Sisterhood of the Traveling Girls

Sometime in the next 12 hours or so Kate should land in China. She called me last night from the airport in LA, saying that she and her pals were waiting and waiting and waiting. When I got up this morning there was a text from here, sent at about 2:30 a.m. P.T., saying that they were finally boarding the plane. She also promised to call when she arrived in China.

Tal did phone home last week one day. Sadly, I missed her. I was in Tempe doing some training for Edward Jones, and Daniel talked to her about 7 one morning. It wasn't a very long conversation, he tells me.

"Hello..." Daniel

"Hello (crackle, crackle, crackle)," Talia

"I can't hear you, Tal," Daniel

"Hello?"

"Hello?"

"Hello?"

"Hello?"

Long silence. Click. Sigh. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

There is a lovely update on the website for Tal's trip. They're working with kids, going to church, generally having a lovely time. Except for the kids who are sick. Sounds like the flu is going around this time. Sigh, again.

But, enough worries. Here's a new picture that I don't think I've posted yet....

We all know how Tal feels about kids. (grin)

Pictures of Kate as soon as possible. I promise.

b

Here She Is...

This is like Where's Waldo, only it's Where's Talia? This was taken over the weekend while they were finishing their training in Garden Valley. Doesn't she look happy?

b

Oops

OK - I was off a day. I had a phone call from Talia this morning about 11. She was just on her way to the airport. The final word was that the flight (not counting layovers) was expected to last 24 hours. Think of her. And then, of course, I don't know what day it will be when she gets there. Not tomorrow, but maybe Friday? That's my best guess.

I gave her the phone number here in MN so she can call first thing when she gets into Phnom Phen. That's the GE rule. They guarantee at least one phone call. Usually at 2 or 3 a.m. When the kids arrive safely in the country.

I'll let you all know what I hear.

b

Good-bye Girls

Well it's official. Talia is in Texas - not again, but still. But instead of going to class and doing her internship work, she's training to go back to Cambodia. They fly out on Tuesday and arrive in Phnom Pehn, I'm not sure when.

Kate flies out from Minneapolis to LAX next week. She'll spend a few days with her Auntie Mary - hurrah - and then they'll travel from LA to China. How exciting is that!!!

I'll keep you posted.
b

Hello Again

So...here we go again. Kate is getting ready to go to China. Talia is planning another Cambodia trip. And I'm planning on writing their story again. It's so much fun.

Right now, we're in the craziness of the end of the school year. Daniel's GED graduation was Thursday. Kate's high school graduation is 2 weeks from tomorrow. Then we'll have no more kids in school. Can you imagine that?

If you haven't been keeping in touch, and heaven knows I haven't been, you might not know that I've been living and working in St. Cloud while Phil holds down the fort in Dickinson. We've sold the house here and started looking at houses there. (I'm staying with Donna and Loren right now. Where would I be without them?) But our house closes on June 5 and then I guess we're done with Dickinson. It's hard to believe - 13 years and innumberable friends later.

So this brief introduction is just to let you all know that the girls are on the road again this summer and so we're back in business.

Pix from Africa

Thanks to Kate, I have a few pictures to share with you all. Enjoy :)

I'm sure you all remember Kate and her team started out teaching school to Zulu teenagers in the hills. Here are a few members of one of her classes.


When they were working in the squatter camps (Diepsloot?) they learned how to wash clothes without electricity or running water. Here Kate and one of her teammates are washing a blanket for one of the ladies they met.


And of course, who are we to resist a picture of a twin with a teeny twin? The baby's sister ran home and brought her to play with Kate, but the sister wasn't sure which twin it was. Nobody but the mom could tell them apart. Sound familiar?

Have a good day,
b

Better Never Late?

So a month after meeting the girls at the airport in Minneapolis, I'm finally sitting down to fill you all in on that day....

Phil and I drove to the cities on Friday, sadly the air conditioning stopped working, the sun shone enthusiastically in through the windows, and we just about melted. But other than that, we had a nice visit, and I was able to get a little knitting done in the car.

Their plane arrived Saturday morning, and we arrived at the airport about an hour early. I just hated to take the chance that we might miss them or that they might end up waiting for us. It was okay; Starbucks and a crossword puzzle took care of us nicely while they waited. As the minutes ticked down, I found it harder and harder to concentrate on the clues and ended up just getting myself covered in newsprint and not ever solving the silly thing.

But then they were there. Hurrah!!!

We hugged, we cheered, we all talked at once, and then we gathered their bags up from the luggage carousel and wandered over to the car. Donna was there too since Talia had decided she would go nanny for Donna for a few months while she decides what she wants to do next. And since we weren't going to take both girls home with us, we all went over to the Mall of America for lunch and a visit. Stories, laughing, talking, and good food filled a couple of lovely hours; and all too soon it was time to hit the road if we were all going to make it home before it got too late.

The girls hugged one last time. There were a few tears and another hug or two, and we separated the girls. It was hard. For them and for us.

Now, a month later, Talia's been home for her first visit. The girls stayed up late every night for a week catching up, and then we put Talia back on the bus to head back to Iowa. Life feels very different this year.

However, just so you all know that they really did make it home all in one piece, here they are:

Aren't they beautiful?

Later,

b