After a hectic last week in Accra trying to visit with friends and take care of last minute details before returning to the States for what will be close to 6 months to have our baby, I have finally made it home to Athens. Sadly in the plans to come home included a trip to Florida where my grandma Josie had just past away last Thursday. She suffered from Alzheimer's and finally the disease took its toll and she took her last breaths. I had hoped to make it down there in time to get to say goodbye but she passed away before I arrived but fortunately she was surrounded by her adoring family...my mom, aunt and uncle, my brother and his wife and their child (the first great grandchild), Gus. Bringing some comfort to me, after having to miss my grandfather's memorial service a few months back, was at least making it down to Florida for her service this Tuesday. But, it turned out this was not in the cards for me and the nasty weather took over any control I thought I had over the situation. Although I arrived perfectly on time to Atlanta from Accra, my flight to Florida was canceled after heavy snow and ice hit the Atlanta area the night before. Tons of passengers were stranded in the airport including me. Luckily, my parents, who were already in Florida, had thought ahead and advised me to make a reservation in an airport hotel just in case...and this proved to be a lifesaver. I made my way to the hotel where I sat for two days cooped up (actually two different hotels) waiting for the weather to improve along with the roads. It was very frustrating to be so close to being home but have no way to get there, but I surrendered to the situation, decided to enjoy buffet meal after buffet meal at the hotel, and kept busy reading, knitting, and watching T.V as the hours passed. Finally on Wednesday, the shuttle service that runs between Athens and Atlanta was back running and I arrived back home to an empty house, as now my parents were stuck in Florida still trying to get back home after also experiencing canceled flights. Not the homecoming I was anticipating but nonetheless, it was very nice to be back in the comforts of home.
Of course during this journey I have slowly become more familiar with the idea that this is not a short visit home that will just end with return to normalcy back in Ghana. But instead, it is a 6 month adventure that will include preparing for motherhood and giving birth and will end in a return to what is sure to be a completely different existence back in Ghana with all new challenges and things to learn. It's all very exciting and it will be great fun to share all of this with my parents. But sadly, Alan will be far far away in Ghana through most of the next 3 months. We'll keep him updated on the baby progress through email and skype though and I'm leaving him responsible for the finishing up the baby room prep...we'll see what it looks like when we return! I'm sure time will go quickly...perhaps even too quickly and before we know it, baby Wancier will be here and baby training will begin!
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