight of us on the plane that were going to Amsterdam. Arriving in Memphis we could see our plane to Amsterdam – by far the biggest airplane at the airport. I kept it in my sight as we got off the plane and walked inside, it was still just parked at the gate. But as we ran through the Memphis airport I was pretty sure that I saw it start moving. Stepler got ahead of me in the race through the airport (I was carrying Rory and a few other things) and he made it to the gate before me. The plane had not been held and was off for Amsterdam without us.
So we spent the night in a Memphis hotel and on Wednesday morning flew off to Detroit. We made it to Detroit with plenty of time to spare – we had lunch and watched a dancing fountain. Then we boarded our plane and were finally on our way to Europe. Business class is not the same when flying with a baby, but it still loads better than economy class – where I’m sure I’ll be flying for all subsequent trips across the Atlantic – except for the last one home that Marathon pays for again. Rory was very good and slept during the sleeping part of the plane ride and even through breakfast right up until just before time to land. Once in Amsterdam we relaxed a little in the KLM Lounge and Rory had breakfast. She ate like she hadn’t eaten in days - and hasn’t eaten that well since then. The flight to Stavanger was easy and then we had to collect our seven bags. Our taxi driver thought he wouldn’t be able to get it all in his minivan, but somehow it all fit. We were met by Rita with the relocation company when we arrived at our temporary apartment. She helped us get our stuff in and showed us the apartment. She also arranged for a portable crib for Rory because our air shipment was delayed and is not here yet. Thank goodness for the crib because Rory slept for 14 straight hours on Thursday night.
Stepler went off to work this morning around 8:30. Rory and I met him and his co-worker Chris and Chris’ wife, Liz, for lunch today. And now Rory and I are back at the apartment and she’s napping.
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