Michael, Jennifer and I all went separately to the Philly airport. Jennifer was driven by reader and helper Sue Fernandez of Blue Bell, who also has driven Jennifer to many hand therapy appointments. Michael wanted to get there plenty early in case security took a long time going through all of his camera equipment. It's a good thing we got there at 4:30 p.m. for a 7 p.m. flight.
A brief mix-up with Jennifer's visa took some time to clear up. Also, Jennifer's carry-on wasn't packed to meet security standards. We moved a lot of her eye drops, hand creams, lip glosses, etc. to check-in bags, my little plastic bags full of my liquids, or an extra Baggie that Michael had brought. We also had to smash her purse and laptop and acceptable items into her carry-on tote bag, since London only allows one carry-on per person, including a purse. I ended up buying Jennifer as large a rolling carry-on suitcase as allowable at a store in the airport. Everything fit -- with me practically sitting on it to get the zipper closed.
So now we are in London. Michael and Jennifer are napping while I am here in the airport Hilton's business center blogging. As usual, it's hard to tell how Jennifer is feeling about going home or even missing the United States. She seemed already to miss Davida Berger, her last host in Philadelphia.
Jennifer is in a very good mood, though she said she didn't feel any excitement. She enjoyed listening to the plane's radio channels and watching movies. She ate a lot of meats at the Hilton for breakfast, which also is unusual for her. Jennifer lost weight in the United States. Partly, I think she never fully embraced American food. The next part is my own theory: I think Jennifer wanted to be thin so she would fit in with her teen friends in Maryland and Philadelphia.
Me? I'm excited. I'm really looking forward to meeting Jennifer's family, especially her mother. I am curious about Jennifer's life before the attack. Plus, I have set myself a mini-goal of teaching her mother, Regina, how to sign her name. When she gave guardianship to Abitimo, me and my husband Tim, her thumb print substituted for a signature.
I also am looking forward to talking with other kids in the north -- those who returned from abduction as well as those who suffered without being kidnapped -- to see the challenges they are facing. The peace talks being held in neighboring south Sudan are back on, and everyone is hoping that this time, after 21 years, peace will finally and fully come to northern Uganda.
