Mere and Mer in Birmingham

She had a great time, and the trip was no problem.  Here’s her trip report.   Boy, was it quiet while she was gone.  I did get the entry way painted (without help), though.  The dogs missed her.  Shortly before we left for the airport to pick her up, I told the dogs that I was going to bring Mere home and they both jumped to the couch (in front of the bay window) to look for her.  I wish I had that on video.

Photo’s here:
http://flickr.com/photos/jrittenhouse/

We got to the gate in plenty of time (they recommend 1 1/2 hours early) and Meredith quickly found a little girl (about age 6) also flying solo for the first time.  Mere, the little girl and her cousins played together while they waited.  About a half hour before boarding, Mere zooms back to us gives us a hug and says “bye”.  I’d been prepared for her to be hesitant about the whole thing.  I was so distracted about the whole thing (and  getting her stuff together) that I forgot to bring my camera.  And I bring my camera everywhere.  I did use my cell phone, but the photos turned out bad.  I’ll put a couple in the files.  Jim just added a few more to his flickr account that Leigh Ann took at their end of 3 sad little girls saying goodbye.

The kids were assigned to an attendant and they were escorted down the walkway (without even a glance back).  During the pre-boarding they finally found the 3rd unaccompanied minor and were annoyed to learn that it was a young teen boy.  Much eye rollling and disgust.  They were hoping for a party.    The only complaint that I got from Meredith is that they wouldn’t let her have a 2nd soda on the return trip (she didn’t want the water).  She said that they sat in the 2nd row (the first didn’t have a tray table) and the flight attendant checked on them “every 10 minutes”.  I doubt it was every 10 minutes, but it sounds like they were watched pretty closely.

The part about the trip that bothered me the most was wondering if she could deal with 6 nights away from home/mommy.  In the past, she’s even been resistant to Jim or Grandma (who lives with us) taking her.  She wanted Mommy.  I trust Leigh Ann and Mike, so that wasn’t a concern at all.  The whole thing can be pretty intense, emotionally, and I wondered how she’d do.  Leigh Ann kept them busy so there wasn’t a lot of time to be missing home.  Mere also was treating this as practice for camp next summer when she and Mer want to do a week at Camp Juliette Low.

All in all it was a great success and on the way home from the airport, Mere first question was “When can I go back”?  We’re not sure Meredith Ellen will be ready at Christmas, we’re hoping so.  But perhaps next summer Mere can go down to Alabama, go to camp, and then both girls can travel together to Chicago.  They’d then get to spend 2 – 2 1/2 weeks together.  We’ll see how it goes.  We’re willing to let Mere do the traveling, if that’s what it takes.

The only down side is that the goodbyes at the airport get a little strung out and I think it’s harder for all the girls.  Ally even cried at the airport.  Meredith Grace did OK, I think because the saddness of leaving her sister was tempered with her excitement of returning home and seeing us.  Though, I didn’t get the huge welcome I was expecting.  It was as if she was coming home from school.  She has been a little clingy lately, though.  Catching up on Mom time and missing Mer, I’d guess.