The list of things we have to do between now and the moment we depart for the airport is growing smaller and smaller. It's now down to the following:
- Pack the Little Guy's stuff for his entire two month summer vacation, which starts tomorrow. The nanny, bless her heart, already organized all his clothing for us so all we need to do is pack the suitcase and let him choose the books and toys he wants to bring along... leaving ample room because he will surely pick up lots of new things along the way. I am already missing him!
- Get up early tomorrow to see Georges and the Little Guy off as they head south, and be mildly jealous that they will be spending tomorrow afternoon at Melon Beach (what memories!) while la Fille and I are here, doing the last of the laundry and packing our own suitcases. Maybe we'll go out to a movie or something to entertain ourselves.
- Go to lunch tomorrow with a bunch of ex-pats to celebrate the 4th of July, because I am still a proud American.
- Finish writing some chapters for one of my clients, because I promised her I would send something before I go.
- Put the house in order so hopefully we will come back to a relatively neat and clean house (unless the Oldest manages to mess it up in our absence, which is a distinct possibility).
- Pack Georges' suitcase when he comes back on Sunday afternoon. He already sorted out all his clothes, all ready to go.
- Pack all the last minute stuff (toiletries and so forth) and go crazy trying to remember if I forgot anything really really important... like the passports, tickets, money, wedding rings, wedding clothes, computers, blah blah blah. Oh yeah, don't forget all the documentation it took me hours and hours to prepare over the past three months.
- Get up at 5am on Monday for a 5:45 airport shuttle pick-up. Haul ourselves and our 30 suitcases (or so it will seem) to the curb.
- Breathe a sigh of relief once we get through airport check-in and pass out in our seats, exhausted, as soon as we get on the plane. Try and get some extra sleep on the flight.
- Dream about our wedding day while the pilot gets us to New Jersey safely, without turbulence, and on time. Because we're getting MARRIED and even the flight has to be perfect, right? (Although we are seated in the last row near the toilets, so I can't expect miracles. Unless of course when we're checking in, I mention that we're on our way to get married and maybe they upgrade us all to First Class for FREE? Now that WOULD be the ultimate miracle, wouldn't it?)
Looking at this list, I am no longer panicking, even though I am still coughing with the bronchite. Because I think we've done what we needed to do and now it's just putting it all in a suitcase and GOING. Mainly now I'm just excited about all that is going to happen in the next 10 days.
I can't wait to see my family, and my friends, and hug everyone over and over. On a daily basis I don't think about missing them so much, but the closer I get to a visit home, the more the "missing them" is amplified. I can't wait to introduce Georges and his lovely girl to everyone, and show them my little corner of the world. And use a clothes DRYER; shop at Target and DSW; and eat really good pizza and Chinese food.
Above all, I can't wait until next Saturday, at exactly 3:15pm, to stand with my beloved and show him how much I do love him... by becoming his wife.