When last I wrote, I had cleared the hurdle of a windshield mishap to conclude our final days in Virginia. We arrived in Virginia on Thursday after that stressful drive of watching the windshield crack in front of my face, one centimeter at a time. (See, I'm already adjusting to using metric measurements. Just kidding, someone as old as me will forever default to inches.) Friday morning I had two jobs, both important in our move, one critical to the transition. Elvis needed to see the military veterinarian to get her final health check-up, declaring her fit for the flight to Japan. Without this, she could not fly with us overseas. When we moved to Italy in 2011, this appointment for the dogs was the obstacle that nearly derailed the train, due to computer malfunction. Albeit to say, I was nervous going into this appointment. It took all of ten minutes for the papers to be signed, copied, and they sent me on my merry way.
Next stop was the boys former school to collect their sealed school records. We wandered the hallways of Lake Braddock Secondary School, talking about little things like good locker locations, bad teachers, and various memories. The records office had the files ready to go. By 10 AM we were sitting in the car in the school parking lot, having completed both tasks on the docket, with nothing at all scheduled to do between then and our departure at 6 PM the next day. 32 hours of slush time.
We walked to a little diner for lunch, near to the hotel. We watched an afternoon showing of the new Planet of the Apes. We went into Dick's Sporting Goods to pick up new rain jackets for the boys. It started pouring as we left Dick's, and I'm happy to report that the rain jackets worked perfectly. We stopped at Chipotle for dinner. For someone who usually fixes every meal at home, all this eating out felt absolutely luxurious! And expensive! Friday in the books, onto Saturday.
There's a restaurant that started in DC and has since opened a few other locations around the DC Metro area. It's called Ted's Bulletin, and I've always wanted to eat there. They have homemade pop tarts and other scrumptious breakfasts, or so I've heard. I decided as our final meal in NoVA we would go to Ted's Bulletin. We went there Saturday morning for a delicious breakfast. Stuffed enough that we could barely waddle to the car, we headed back to the hotel, loaded up all the suitcases, checked out and went to the airport. We really didn't have anywhere else to hang out, since we had to check out by noon and had the dog with us. Besides, I wanted to get our luggage off my back (literally). Rental car returned, a smooth check-in at Alaska Airlines, and luggage delivered to the airport scanner. Check! We wiled away the six hours until departure bumming off the free airport wifi, reading books, walking around the airport. Elvis got lots of attention from onlookers, mostly young women. This caused a bit of a fuss with Silas and Jud who suddenly wanted nothing more than to hold her leash. :-)
Breakfast at Ted's Bulletin
Next hurdle: boarding Elvis onto the plane. She has never flown in the cabin with us before, and she does not like her under-set duffel bag. We have practiced with it, so she knows what it's like in there... Into the bag she went, onto the plane, under the seat at my feet. My hat is off to that little dog. She was obviously not terribly happy, and definitely scared when the engines roared at take-off, but she did not make a single peep. Not even a whimper. She scratched at the door mesh of her bag, but laid there, perhaps silently cursing me. In the long run, it was the best way to get her to Japan, and even if she doesn't understand that, I do.
Plane to Seattle, Elvis at my feet,
goofballs seated next to me.
A six hour flight behind us, boys watching movies, Elvis and I sleeping, we arrived in Seattle. My darling aunt picked us up at the airport and we drove 15 minutes to their home.
Thank God for family willing to house us as we walk this path. We were sustained by many family members as we traveled one step at a time. You all know who you are. We slept in your beds, ate your food, counted on your help. You listened to our stories, let me talk through my plans, helped us work out the kinks. More than anything, you gave us a place of rest where we were welcome and safe. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.
Two days in Seattle flew by. We enjoyed walks, ice cream treats, kayaking on the Sound with Mount Rainier looming over us. We played badminton, cooked hot dogs and s'mores over a campfire, rested and relaxed for our next (and biggest) step in the journey.
Monday evening we took the plunge. We stepped off the high dive. We went to the airport braced for an unknown impact. It sounds very dramatic, but really it was a lot of waiting. We waited in line for three hours to check into our flight. We waited at the airport (kids and the dog sleeping while I kept watch) all through the night for our morning flight. We waited to board. We got onto the plane, and then waited through ten hours of flying to land in Japan.
Waiting to check in and drop of luggage.
Catching a few hours sleep.
Furry friend likes her kennel.
