home again

[threeplusfire]

We made it home around 11pm last night. The flights were not as turbulent, but we were delayed about an hour in Memphis, first at the gate and then sitting on the runway in the rain. Non of that was really as bad as the flights we took to South Carolina. The first plane had the tiniest seats I have ever seen. They couldn't have been more than 14 inches wide. Instead of the normal armrest bars, then had solid metal dividers. I couldn't actually sit in the aisle seat - my hips were too big. I managed in the window seat since there was not a metal wall against the window. We mistakenly thought an exit row would be good, since Mike would have more leg room. But the seat bottoms were quite narrow as well. It felt like were were perched on railings instead of actually sitting on something. I haven't hated my body shape and size quite so much ever. The second flight was marginally more comfortable in terms of seats, but the turbulence was terrible. Not only was the plane bouncing up and down, we could feel ourselves rolling and rocking from side to side. Ugh.

There was a lot of family. At his parents' place we saw their workshop where his father makes things on a lathe. He has several bowls and various other things. At thanksgiving he brought up two lovely wooden cookie cutters out of black walnut. At Christmas he gave everyone pens he made - Mike and I snagged a pair that I think are mahogany and look almost alike. We stayed with Mike's paternal grandparents, who have a house way out in the woods. It reminds me a lot of my grandmother's house in Amarillo. There was a large family Christmas gathering on Sunday, with lots of food and gifts. On Monday we visited with his mother's side of the family. Everyone seems to live exactly forty five minutes away from everyone else, so there was a lot of driving back and forth. We saw everyone's homes and pets - the cats were naturally drawn to Mike's lap. Before we left, we visited the chunk of land his parents are buying. They have decided to stay in South Carolina. Now they just need to sell their home in Atlanta. (It has been for sale more than eighteen months now.) So if you need a nice family home in Atlanta...

Now we are home, which is so relaxing. We can be lazy and sleep super late, pet our kitties that brienze so generously fed and checked on for us. Tonight we are going to her house for a Christmas Eve dinner of deliciousness, then home to drink wine and enjoy our first Christmas in our own home.