The thing about living far away from home is that you somehow trick yourself into believing that you really are fine without the people you love. When it comes down to just a few days before their upcoming visit, you realize how much you have really missed them.
This was the case for me about a week and a half ago as I waited in anticipation for 2 families that I love very much to arrive: The Hagenlochs, and my own family. On Wednesday, March 31st, I took a 5 hour train ride from Salzburg, Austria, to Nürtingen, Germany. Karin, Anke's sister, picked me up and I slept over. Or perhaps I should't refer to it as a sleepover-there was little sleep involved. Maybe 2 hours total: 15 mins here, 15 mins there. And then I woke up, and it was the day I had been waiting for: to go with them and surprise the Hagenlochs at the airport.
And surprise them I did. I hid around the corner in a little bakery, waiting eagerly for them to come and find me. 4 year old Ana came out first. Karin directed her around the corner and she ran up to hug me. I wasn't sure she'd remember me-it had been 9 months and she hadn't expected my appearance at the airport. You're Molly! she said. I needn't have worried. I hugged the other and we all went back to Schlaitdorf together. I spent all of about 6 hours with them, but it was nice all the same.
That evening I took the train to Munich and arrived at the Deuke's at about midnight. I slept very little and awoke at about 5:30am. I was so excited to head to Munich airport and pick up my parents, whom I hadn't seen in 9 months. For once in my life, I arrived early to something: I got to the airport with an hour to spare and eventually found the correct arrival gate. I sat down and tried to read my Growing Pains book, but was unable to do so as I kept looking up at the arrival screen. I jumped up as soon as I saw that their plane had landed and eagerly waited in front of the arrival gate. I saw my mother first--she waived with enthusiasm and I smile and waived back. My whole family followed. Eventually they came through the gate and I was finally able to greet them after not having seen them for so long.
I really had missed them, and it was clear that my mother had missed me, having teared up as she hugged me. We have a special bond that can never be broken. After the formalities we found our way to the S-bahn and took it to our hotel. From the S-bahn there was a long walk with our luggage, but we made it to the hotel. My family was exhausted and we ended up taking it easy. We ate at a cute restaurant nearby and then I walked around while my family took a nap. In the evening mom and I went out to get food--she chose some turkish food for her and dad to try-while eating it Meghan woke up and came in, thinking it was the next day and that they were eating that for breakfast. That made for a good laugh. We explained to her that it was still the same day-just a very long, long, day.
To be continued.
Love, Molly
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