Letters Between Friends: HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE!

Dear Lindsay,

Merry Christmas Eve!  I get to see you tonight, and SPOILER I’m bringing you a present.  It’s kind of a present to both of us…so don’t feel obligated to get me anything.  Now I just need to find some Christmas wrapping paper….

But back to your post last week.  I LOVED your answers to my weird questions.  I literally laughed out loud when you said you would throw cold spaghetti at Ruthie.  You played it off as playful and sweet, but I can’t help admiring the Mommy Instinct to throw things at your child.  I’m not a mom, but I imagine that sometimes you desperately want to express your frustration at a tiny person who constantly needs your help but then complains anyway….and throwing cold spaghetti at them is a not-harmful way to get out some aggression.

As for me, now that I’ve got my passport and visa and flight planned….I’m trying to figure out what to do during my eight hour layover in Heathrow.  If it were during the day, I’d try to venture into London and do a little exploring.  But it’s from 11:00 pm – 7:00 am, and I assume everything in the city would either be closed or feel dangerous (to a young single female).  So I’ll probably stay in the airport.  I’ve been researching airport sleeping options for the last couple hours, and nothing seems good!  Lounges close at 11 pm, the in-airport hotels are expensive for just a couple hours of sleep, and all the restaurants shut down overnight.

I’m resigning myself to a night in a hard chair with armrests, which is just about the worst way to spend the night before moving to Athens.  I imagine myself arriving in my new home country with a massive frown, growling at people to get out of my way until I can sprawl on my bed and recover.  I will be a joy to all around me!  Blergh.

I don’t want to plan anything else to do with sleeping in airports.  I would much rather plan our potential cross-country European road (train) trip!  I REALLY HOPE THAT HAPPENS.  You’re one of my favorite people to travel with.

Again, Merry Christmas Eve!  I hope your holiday is exciting and fun, and that Ruthie and Tessa don’t steal the show.  Make sure you get some presents too (even if you’re buying them for yourself)!

Love,
Tricia