NewJersey

    It was now becoming difficult to keep my impatience in check. While I wanted to enjoy every minute I was with MrMike and Bunny, I also wanted to move onto the next stage of my journey. During my nightly phone call with Mike, I discussed the possibility of meeting a day early. He was as impatient as I was but he reminded me that, as all plans had been made many months before, we had agreed we would stay with the itinerary. While acknowledging our agreement, I said I would still run it past MrMike and Bunny, to see if they would be upset with an early departure. I was blessed to have friends who were so understanding. Far from being insulted, MrMike assisted in making the flight changes needed. The airline clerk kindly waived the usual fee for a change of flight, this after I handed the phone to MrMike to explain what I wanted as the clerk appeared to have some difficulty understanding me. I wanted it to be very clear that I did not want to get the next flight to anywhere but NJ! The changes made, I contacted Mike and we made the new arrangements as to our meeting. The remainder of the evening was spent doing what I was learning to do best, packing!

    A very early rising for me the next morning as I threw the last few things into my bags. I attempted to at least appear relaxed while MrMike and I sat and talked. MrMike, being a concerned friend, wanted reassurance that I knew what I was doing. That was given, I had no doubts about the step I was taking. MrMike then started teasing me and I suspect he was trying to make me blush. Bunny joined us, now I had two teasing me! Another cup of coffee for me, one more cigarette, oh, I already had one lit. Assuring them that I wasn't nervous, (who was I kidding??) I was sent on my way with their best wishes.

    Although it was a very short flight to Philadelphia, surprisingly, I maintained my ritual of dozing. This convinced me that I couldn't be nervous! This time, there would be nobody to meet me, that also meant nobody to help with the bags either! I would have declined to meet anyone here, other than Mike, and he was at work. Selfishly, this time was to be ours alone. Loading my bags onto a cart, I moved out to the footpath to await a shuttle to the hotel. Arriving at the hotel, I checked in and made my way to the room. I had so many plans for the afternoon that I knew the time would pass quickly and, before I knew it, Mike would be joining me. Well, that is what I thought, reality was a different matter! Time alone! A rarity for the past few weeks, and I would make full use of it. My luggage was the first that would get my attention, clothes needed sorting, some would also need ironing, then I had postcards to write. A little pampering, possibly soaking in the bath, reading one of the magazines that I had bought for the flights, and never got to read. Then, when I was done with all that, I would watch TV, something I hadn't done at all while on holiday.

    First though, I needed coffee. Locating the coffee maker in the bathroom, (why do most hotels deem the bathroom the appropriate place for coffee makers??), I set it brewing. I then deliberated on the best way to tackle the luggage. Deciding that a clean start with the packing would be a good idea, I literally tipped the contents of my luggage out on the bed. I stared at it all, did I really have that much crammed into those bags??? I sorted, I ironed, I repacked. For more than 3 weeks, I had been living out of bags and had got to stuffing something in where I could fit it. One trick is to roll, rather than fold, garments up for packing. This is supposed to aid in lessening wrinkles, but it is also a space saver and I needed all the space I could get! Around my rolled garments, I had bunched up ones, what a mess! Over 2 hours later, now with nice tidy bags, I was ready for the next 3 weeks. That chore out of the way, I acknowledged that the gnawing feeling in my stomach was hunger. Making my way downstairs and discovering there was no restaurant in the hotel, (trust me to choose one that was undergoing renovations...sigh), I looked outside. It was raining heavily and although a MacDonalds was in sight, it was a tad too far to walk. Back into the hotel and the snack machine. Making my selections, a bag of frittos, a cookie and a can of coke, I returned to my room to consume my very late lunch, such as it was. While I felt I had a good excuse, I was pleased that my kids couldn't see me for I had often berated them for their intake of "junk food"!

    While lunching, I flicked through the TV channels. I was a little disappointed, all those channels but nothing I found appealing enough to watch. Having decided I was going to see something on TV, and not to be outdone, I hired a movie. Choosing "You've Got Mail", I attempted to settle down to watch it. I should have saved myself the money. Looking at the screen, but not absorbing anything, my thoughts were on how Mike was feeling. While I felt confident that all would be ok, I was also nervous, much as I denied it to the friends who asked. The movie was over, what now?? I was restless, unable to concentrate on anything. With pen poised, I attempted to write postcards. I gave up after realising the recipient wanted to read more than just their address. A soak in the bath? Discarded that thought, I couldn't sit still long enough to get any benefit from it. As for reading, it was like watching TV, mindlessly flicking through the magazine before putting it aside. Even the weather was against me, it was still raining so a walk was not an option. Despite knowing that Mike would not be arriving till about midnight, I sat by the window around 9pm, watching the cars driving into the car park. This didn't hold my attention for long and I then flitted between staring at the tv and looking out the window. I showered and decided on a nap. Curling up on the bed I eventually dozed off. Waking and feeling very disorientated, I wondered how many hours I had slept.....one hour??? That was all???? At this rate, I would be a nervous wreck by the time Mike did arrive! More flicking of the TV channels was alternated with rearranging of the already very neat bags. Repeating to myself, over and over, "I am not anxious, I am not anxious", doing so much deep breathing that I could have been preparing for childbirth!

    Hearing the elevator doors opening yet again, (my room was opposite the elevators, torture!), I waited.......a knock on the door followed. In seconds, I would be looking into the eyes of the man who had captured my heart. Taking a very deep breath, I opened the door. No words spoken other than "Hi", we hugged and smiled as we looked into each other's eyes................