For the first time in my ENTIRE life, I am the first one awake on Christmas morning. I have expected at least my father to meander into the living room since 7am, but still I only hear snoring. I can imagine this is due to the CHAOS of the last 40 or so hours!
Here is how it all went down:
December 23rd, 6:30am – my nice taxi driver took me to the Shodnenskaya metro. After lugging my heavy suitcase into the trunk, he asked, “Russian Vodka?” and we laughed together.
12:30pm –boarded my flight from Moscow to D.C. GOT A WINDOW seat. Stayed awake the entire time, and often caught myself smiling of pure joy, at the thought of being home, at the fun of travel, of the beautiful sun out my window…
3:00pm, D.C. time – arrival into the U.S.!! sailed my way through customs, quickly picked up a peppermint mocha from starbucks, and became quickly amazed at how FANCY and English-speaking this country is...talked to beautiful voices on my AMERICAN cell phone and became overly hyper/slap happy due to lack of sleep and sugary coffee.
7:30pm – departed across the country. Pulled down my eye-cover dealy, plugged my ears with music, and dozed off for the next 5 hours, completely missing all snack/beverage services!
10:30pm (STILL DECEMBER 23RD) –LANDED into PDX, made my way quickly off that plane, down and around, and INTO THE ARMS of: Aimee, Mother, Jeremy, Father, Micaella, and Kylie. Yes, my family managed to make a gigantic scene in the middle of that peaceful airport by screaming my name and holding up a huge sign that said in both English and Russian (go, sis!): “Welcome Home, Hezer!” we chatted and laughed and loved each other as we awaited my suitcase, then I had to part from Kylie and Micaella, who had both left half-drunk beers and pizza at a pub where they were hanging with friends. My family fought our way through the streets of Portland, looking for any food available. We found IHOP, and I consumed way too many chocolate chip pancakes plus hashbrowns and whatever else my family gave me…
1:30am – we made our way south, through lots of fog and weary eyes.
6:30am – HOME SWEET HOME.
Whew. That was one LONGGGG day! I then proceeded to sleep for 10 hours, then wake up in time to eat delicious food with my family and head out to the annual Christmas Pageant, where my pastor’s daughter starred as Joseph!!! I was so proud of her…if the men don’t step up, you’ve gotta take over! ;)
Last night, my family suggested I take something to help me sleep. I said confidently, “I don’t suffer from jet-lag!” uh-huh. Hello, 3:30am, when I lay in my bed with my eyes open, wondering what to do. Well, I’ve been awake for five hours now, hanging out with my cats and dogs, and I seriously CAN’T WAIT for someone to come play with me and drink coffee and eat something great…
MERRY CHRISTMAS, world!!
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