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Twenty-nine hours and twenty-three minutes... That was how long it took to get from Perth to London. I'd be lying if I said it went quickly...
I'd played the scenario over in my head approximately a million times... Especially the part where we all look at each other and decide it's time to go. I think that's on par with how much it sucks to actually say goodbye. Tears were inevitable, but we tried to make it as quick and painless as possible. The parents maintained a reasonably convincing brave façade (thanks for that). If they hadn't been so selfless, I'd probably still be whimpering into their arms.
I have a crazy amazing memory. This is, in most cases a great thing. But is also sometimes a pain in the ass. For example... As D and I walked under the stupid blue 'Departures' wall (gosh, I despise that wall), I turned around to capture a 'brain photo' of the parents. Unfortunately, it wasn't as pretty as I thought, and I simply could not have such a miserable image stored in my brain bank... So just as I promised myself I would not, after a few more steps around the corner, I ran back for another 'one last look'. It was much better, satisfied all requirements for a brain photo to be stored in my brain bank for a few years.
Conditions That Second Brain Photo Met That Were Not Present In The First:
1. Happy Tears. Happy tears are acceptable. They show you care enough to cry, but you have enough foresight to know that the tears are only temporary and at the end of the day, you are actually very happy and proud of your kid for moving to the other side of the world. Ugly tears are ugly. Nobody looks pretty when they 'ugly cry' with ugly tears... Hence the name 'ugly cry'. It's ugly. Don't do it. It ruins brain photos and depresses me.
2. Cuddles & Shoulder rubbing. Two of my most favourite things in the world. Do it. Do it always. People who don't like cuddles are lying. Shoulder rubbing on the other hand must be approached delicately in emotionally unstable situations... It's a risky move (potentially brain photo ruining) because it can go one of two ways...
(a.) Suppress the tears. This outcome is preferable. The action of shoulder rubbing (or tapping), quite literally sends a message to the tear glands to tell them to cut supplies and think of happy things. Like puppies.
(b.) Initiate 'Ugly Cry'. We all know how I feel about this. Never, under any circumstance ruin someone's brain photo of you by ugly crying. Just don't. It is mean and will break my heart every time I visit my brain bank and watch the slide show.
3. Blowing Air Kisses. This trumps sobbing into your hands any day. Air kisses are the bomb. And yes mum, I caught all eight you threw so vigorously in my direction.
My kick ass brain photo is for my viewing only... But if there was a song that perfectly illustrated that moment for me. It's this one.
I'd played the scenario over in my head approximately a million times... Especially the part where we all look at each other and decide it's time to go. I think that's on par with how much it sucks to actually say goodbye. Tears were inevitable, but we tried to make it as quick and painless as possible. The parents maintained a reasonably convincing brave façade (thanks for that). If they hadn't been so selfless, I'd probably still be whimpering into their arms.
I have a crazy amazing memory. This is, in most cases a great thing. But is also sometimes a pain in the ass. For example... As D and I walked under the stupid blue 'Departures' wall (gosh, I despise that wall), I turned around to capture a 'brain photo' of the parents. Unfortunately, it wasn't as pretty as I thought, and I simply could not have such a miserable image stored in my brain bank... So just as I promised myself I would not, after a few more steps around the corner, I ran back for another 'one last look'. It was much better, satisfied all requirements for a brain photo to be stored in my brain bank for a few years.
Conditions That Second Brain Photo Met That Were Not Present In The First:
1. Happy Tears. Happy tears are acceptable. They show you care enough to cry, but you have enough foresight to know that the tears are only temporary and at the end of the day, you are actually very happy and proud of your kid for moving to the other side of the world. Ugly tears are ugly. Nobody looks pretty when they 'ugly cry' with ugly tears... Hence the name 'ugly cry'. It's ugly. Don't do it. It ruins brain photos and depresses me.
2. Cuddles & Shoulder rubbing. Two of my most favourite things in the world. Do it. Do it always. People who don't like cuddles are lying. Shoulder rubbing on the other hand must be approached delicately in emotionally unstable situations... It's a risky move (potentially brain photo ruining) because it can go one of two ways...
(a.) Suppress the tears. This outcome is preferable. The action of shoulder rubbing (or tapping), quite literally sends a message to the tear glands to tell them to cut supplies and think of happy things. Like puppies.
(b.) Initiate 'Ugly Cry'. We all know how I feel about this. Never, under any circumstance ruin someone's brain photo of you by ugly crying. Just don't. It is mean and will break my heart every time I visit my brain bank and watch the slide show.
3. Blowing Air Kisses. This trumps sobbing into your hands any day. Air kisses are the bomb. And yes mum, I caught all eight you threw so vigorously in my direction.
My kick ass brain photo is for my viewing only... But if there was a song that perfectly illustrated that moment for me. It's this one.
Xxo