Shipping Abigail to Spain

We sent Abigail to Madrid Spain via Philadelphia International Airport, officially making us empty nesters. She was headed to Madrid to teach in an English speaking school for 90 days, the most time you can volunteer without a visa. I must say that's a bit of an odd feeling for us. For about 23 years, since Abigail was born, we have had a kid regularly in the home, because Abigail returned right when Chelsea left.

The packing process for Abigail was amazing, and something I could not contribute a lot to, except for carrying two large bags downstairs and loading them in the car. However, Meme, Lynne, Olivia Patton, and maybe others all contributed to figuring out what Abigail would wear for the next three months. Eventually, she was packed and ready to go.

We drove to Philly, without incident and I dropped them off at departures, and then went to park. That was easier said than done. I was terrified. I kept driving and turning and I felt like I was making circles. I was doggedly determined to find all the parking this way signs, which I nearly missed, but never completely failed. Eventually, I found a spot in the garage and ran inside, past a long security line, and found them, having already dropped her heavy bags. We hung out a little bit until it was time to go through security, and then we parted ways, the quivering quivers and the arrow flying toward her target. As soon as we got home, I was preparing to leave the next day on a sales trip, so Lynne was left alone in the house Monday night, and it was very quiet.

I guess the lesson is the name of this blog. Trading time for memories. We have stored up SOOO many great memories with the kids in the years before. I wish I had the time and vision to capture them all in prose. Nonetheless, they remain in our corporate consciousnesses. As much as we will miss the regular time with our kids, which every parent undervalues, we will wisely invest deeply in the fewer times that we will be together, trading time for memories. And Lynne and I will create some memories of our own to treasure.

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