As May is drawing to an end, I realise what a rich and crazy month it's been. I got a J1 visa, gave notice on my job of four years, moved out of my flat, sold or gave away many possessions, had some really meaningful goodbye interactions with my old neighbours who helped me tremendously during the move. I must, MUST, M U S T send them a postcard to touch base!!!
On May 17, I left. My mom - who has never cried before at a departure - had tears streaming down her cheeks as she dropped me off at the station and that image had me tearful for most of the tube journey and flight.
I looked around LAX - no Tom in the arrival hall. He said he may get lost, so I was all psyched up to sit around for a bit when he came bounding over in flip-flops and a Hawaiian shirt. OK!! I finally knew that I wasn't in England!!! It took the best part of 5 hours to crawl through LA traffic and then drive the 200 miles or so north. By now it was around 4am UK time and I was waaaay out of it and my eyelids opened from time to time to take in the beautiful scenery and then drooped shut. We arrived at Tom's place after dark, so i felt truly disoriented.
The next nine days were sheer bless. Pure, undiluted happiness. Wonderful and so natural to be together again - it felt like we had weeks together. Tom was joking about kidnapping me, so I didn't have to leave for the East Coast - I was at times offering myself up as a willing captive! Even on the way to San Francisco (to get my flight East) I still had no sense of true belief I was really leaving. As we drove into the airport, Tom asked me what terminal we needed to drive to. I got out my itinerary and added a loud "oh shit!" as I'd asked him to drive me to the wrong airport. I'm sure something subconscious was going on there!!!
The airline (Jet Blue) were fab and let me take a flight from their airport at no extra charge, however it meant rushing like a crazy woman as we entered the airport at 10.05 and the only flight going East that night was at 10.30pm. It was like something out of a movie - Tom grabbed my hand and off we ran - he (the athlete) pulling me (the not so athletic!) off to security. It was probably the quickest romantic goodbye in history!
I'd love to write about the gorgeousness of where Tom lives and some of the stuff we did there! That will be the next blog entry!!! Then of course, I can bring you up to speed with life in the woods out East.
Am missing Tom big time and my mind is definitely still in Central California. I feel as if I should be going back in a few days time and the reality that I'm here for 3 months hasn't yet hit. i wonder whether I'll "land" here soon, or whether my yearning and wistfulness will guide me back West before my contract is over!!!
Am curious about how life will unravel!
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