On our way

Leaving FL:

As we take off from Orlando feelings are too mixed to deal with right now. Excited by the prospect of a new adventure in Scotland with Andrew but gutted about leaving my kitten behind. I know it’s ridiculous but the world as a whole will somehow need to deal with the kitty shaped emotional baggage I come with. She is my little girl and if I didn’t think the flight would either kill her or turn her into the meowing equivalent of Woody Allen she would never leave my side.

On the plus side Audry (beagle) will be with us, we will be reunited in the Edinburgh airport in T-minus 13 hours. It’s her first flight and of course I had to make it a doosey. I have done nothing but click the “refresh” icon on my “cargo tracking” app since we dropped her off this morning. I should probably explain, there are a remarkable number of airlines that either A: don’t provide a climate controlled/pressurized cargo space for pets or B: Won’t fly pets internationally. You’d think if facebook could find out I once googled “doggy raincoat” in 2010 and spam AD me for the rest of my life the airlines could figure out an easier/safer way to fly with your pet. Audry or should I say United Airlines Cargo #2866381 is flying as part of the (not so cheap) United Airways PetSafe program (seriously, she’s an 8yr old 30lb beagle and cost the equivalent of a 2nd mortgage to enroll) and will be traveling from Orlando to Chicago, where during her layover she gets a “comfort stop” meaning a walk, food & water (+$50) then will begin winging her way to Scotland to become McBeagle and probably begin enacting her emotional revenge on Andrew & I for the next 6 months.

Andrew and I ourselves are on the emotional rollercoaster that is relocating to a foreign country we have never been to before, with no home waiting and the distinct possibility we aren’t going to be able to understand anyone… this is only compounded by sleep deprivation, a long-ass flight and well, a stress level that has been elevated to “critical” by the lovely (and time conscious) folks at the British Consulate who took their sweet time processing our visas. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate their benevolence in granting us entry but if your going to charge $500 per person you’d think you could work through a tea break or two to help a chick out? Eh – anyway, 1 cancelled flight and the unmatched tolerance of a Scottish B&B willing to reschedule 3 times, we are as I said, “on our way”.

We will see how this goes. I’m optimistic but am not going to lie, if you said I could curl up with Andrew, Audry & my kitten right now on my old Florida couch…

It would be a very tempting option. Ask me again in 13hrs.

-L