1st November 2019
My son Damian had always remarked that his brother Ryan wore more wheel bearings out than tyres. I can now testify to that.
He had the job of driving me to the airport in the Shogun, so I could experience at first hand the “G” forces he put on motor vehicles. I was convinced he was a pupil of the Super Mario School of motoring.
I had allowed for a gentle drive to Heathrow so that he could get used to the truck, as he was not used to driving an automatic, but he took off like a scolded cat and didn’t slow down. We got there so early the check-in staff were still getting dressed.
The flight was good, and although it was quite full I did have an empty seat next to me.
When I got to immigration, there was a heart thumping moment when the officer led me to a side room to check my visa. Was I going to fail at the final hurdle?.
For the next ten minutes, which felt like hours, I wondered if I was going to have an interrogation, and then sent back. I tried to remain cool, as I suspected I was being monitored on cctv, and any suspicious body language would give me away. I was overthinking it more than I needed too.
Eventually the officer returned, and handed me back my passport, I was in.
There was the usual flight delay to Grand Rapids even though the gate was in a new part of the terminal, it felt like I was walking half the way on foot.
When I finally got off the plane, and walked towards the arrival lounge, Kelli was waiting, there were no tears, but her smile made the last three months worth the wait.
I was back, now just the jet lag to get rid of.
Another Lifetime to go 