My part in the travel plans has been simple: Stand back and stay out of Kathy's way! And it's just as well because, left up to me, we'd not be traveling by plane. I'd be down in the basement working feverishly on a teleporting system like they used in Star Trek (for the record, I hate that show). The picture here of me sitting zombie-like on a suitcase was taken three years ago outside a Tokyo airport after we had missed our connecting flight to Manila. I still shudder when thinking about that flight, and I can't begin to understand why I so eagerly want to do this again. OK, yes I can. We're bringing home our daughter. To paraphrase Pete Rose, I'd wear a gas suit through hell in order to bring her home.
Fortunately, I've been blessed with a wife who is incredibly organized and knowledgeable of international circumstances and immigration matters. The way she approached the task with so much energy and zeal was a sight to behold. Every man should be so blessed.
Now, don't get me wrong. I wasn't an entirely passive spectator to all the planning. Kathy included me in every step along the way and asked for my input. I gave my opinions, asked questions, offered advice -- most of it probably bad advice, but I was trying to help. But after a while, so many potential itineraries were thrown my direction that I didn't know what the heck was going on! "So ... United will take us to Manila via Nashville, Butte, Gnome and Bikini Atoll, right? And we have to spend the night standing up in a broom closet in Pasadena on the way home? No? Oh, well ... Do whatever you think is best, darling."
And my trust in Kathy, as always, paid off. She wound up booking us on the coolest possible path to the Philippines. I mean, what can be better than the traditional American route to Manila through Honolulu and Guam? I just wish we could do it on a WWII-vintage subchaser or destroyer instead of jumbo jetliners. Kathy seems to think this makes me a geek ... but she loves her geek anyway.
There's a lot of work to be done between now and our departure on June 20. With God's help, we'll get most if not all of it done. In the meantime, it's time to gear up for the ride, gird myself, and hope my back doesn't go out somewhere over the Pacific.
But even if it does give out, it will be worth the pain. Leah May, sweetheart, we're coming to get you!
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