So I took off at 4:30am Friday morning, hopped in a cab to the main train station (the smaller stations don't start running until 5:30) and then took the train to the airport. My flight to London was a short hour long flight. And then I had a 7-hr layover. One might think that would be a major bummer...you are tired and just want to get there...but oh no...this 7 hour layover meant I could get a bit of sightseeing done in a city I've never been to. So in the two and a half 
hours I had (between train time to and from the airport and making sure I had enough time to get back through security) I managed to see: the London Eye, Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace (and they happened to be doing the changing of the colors while I was walking by there), Tower of London and the Tower bridge. The quick trip on no sleep just really reinforced the fact that I most definitely am a rock star. You should be impressed.Then I climbed aboard the longest flight of my life. Oh my gosh. Despite being exhausted, I wasn't able to sleep at all on the plane...and had the shortest attention span ever...I couldn't bring myself to sit through any of the movies they offered- and they had good movies...I was just totally restless...for ten hours. Ugh. Plus, there was a period of time while we were flying over Iceland with 200mph winds that created quite a bit of turbulence...not fun.
But I arrived safely and was greeted (after the endless line through customs) by my mom and sister...very exciting. We chatted and then Jess had to get back to work and Mom and I grabbed some dinner. After which, I jumped in the car and headed up to Seattle to surprise the bride at her bachelorette party (did I mention that I never told her I booked the ticket-so she had no idea). Funny how normal it all felt- jumping in the car and heading up to Seattle...being totally annoyed as I searched for parking spots near Belltown- after 6 months of being gone. Nothing changed (except apparently south center...which I didn't go to, but heard is amazing now).
After a bit of running around- my insiders at the bachelorette party weren't quite sure what the plan was- I decided to sit at the little french cafe downtown, that I never really appreciated until now- and have my usual Paris Cafe au Lait...and was surprised/overjoyed when I got the bill and the price was about half of what I pay in Paris...in euros- so less than half. It is going to be wonderful to go home and everything will seem so cheap. Anyway...I finally managed to catch up with them...I had been awake for about 29 hours at that point...the girls brought her out with her eyes closed and she turned around and "surprise"...oh my gosh....she was just priceless. Scream, crying, hugging...it was great. Sadly, I could only stay for a few minutes.
I woke up early on Saturday (6 hours of sleep) and met my sisters, dad, nieces and nephew for breakfast at my favorite Auburn spot- Sunbreak Cafe. It was great...they have the best banana bread ever. And it was soooo nice to see the kids...and have them still know who I am. I was a little worried they wouldn't care less about their long-lost aunt Eryn...but they hugged me and wanted to sit by me at breakfast. Pheeew. Then Dad, Danielle, the girls and I headed to Ellensburg to see my youngest sister play in a college soccer game...because my littlest sister is in college now..what?!?! She showed us her dorm room and made fun of her roommates. My aunt Noelle and cousins Tanner and Hunter came out to catch the end of the game and had lunch with us. A big blending of my family...so great. Then us western Washington-ers headed back west. I went back home and fell asleep pretty quickly- so tired.
The next morning was the big wedding day. I met my pal Amy in the eff dub to carpool down to Olympia together. Jen was there snapping everyone's photos and Katy was wandering around making sure all was okay..and wedding pics were being taken...it was all very surreal. Jessica looked absolutely gorgeous...her mom came over and hugged me and I just about lost it right there...but, I kept the tears in. The ceremony/reception overlooked the Puget Sound...the weather was amazing- could not have asked for a prettier day.
After the wedding I went back home for dinner- where my mom made my favorite dinner...what I used to choose for my birthday (before we just started going out to eat for birthdays)...and then went to bed- still not fully sleep recovered.
Monday morning Mom and I loaded up just about EVERYTHING in my bedroom- all the boxes that my mom spent hours and hours and hours packing up- and took them to my storage spot. So I no longer have a bedroom at home. Very sad. I dropped her off at a meeting and jetted back up to Seattle for a quick hello to my old Starbucks store, while having a pumpkin spice latte...oh my gosh, how excited was I for some pumpkin spice?!?! you have no idea....and had possibly the shortest conversation with Ian McFeron in history, caught up with Jessica and Luke for a quick goodbye and then off to the airport.
Mom dropped me off and my dad met me there to say bye. And then, as I was walking to security...out jumps Jessica and Luke with a big "surprise"...I nearly cried (except that I don't)...they got me a pass into the First Class lounge so I could enjoy snacks and drinks while I waited to board...so nice, so thoughtful...and so wonderful to be surprised. So, while I wanted to sit and chat with them- I had a pass for free food and drinks, so I had to book it. hehe.
Now I am back in Paris. Still exhausted. Mimi and Papa are still here and the three of us spent the day with the kids (Matt and Rob went to Rome for a few days)...and they just took them to the park and told me they didn't need me...so I am thinking about taking a nap...although I should try to get back on my normal sleep schedule.
I loved being home. I really do think Seattle is just the greatest place...besides being beautiful and having pumpkin spice lattes...it has most of my favorite people there (with a few exceptions, of course- although you people that are favorites of mine and aren't in Seattle...you really should be) and my favorite people are the best. I can't wait to go home.
