The British are coming with perfect timing! It turns out that our British counterparts from the Langdon Community are scheduled to arrive at Logan Airport a few hours before our departure to the UK. We are all planning to be there to greet Alison and Selena to welcome them for their month in Boston before we hop on our own plane. However, I like the way Dafna said it in her email, Best laid plans- we’ll see. Snow storm predicted.
Aside from all that, as I write this I believe we’ll be arriving in Manchester in about 48 hours. We received some exciting news about our arrangements while we are there- and I have to share this one detail that my brother-in-law practically flew out of his seat at dinner last night when I mentioned it. On March 12th, we are attending the Manchester United vs. Liverpool match- so if you have the Soccer Channel- Matt and I will be there!
It was a wild week finishing things up at the office to leave my caseload behind for a month. At 5pm Friday, I was looking over the longest things-to-do list I ever had and checked off every item. As I drove home, I was struck with another part of this whole experience that I could have never anticipated. I have received the most amazing show of genuine enthusiastic support from my friends and family through all of this anticipation. I am eternally grateful for this rare feeling of honor and camaraderie. Thank you everyone for your backing and your blessings. For now, I’m going to say “Cheerio!”
Posts
I trust you all arrived safely in Manchester and are happily adjusting to your "home away from home".
ReplyDeleteI picked up Alison and Selena at Logan about 6pm Sunday(thanks so much for the tip-off as to accurate arrival time!) and whisked them off to Murdock St. in Brighton where they were pleasantly greeted by the men at the residence. They then got to experience the anticipation surrounding the arrival of their 1st nor'eather snowstorm. Much of the area did have quite a bit of the white stuff to dig out of on Monday. Although a few plans shifted a bit,we mostly stayed on track and got them around to the Dedham Office with Allison R., the Brookline residence with me, the Brighton Apartment Building with Allison again and Amanda D.with a couple of Springboarders and then back again to Murdock.
Life has continued to be a whirl-wind of activity from that point forward. Our British guests have embraced our crazy weather with gusto and consider it just part of the adventure, (and an oppotunity to buy new boots). Tuesday was spent travel training on the T with Allison and Kate F., meeting for lunch and a tour at ECT Gift Shop and Catering in Hyde park, a visit with TRASE afterschool program and then onto TILL's Hamilton st and Dana Ave. residences before dashing back to Brighton. John S, and I had an early start with them at Murdock this morning and brought them to a staff cluster meeting at one of our Acton residences where they got to see the suburban side of community living. Then it was on to Chelsea for a visit to the Day Hab program and Fitness center as well as an excellant lunch at the new TILL ECT(Essence of Thyme)Cafe. The remainder of the day we took them on a lively driving tour of Boston and Cambridge, arriving back at Murdock in time for them to join the men as they head off to their bowling league in Somerville. Just as they were beginning to adjust to the time change, I reminded them that this weekend is daylight savings "Spring Ahead" - however, with the spunky attitudes they have displayed, I'm sure they will take it in stride.
They tried to get on the blog yesterday and encountered some problem, we'll try to work that through tomorrow.
It's been a delight to spend the past few days with them and compare our similarities and differences. Everywhere we've visited, people's responses have been great and everyone wants them to come back and visit again. I'm sure you are experiencing a wonderful welcoming, too!
farewell for now,
paula