I have been home for two days and time continues to fly by. I feel like I just got off the plane. My body is still confused about what time it is, and although I have rested almost continuously since I got here, I am still a little tired.
When the plane landed in Atlanta, I immediately turned on my cell phone. I was so excited to have my phone back, and I instantly received four or five texts from people asking if I had made it home safely. I started replying and texting and going crazy until the flight attendant came on the intercom, told us that our phones would have to remain off until we passed through customs, and efficiently burst my bubble. I had waited three months; I guess another hour wouldn’t hurt. Security in Atlanta is extremely tight, and we had to go through several lines and checkpoints before they would let us out. I was so ready to drop off my bags. They were heavy and plentiful and I was tired of hauling them around. I was riding on one of those moving sidewalks inside the airport while struggling with my two suitcases and two heavy duffle bags. I was turned around backwards because of the awkward position in which I was pulling my luggage along, and one of the duffle bags fell off of the rolling suitcase that was carrying it. I then engaged in a mad scramble to reorganize my bags and get everything back into line before I reached the end of the belt. I felt like Indiana Jones with time slipping away from me as the threat of falling at the end of the belt grew stronger. With some pretty impressive moves, I managed to get everything back in line, and I’m sure the people behind me were relieved that I wouldn’t be tripping them as well. I finally went through my third or fourth security checkpoint and came down the escalator to see my family. It was about time. I was a little nervous that my daddy would be wearing his “Samford Dad” t-shirt, but there was no need for this. Something much worse was awaiting me at the bottom of the escalator. My daddy did not have on the SU shirt, but rather a white polo and also a limousine driver’s cap. He was holding a huge poster that said “Hannah” on it, and I just laughed and kept walking, hoping that people wouldn’t know that I was Hannah. Of course, Mom made me get some pictures, and as we went to baggage claim to collect my suitcases for the last time, he refused to take the cap off. Oh well…
After stopping in Birmingham for some delicious TexMex at Moe’s, we came home and made it back to Lexington around ten on Tuesday night. When the garage door came up, there was a big sign taped to the bottom that said, “Welcome Home.” I was home indeed, and it felt great.
Fowler and Daddy carried my bags upstairs, and I unloaded a little before going to bed at midnight. I had a big day ahead of me on Wednesday, and I was determined to get some rest. When I woke up on Wednesday, I heard Daddy talking downstairs and I was so excited to find out that I had woken up before they left for school. I was thrilled to have the whole day ahead of me for unpacking my suitcases and getting resettled into my own room. Fowler came in and asked me if I was just getting up. I didn’t know what he meant until he told me it was 4:00 and that I had slept for the entire day. I was going down for breakfast and they were coming in from school. I could not believe I had slept all day, but I felt rested, and got up to get ready for church.
It was great to be back at Clements with the excitement that I would get to be there for the next four months. I was so happy to see everyone again, and I am looking forward to spending the summer at CBC! I went to bed earlier last night and woke up at 6:00 AM (that’s more like it!) and spent the day unpacking and cleaning my room. My suitcases are empty now and everything is almost put away. It’s a great feeling knowing that I will not be living out of luggage at least for a long time.
Now ahead of me I have the tasks of developing pictures, burning DVD’s of the videos that I made, scrapbooking, updating journals, tying up loose ends for the semester at Samford and getting everything in line for the Fall, and seeing what I can do about finding a job for the summer. I am home for four months with virtually no plans and I don’t know what to do with myself!
