home at last

on the curb at lax. apparently she had people following her around, asking is she

was ok lugging those big suitcases around. she does look like shes about

14, so i can understand their shock when told she was traveling alone.

what kind of mother would let her adolescent child travel abroad all by herself?

the welcome committee (who are home from school due to a teachers strike-long story...they went to seminary, then to mcdonalds for breakfast, then plunked themselves down in front of a tv for a day full of video gaming...such productive children i have), complete with left over pizza and carefully engineered banner secured with lots of blue tape and a stapler...

the laundry...and the horror of her telling me she only did laundry twice 

(apparently the washers "ruined" the clothes),

and NEVER washed her sheets...

she just giggled when i asked what color they were.

i never got an answer. 

maybe that was good.

the london treats, carefully packed in a carryon that weighed 2 tons.

no joke.

she thinks she is permanently lop-sided from carrying a shoulder bag for 4 months

how this little girl managed all of this cumbersome luggage, i will never know.

and all the loot. 

remember laura ashley in the eighties?  

cath kitson is the new laura ashley. 

very popular in london with those who are "in". 

so all you people out there who have april birthdays?

well...i just ruined the surprise.

or maybe you would like the boxer shorts with the tube map printed on them, 

or the big ben keychain.

i will let you choose.

and my favorite souvenir.

the hefty british mug that contributed to the enormous amount of weight in the carryon.

i collect mugs from everywhere i go, and now my children are bringing them back to me.

i have mugs from all over.

i like this one...it represents the trip i missed.

even cried about it yesterday.

what a boob i am.

just glad to have her home.