The best thing about the flight is that it was packed with military members: some families; some single sailors, marines, or soldiers all making their way across the Pacific to report for duty. It's a judgement free zone. We're all slightly zombified due to sleep deprivation and stress. All of us have said sad goodbyes, and all of us are uncertain of what awaits at the other end. As I sat in my seat watching my own little personal seat-back movie screen, tears streaming down my face at Million Dollar Baby, I felt no shame. Next I cried my way through Katniss volunteering for Prim in Hunger Games. I needed the emotional release, even if it was contrived from watching fictional stories. I hardly slept, Silas didn't sleep at all, and Jud slept maybe a few hours. Thank goodness for those little seat-back entertainment devices keeping all of us entertained.
When we landed in Japan, I knew what to do, because Ryan had gone ahead of us. He paid close attention to the entire process and gave me details on what would happen and when. Off the plane we went through customs, collected Elvis (she made it!), and waited in the un-airconditioned baggage claim area for what felt like a very long time. Finally we had all five of our 60 pound bags loaded onto the trolly, Elvis came out of her kennel, and we found our van driver. After a two hour drive admiring our first glimpses of our new home, we found ourselves entering the Yokosuka (Ya-koos-ka) Naval Base. A friend met us at our destination point, and escorted us to our new house. Ryan, being at orientation for the day, left little notes for us, and a banner reading "Welcome Home!"
First picture in our new house!
Having not slept more than an hour or two in close to 48 hours, exhaustion was bordering on delirium. The job was not done yet, as we needed to prepare the house as best we could for the next day when the movers would arrive with our belongings. AAAHHHH!!!! Good thing I cried on the plane, because I would have cried all afternoon if I hadn't already let it go. Ryan came home from his orientation, helped me unpack the suitcases and put things out of the way to make room for delivery. We walked to the food court for dinner, having a little base tour along the way. By 6:30 PM it was beyond time for bed. We fell like dominos, collapsing into bed.
Twelve hours (!) later, still bleary, but much more rested, we were up, eating breakfast, and ready to get our stuff. Ryan still had orientation, so that left the boys to help me though the day. They were such troopers, rising to the challenge. They served many functions throughout the day: checking off items from the paperwork as they arrived, telling the movers where to put things (amusing to me, as the boys often don't put things away. Turns out they do know where things go, just don't take the time to put them there), and unpacking boxes. Friends and neighbors showed up, helped out, and left us with donations of food and treats. :-) The people I have met here are generous and kind. They treat us like family, and I feel so welcome here, it's like coming home.
Moving Day
The days since then have blurred together. We slept a lot for the first two nights, unpacked our bedrooms, and I am slowing settling things into the rest of the house. It is now HOME. We have walked around the base a lot: collecting groceries, buying household necessities, eating at the food court, exploring what is nearby. We have made friends, and I met up with three friends from prior duty stations who are now here. Two teenage girls have stopped by the house, to "welcome us to the neighborhood" but mostly to get an eyeful of the two teenage boys that just moved in. The presence and awareness of teenage girls has brought out an absurdly entertaining side to Silas and Jud: lots of hair primping, standing up taller, and even giggling. Yes, the boys have been giggling. It's hilarious. Do not tell them I wrote this!! Seriously. Don't tell them.
At the time of publishing this, my kitchen is 100% organized. The family room is 90% complete. The dining room is 50% done. The bedrooms are maybe 40-50% organized. It just takes time, and also being home, but we have been busy with our new friends, and with checking all the boxes for living on base. Today I am going to register us for our health insurance and health care at the base hospital, check in at the post office and sign documents there, make Elvis's vet appointment to be registered on base, and go out in town with my neighbor to buy produce. Oh, and I need to get a Japan cell phone at some point. It's busy, and we love it here. Love it. Give me about a month or two, and we will be ready for visitors. :-)
The biggest news of the weekend is that Ryan has officially reported to the ship. The turnover has begun. We will not see him for a few weeks, as the ship is underway, but he carries us with him, and we keep him close in our hearts. Far apart, but together still.
Drop off at the bus to meet Ryan's ship.
A particular nod of deep gratitude goes to our sponsor (who I now call my dear friend) who paved a path for us to make this a very soft landing. She had the van with a driver waiting for us because dogs aren't allowed on the base shuttle service. She helped us choose a house from afar. She signed all of our housing paperwork and arrange for loaner furniture so we had somewhere to sleep our first night here. She provided us with limitless information on various things we would need to make this transition. She's in the States now, visiting family for a few weeks, so I will have to keep on waiting to give her a hug and thank her to her face for all the things she did for us.
