home again, home again, jiggity jog . . .

5:15 a.m. the alarm jangled it's obnoxious song. Ugh. Not only is the cruise over, but the long trek home is smacking us in the face adding insult to injury. I know, I know, shut up and stop complaining. After a quick breakfast, we headed to the Nautica Lounge for our last debarkation instructions. 6:30 and we're on a bus to the airport in Rome. Unlike the snafu getting to Athens, the flights, though incredibly long and arduous were without incident. Well, without negative incidents but I did manage to see my first icebergs. Tons of them floating around . . . some small, some large and bluish. Pardon the shots but they really aren't that bad considering they were taken out a window, 40,000 feet in the air going over 600 miles per hour.



Going through customs in Washington D.C. was tricky. Long, long winding lines. And no Mickey, Pluto, or Space Mountain as a prize but the 9TS did score a brand new signed copy of a World War 2 biography by its author. Don't ask. Suffice it to say, the 9TS meets the oddest people shuffling along in lines. He's a magnet and she was a lovely elderly soul with a passion for history. We also met two unhappy cats and one blissful pooch waiting their turns. I'm betting the cats hissed and clawed their way past security faster than the mellow mutt. Finally we were clear. They were letting us back in the country. We won't mention the 9TS's final recovery of his hat or my lost suitcase that mysteriously reappeared. Several hours later, we left Orlando International in a rent-a-can and were pulling into our driveway . . . 24 hours after waking in Rome.

Did we get a warm welcome from the herd? Heck no. Bear appeared, took one look and hid. Ninja came out with some coaxing and Snoop held firm up under the box springs in Katie's room. I think they missed Joanie and Katie who kept watch over them. But at 2:30, I woke to find all three snuggled on my bed . . . happy to be cuddled, stroked and loved. There's no place like home . . . huge piles of laundry and a lawn begging to be mowed. Thank you Auntie Em.