Ready or Not...They're Gone!

It happens to the best of us...the innocent, unsuspecting, just doing-your-job-parents. One day you're cleaning Otter Pops of the new leather couches, watching your son in the 6th grade's version of A Midsummer's Night Dream, and helping your daughter campaign for student body office, and the next day they're gone. Just like that. Gone to Chile to serve a mission, gone to China to teach English and gone to high school and their first job at Coldstone. I just have one question...why didn't anyone prepare me for this???? Oh I received lots of counsel and advice on how to deal with crying babies, messy rooms, temper tantrums, and know-it-all teenagers, but I don't recall a single word said about the therapy I would need when they all started leaving! How cruel to withhold such needed counsel! I'm starting now...I'm warning these young adults before they even think of bringing little rugrats into the world, that letting them go will be THE hardest part of parenting period, end of story. So young ones...if you don't want your hearts ripped out of your chest and stomped on at the very moment you're thinking life is pretty groovy, don't have kids! There you go... you've been warned!

So I guess it's a little obvious that London left a few days ago and my coping skills aren't yet perfected...I'm working on them. After more than 24 hours of travel time London arrived in Hong Kong Friday morning. The only casualty was a bottle of shampoo that just couldn't keep its mouth shut. She said the flight was rough but she survived (just barely). Her group was able to tour Hong Kong for the day and spend one night there where they watched a laser show then wandered for and hour and a half trying to find their way back to the hotel. The well meaning Chinese couldn't bear to tell her they didn't have a clue where her hotel was so they just pretended to be helpful as they pointed her in circles.

Her introduction to real Chinese food was as expected, disgusting, thus the quest for a Wal-mart begins to find anything familiar. What? You no likey the snake kabobs Lou?

She has two roommates, Kelsey and Londy. What are the odds she'd have a roommate named Londy? Maybe it's a good sign! We've seen her apartment via Skype and have met both her roommates! Technology can be such a beautiful thing!! We could see that London has the unique opportunity to shower while she's using the toliet...now that's multi-tasking! This week she's free to explore her new environment then Monday she begins teaching. She hasn't been told which grade she'll be teaching yet but we know she'll love them no matter what!

We miss you Lou Who and wish you the best with all your Chinese adventures!!! London's email address is londylou@comcast.net. If you want to sign up with Skype you can actually see and talk to her for free!