I never got around to blogging about my final day in Europe, did I? I grabbed another banana nutella crepe from our sweet friend and his crepe stand and walked around for a bit in the cold rain with Sara and Olivia before heading to the airport. I sat by a couple from Australia on the plane, and they were so nice. I was so grateful to not be stuck by another drunk Asian man.
I texted Paloma to let her know when I landed in Madrid and hopped on the Metro as quickly as I could. She was waiting in her house for me with a huge hug and tons of questions about Paris. Of course, she fed me immediately (it was the summer salad, by the way!) and asked what time my next flight was. Here's the problem. This is Sunday, about 9pm. My flight didn't leave until Monday, 11am. I was just going to chill in the airport because a) I didn't want to pay for a hotel or for another night at Paloma's, b) she already had a new student in mine and Sara's room, and c) I did NOT want to impose on her like that. Paloma would hear none of my excuses, naturally. That sweet woman insisted I sleep on the couch in her sitting room. I told her I couldn't ask that of her and she looked me in the eye and said, "Well, you didn't ask, did you? I said. That's it." She grinned and I wanted to cry. How this woman could have such a huge heart for someone she'd only known for a month I still don't understand. But, I would have done the same for her. I may not get to pay Paloma back for her incredible kindness, but it will stick with me until I can do something equivalent for someone else. I thank God everyday that Sara and I were blessed with such a wonderful housing situation in Madrid.
Here's me, Paloma, and Sara.
Here we are with Maria, Paloma, and Gonzalo sporting the Auburn shirts Sara brought for them!
After sitting in the kitchen for a couple of hours and talking about everything I saw in Paris and EURO2012 and stories from Paloma's life and goodness knows what else, the New Yorkers went to bed and Paloma got me a pillow for the sofa. She and I stayed up for another two hours just talking. I was so tired. It was so hard to focus. But I wouldn't have traded that for anything. She is such a strong woman, that Paloma. I can't remember what pieces of her life I've mentioned and which I learned that night, but it doesn't matter. Lots of things have happened in Paloma's life that should have broken her. One or two of those events alone should have floored her, and she has dealt with five or six huge road blocks. She's still chugging. She's still happy with her life. She knows she is strong, and she knows that's how she has made it so far. Paloma told me she prays every night and thanks God for the good things and doesn't even dwell on the bad. How often do I catch myself complaining about things to God? How often do I NOT catch myself?
She hugged me tight and kissed my cheeks before she went to bed. I had to leave around 6:30am, so she wasn't going to be awake. She told me at least four times to make sure I ate breakfast before leaving. I left her a note on the coffee table the next morning and headed home.
War Eagle moment: an older couple was sitting beside me in the terminal and I asked them to watch my bag at one point while I ran to the restroom. He asked where I was from and I told him I went to Auburn, and their faces just lit up! He and his daughter went to Auburn and he just gushed about the university. It was nice.
I had a window seat on the plane (yes!) but there were NOT individual screens for movies or whatever. I read most of the flight which suited me just fine, but the guy beside me was kind of mad. So was the obnoxious group from Georgia. I started talking to the guy beside me and kept up a conversation for about half an hour. He's from Spain, Pais Vasco in the north, and I couldn't tell you his name to save my life. Pais Vasco speaks Spanish, but the people also have their own unique language that is often reflected in their names. He was so nice. He was headed to Mobile after ATL (small world, no?) because he works on a boat or an oil rig there. I can't remember exactly what he said, but he's on the water for a month and a half, then he flies back to Spain for a month and a half, then back to Mobile, etc. He must be making bank if he flies that much. We laughed a lot talking to each other. I asked him tons of questions about Spain and Pais Vasco and what he liked or didn't like about America. He asked me about Auburn and driving everywhere and what the difference between the words "beach" and "witch" with a b was. To him, they sound the same! It was great fun, and honestly, I wasn't ready to quit speaking Spanish yet.
It was weird landing in the US and hearing English full time again. I didn't like it very much. I called my mom as soon as I could, texted Reed (because he was at work), and found a Chik-fil-a. Three things: fried chicken, french fries, and sweet tea. I had a five hour layover, so I read some more, walked a lot, and talked with Reed for a long time. The flight to Huntsville was about half an hour and I definitely fell asleep on the plane. I left Spain at 11am, arrived in ATL at 2:45pm (9:45pm in Spain) and got to Huntsville at 8:30pm (3:30am in Spain). Needless to say, jet lag had already kicked in. That didn't stop me from going to Krispy Kreme with my mom and sisters after they got me from the airport :]
Since then, I've thrown my sister a lingerie shower, loved on my sweet puppy, driven to Auburn, started my new job (more on that later), visited Reed in Mobile for the 4th (finally! it was almost 6 whole weeks!), and picked up a cold. It's officially wedding week AND week-before-summer-reunion-week at the ACSC, so I don't really have time for sickness right now. Isn't that always the case?
Piper's already sprawled out on my bed, fast asleep. I missed that little girl and her weird sleeping positions.
No comments:
Post a Comment