This last flight seemed to take forever. It seemed like all afternoon, all day, hours upon hours, but I'm sure in reality it wasn't really all that long a time. I sat down and waited for the plane to take off. I fidgeted with my shoes a bit, played with my necklace, looked out the window, then looked in the mirror again. Last flight. Unbelievable. After what seemed like an hour they finally took off, rising up above the city. I tried to relax a bit, I managed to listen to one song all the way through on my cd player. Checked my mirror again, turned the cd player back on and shuffled through the rest of the songs in a matter of minutes. After a while they came by offering drinks and snacks, so I got some food. I wasn't hungry of course, but I got some anyway. It was a trail mix, different kinds of nuts and the occasional raisin. I ate two raisins, then set the bag aside. Checked my mirror again and this time decided I needed lip gloss, so I put some on and put the mirror away. I took it out again a few minutes later. The lady sitting next to me asked me if I was alright. I said I was fine, just nervous. I looked out the window again, watching the clouds and the roads that looked like sewing thread from so far away. Everything went by so slowly. I checked the mirror again. Then looked at my watch. I leaned back, closed my eyes, and dozed off a bit. I woke up three and a half minutes later. I finger-combed my hair, re-did my make up, checked my mirror about five hundred more times and about had a heart attack when they finally landed the plane.
    We sat at the gate for a minute while I fidgeted and waited and after a while people started standing up, so I did too. Somone helped me get my bag out of the overhead and I started down the little hall, wondering if I'd be able to see him from the doorway when I got to it. I couldn't. There were a couple of lines for customs, so I picked one and stood there. I set my bags down, the weight on one was starting to bother my shoulder a bit and I was getting really tired so I nudged it along with my foot as the line moved. Soon it was my turn, the man at customs asked me a few questions, why are you visiting, who are you staying with, how long will you be staying. I answered, probably sounding really shaky and tired, showed my birth certificate, my id, my tickets, and he told me to go wait in a small room. Two other people were there, we all just sat. Nobody really said a word. One guy was called back into a small office and after a few minutes they let him go. I waited, listening to everyone else walk by, leave, kept an eye on my watch as the minutes passed. I wondered if Darryl was here yet, and if so then when I would see him.
    As it stretched into a half an hour I wondered if they'd maybe let him wait with me at least. After a while someone came back and asked my name, said someone was waiting for me, then told me to stay where I was and keep waiting. Finally the other guy waiting with me was called, taken into that little office and talked to. The lady working there asked him questions and he answered. She repeated the questions, said they were important, and he answered again. He had a DUI in the past five years, he couldn't remember the exact date and so she wouldn't let him pass. I could hear them talking, and i waited, checked my mirror again, checked my watch, wondered if Darryl or Polar had tried calling my cellphone(it was off). After a while longer the guy walked out, not on his way to finish his trip, and I was called back. She asked me the same questions that the man had earlier and I answered. She kept nodding, writing things down and I kept wondering if they'd seen something wrong with me. I was starting to get nervous. After more questions, more nodding, and more writing things down she finally told me to take my bags to a counter down the hall so I did.
    I stood there waiting for a few minutes until she and the man from earlier showed up. They asked me the same questions again, this time as they went through my bags, my clothes, my purse, my wallet, my bath stuff, my cd's and books. Repeating the same things and same questions that they had earlier. After a while they crammed everything back into my bags and zipped them shut, and told me I could leave. I was so glad just to know I was getting out of there. I'd been up since before two that morning and I was tired, sleepy, worn out. I didn't want to stay here in the airport anymore. So, shaking a bit I picked up my bags, piled them together, and she showed me the way out. I stumbled through a little gateway and there Darryl was with his mom. In a complete lack of grace I kind of dropped my bags and went to hug him, almost falling over in the process. It was just so good to see him. Finally, I was here. Unbelievable. I was in his arms. Unbelievable.
   He helped me get my bags and kept asking me if I was okay, mentioning I got held up in line behind some woman that had tried to bring in seaweed but was married to a pilot and should have known better. We left the airport, walking outside there was like walking into our fall weather here, got to his car and left for home. We got there and I got to meet the dog(more like a lap lamb), Barklee.
http://ruzika.homestead.com/files/visit/mebarklee.jpg

Although this was our first visit, we had been very close for years and only want to be closer. Before I left he gave me something very special, a promise ring. He does love me, as he has told me many times, and I him. We will be together, it's something we both want, somethin we're both working for. It's just a matter of time.
http://ruzika.homestead.com/files/visit/IM000934.JPG

   Everything else seemed to go by so fast. but the time did pass and soon it was down to just the last few days. Saying I didn't want to leave doesn't possibly do the feeling any justice. the night before my last day there we decided to stay up all night then go to see the sunrise. I was tired after a while, so I got a nap on the couch while he stayed up. We left just at sunrise to drive out and find a place to take a few pictures.
http://ruzika.homestead.com/files/visit/sunrise.jpg

We cuddled up in his car watching the sunrise and listening to music and I just started crying. My last day there and knowing I had a plane ticket for the next morning was completely devastating for me. We made it through the day and stayed up again that night. We spent that night crying to each other before I finally had to get up and do the last of my packing. We had planned to stop at Denny's and have breakfast together before I left. I cried all the way there in the car, and on and off through the meal. I wasn't really in the mood to stomach anything, but he had me order food anyway, just to get something in me. From there we left for the airport, I cried all the way there too but managed to hold everything back while at the counter.Once we got to the check gate I burst into tears, Darryl ran and got some napkins for me from a food place in the airport. I kept crying, I just coudn't stop myself, and finally, I had to go. I walked through the check as they went through my bags again and burst into another round of tears and sobbing while the people working there asked me what was in my bags, did I have any food, and other things I couldn't hear. I sat down at the gate for my plane and waited.

I'm so glad things went well for you.  I'm sure you will find a way to adjust to the long distance relationship.  December really isn't that far away, then you will get so see him again.

Welcome back!

Like BB, and juri said, in no time at all we'll be reading another post like this one.

Glad you had such a nice trip.

Bardic Love - I loved reading your story!  I'm so glad you guys finally got to meet up.  But in the end, you had me crying too.    I'm wishing you two a speedy reunion!  And it's good to have you back online again.

*hugs*
Cynde

PS - you guys are a VERY cute couple!

Welcome home, Bardic Love We missed you around here. I'm glad your trip went well and you are safe. Saying goodbye is the worst part but I'm sure December will come around soon enough.

Anais