I couldn’t have been more happy to see Gelu’s smiling face there to pick me up! He got a new car, a little mini red Romanian Dacia van to haul the kids around with. George looks so snazzy in it. We even have AC in the car! It was high 60’s when I landed and we were even hot in the car. More photos later. On a related note, little Gaesti actually has a new Dacia dealership. Who knew so many Romanian’s here needed new cars in this village?
I do have to laugh though. The pic I’m posting here, was my first shot out of the window of Gelu’s car. It was supposed to be a photo of a gypsy cart and horse. Figures huh? I’m not giving any guarantees about my photography here but hopefully there won’t be anyone who isn’t left without a smile tonight.
I was on the “screamer” flight (this is typically what we call any flight that has a number of international adoptive families on it) from Houston to Frankfurt, never ever let them put you behind bulkhead seats ever. This wasn’t an adoptive family, I’m hopeful our families handle this situation much better. There was a scared baby being forced into sleeping in a position in the unfamiliar bassinet that she didn’t want, and every time she called out for DaDa mom and grandparents thought it was so cute! They egged her on for more and we were almost dying without sleep! She was precious at 7 pm. It was cute at 9 pm. By 4 am I was questioning my own sanity, my seatmates and I were worn a little thin with the wails and screams. We got a little punchy and we kept just looking at each other in amazement that we were all still awake and laughing at it in the end.
In fact, I don’t know if everyone remembers the Loud Family skit on Saturday Night Live, well I met them on this plane. They had to be the loudest people I’ve ever met, starting with the shrieks of the baby and moving through the generations encouraging it at 4 am. I didn’t get any sleep at all. This has never happened to me. Not even with a Tylenol PM on board. In fact I’ve added a link so this won’t ever happen to you! Check out Seat Guru.
No guarantees that you won’t be sitting next to a Narobi Nun on her maiden flight breaking a cold stinky nauseous sweat, refusing to sit on the isle for quick access or go to the restroom, and has the barf bag very near numerous times during crisis turbulence. That’s another story.
The second pic I’m posting I titled “The Hour of My Death” in the event that I didn’t make it out alive, the near death moment was captured by my point and shoot. Yes it is raining. Yes we are inside the car and that is an oncoming truck ahead of us. Yes we are passing the very long bus on the right, why you ask? Well why not. We need to be first. We must be first. We always must pass everyone!! YES we made it out alive. Thank God for Gelu and Welcome to Romania. I always say if I’ve come home alive, I had a great driver.
The strays are barking nonstop outside, woofer’s in car backs, I hear trucks gunning their motors it is about 1130 pm and someone just yelled at me because they could see me at Gelu’s desk inside the orphanage. Crazy American. It is time to get some rest. Big day tomorrow. I have more about the kids but they need their own post. Noapte Buna.