*written in 2004*
Last year my instructor began talking about the trip to Scotland that photo and graphic design students have the opportunity to go on every two years. Being that I am Scottish, I’ve always wanted to go to Scotland so naturally I jumped on the boat before I had time to think through expenses or anything, I knew whatever i had to pay would be totally worth it.
The month I spent in Scotland was the first time Chris and I were ever part for any length of time since we started dating and apparently, he missed me, a lot. As I missed him but I was lucky because I had lots going on to keep my mind off of home.
Flying from London (we spent the last five days of our trip in London) to Fargo takes a lot of time. We left at 8am london time (minus 6 hours for at home), arrived in Washington (Dulles) went through a hectic customs and baggage claim service to board a flight to Chicago. Luckily everything was all on time (oh yeah, and while waiting on the runway at London Heathrow the New Zealand Air Lord of the Rings plain docked right next to us, that was awesome!) and it looked like we’d be getting home as planned, at 5 pm Fargo time (remember, plus 6 hours for London, so I had been traveling from 8 am to 11 pm had we arrived on time).
We had some time to kill in Chicago so some people got stuff to eat (and I had a run in with someone I had just spent a month with, tensions were high, everyone was getting sick of everyone else) and I called Chris to tell him we were on time (he was in the middle of signing all the paperwork because at that very moment he was closing the deal on the house we bought together) and I should arrive around 5pm. I made the call too soon.
We sat at the gate for a half hour past the time we were supposed to depart, and then had to wait another half hour for the plane to empty before we could finally board and wait more on the runway. Finally the plane taxis down the runway and we are on the last leg of our journey home. I was very anxious!
The flight went pretty fast, I sat there, visited a little with my single serving friend, and mostly just waited to get home. I might have anxiously filled out a crossword but I don’t know. When we landed Don (the instructor) said he wanted to talk to the photo majors before we all ran off. I still barely recall what he said.
In the airport there was a small waiting area where I didn’t recognize any happy faces (Chris, my grandparents and my aunt were supposed to be there), so I headed towards the escalator. i almost heard them before I saw them. There were so many of them there! heading over the top of the escalator I saw all my friends, all my family, Chris’s family and everyone important to me, there waiting for me, hooting and hollering. My friend had even made a sign (it was very like her) that said “Jaci Lee…Welcome home! We are over here!” on a cardboard box. Like I could have missed them! (kind of funny because on the plane a brother and sister that went on the trip were talking about how embarrasing their family was at events like homecoming, I was like “good, they’ll overshadow my family!” NOT).
Getting off the escalator I gave Chris a great big hug before turning around to greet everyone else there. Chris grabs my shoulder and hands me my ringing cell phone. Happy he brought it with and curious as to who’s calling, I look at the avator on the front and see a photo of a ring with words. Before it even registers in my mind, Chris is down on one knee holding the very same ring (upside down silly boyfriend!). I couldn’t even manage a Yes. I made him stand up and put the ring on (I was crying I couldn’t speak) and I gave him another hug (A big one).
Finally I can turn around and say hello to everyone there to witness this momentus occasion. It wasn’t until later when someone pointed to the top of the escalator that I found out Chris’ bosses video taped the whole process (Richard, Best Man, burned it to a dvd and entitled it “The Longest 6 Minutes of Chris’ Life” He’s very clever).
Me with my grandpa
