It's only 4:22am.

Jetlag is to be expected, but I hope this post wards off any wavering longings to go back to bed. Really, it would be quite impossible with a sunrise of 3:31am and the beautiful Swedish day ahead of me. I have no complaints and once my luggage arrives, I can apply a bit of make-up on my black circles and seize the day.
Flying as always is a mixed bag. Planes are faster than ocean liners and I don’t envy the pilgrims on the Mayflower at all. Yet, the cramped quarters and unique airline food is always something to be endured. Thankfully my eye-mask and earplugs did me wonders. Poor Mac was not as lucky; he had to endure three bad movies and restlessness while I caught all the Zs.

We arrived in Amsterdam from Seattle do discover our layover did not offer us enough time to use the “toalett” much less catch our breath. We ran from one end of the airport to the other, finagling our way through customs in the middle. EU passport holders have a special line, as do first class passengers. Upon my insistence, a well-practice art that Mac is calling “Sweet Diplomacy,” we jumped in the shorter, by 20 minutes, first class passenger line, quicker, by 6 people, EU line, and proceeded to the nearest security conveyor belt. A few American women followed my every move, each time asking if it was ok if they joined or if what they were doing was necessary such as taking out their liquids and gels. As the resident expert, we all moved through security with brevity, and Mac and I rushed away to gate C12.

A traveling rule: don’t be surprised when you don’t have your baggage. Since we barely made it to the connecting flight, our bags had no chance. (And yes we checked them for running purposes only.) After a quick 1.5 hour flight to Stockholm, when we both fell dead asleep, we arrived with just enough to get through the night. A toothbrush! And all the hugs we needed to cover up for the rest of what we’re missing. We did go put in a claim for our bags. A traveler who uses English as a distant second language asked the claim officers, “Is this where you chase luggage?” What a great translation though I think the process is a bit more passive than that, at least from my experience.

The Downeys greeted us with such love. Already I feel back at home, as I knew I would, and Mac, once less sleep-deprived, will surely join in the familial sentiments. We shared stories, laughed, ate a wonderful meal and dessert with Helen-made moose, and rode bikes to the dock, but 2 minutes away, and around the beautiful neighborhood. We ended the evening with tea (oh how I missed such moments with this family) and a game of cards with the girls. Valerie, being just finished with school, had every intention of staying up with me to watch a movie. Thankfully I could say, “Let’s save it for another night,” and we went off to bed…for a bit.