Because of time zone adjustments, Monday is a really long day. The flight arrives in San Francisco at 8:00 am (11 hr flight.) The Global Express kiosks are really fast. The luggage, however takes 45 minutes to arrive. I follow the signs through customs then to the transfer desk to re-check the luggage. I have to go through security again to get to the new gate, and it’s really slow. Lots of people are waiting, and not many scanners are open. Airports are really fun!
The plane loads on-time and we’re off to DFW, arriving as schedule at 4:30. While I’m waiting on luggage, I “Facetime” Judy in Beijing. She had worked out the apartment issues. Electricity and water are not going to be cut off until Thursday, and it’s scheduled to take place while she’s at school. Whew, what a relief. Courtney picks me up really quickly, and we head into Dallas. At her apartment, we eat dinner, and then she heads back to Lewisville to attend a school board meeting. I get my car and drive to Fort Worth to surprise my parents.
When mom opened the front door, peering around to see who it was, she had a really confused look. I could see she recognized me, but it took her a few seconds to process why I was standing at the front door? Dad was in the back of the house, and had an equally confused reaction when he walked in and spotted me sitting on the couch. Brad arrives about 15 minutes later, and we have a nice visit (kind of “the calm before the storm”.) We leave around 8:00 pm. I check-in to my hotel and unpack. Work begins tomorrow morning. Here’s hoping I get some sleep, since morning in Beijing is just beginning. When we visited at Christmas, it took me 6-7 days before my body began to feel right.
For anyone who might be reading this, I’m going to shutdown the writing until I start back to Beijing. Judy has full days at school all-week. A couple of the Australians are celebrating a birthday this weekend, so she’s not going to be bored. I feel sure my days are going to be filled with organizing and eventually packing. The trailer loading and caravan departure is planned for Friday. I left Monday (21st) open to tie up loose ends if needed. C’mon sleep!