Going Across the Pond

Today I am flying to England to see my wonderful Grandad, Victor.  He is 88 years old and just the sweetest man you ever met.  He's quick as a whip, enjoys the BBC, British game shows, and spying on his next door neighbors.   He is kind, generous and at times, hilariously ornery.  When I was a little girl and found out he had been in WWII, I asked him "Grandad, why didn't you die in the war?"  To which he answered with a smile matter-of-factly, "Because I didn't want to".  Funny guy, that Victor.

He was in the British Royal Navy and travelled the world on his ship.  He loved to arrive in a new port and he vividly remembers going ashore in places like Bombay and Siam and all the stimuli those exotic ports offered up.  After the war, he continued to work on ships - ultimately landing on a luxury ocean liner where he was a bell hop.  Years later, my mom would take him and my Grandma aboard the QE II to turn the tables for him.

He worked hard his whole life - eventually settling for life on land - but never lost his love of far off places, something I suppose he passed on to my mother, and then on to me.  Pretty neat.

Anyway, I am leaving today.  Our apartment - though pretty packed up - is full of our loved and lived in furniture...for now.  Our friends and family who have staked claims on our belongings are picking up their loot on Saturday.

Which means when I come home on Sunday our apartment will be more or less... empty.

The fact that last night was the last night I'll sleep in my bed and this is the last post I'll type from my couch is pretty weird.  But as Scott says, it's all part of starting a new adventure...

Peace out!

Brittany & Scott

Post Script:  My lovely grandfather passed away not 3 months later.  This last visit was such a gift and I now have the BEST memories of him.  RIP Grandpa, I love you.