Trip of a Lifetime

The past two weeks are what I consider to be the type you look back on long from now as the blur of work and vacations and events and years churn by... as a trip of a lifetime. To be living for a year or so in India as an expat with my family has been an amazing experience all around - both challenging and rewarding. We've had great times and hard times and lots of lazy days in between. But to have my parents and sister visit and have the opportunity to take a family photo in front of one of the Wonders of the World... Wow!
The big day finally arrived and I spazzed around the office completely giddy like a school girl until Wade and Caden picked me up for the airport, at which time I had to do just a couple more emails before coming out. Perhaps surprisingly, I've always been a very laid-back traveler, preferring to get to the airport somewhere around take-off time. Wade (in my opinion) wants to get there before construction is completed on the airport - just in case.
But anyhow, we made it to Delhi on time more or less, as did my parents - landing within 10 minutes of each other. But we beat them to the hotel by what felt like a landslide 20 minutes (especially with Caden tearing through the hotel lobby like a mad monkey the entire time). But the reunion was awesome and Caden nearly crawled out of his skin - jumping to Grandpa first although Mom and Katie say the lineup wasn't fair as Dad entered first. We settled in, ordered room service and got a bit caught up before our early morning departure to the Taj. Of course, Mom and Dad came prepared with several bottles of wine. Man do I miss them already.
We set off early, with our newcomers amazed at the traffic and obstacles/spectacles and Wade and I amazed that Delhi roads actually have pavement and lines. To prove that it's a small world, we ran into two other Target team members on our pit stop half way to Agra. Go figure. And to prove that it's India, our coach ran out of AC about an hour before Agra. With it being 100F outside, it was a little grumpy in the car that last hour. But a happy stop for lunch and a refreshment at the Hilton in Agra cooled ourselves and our nerves. Two new vans arrived and we made the last few anticipatory minutes of our trek... I find that pretty cute - Caden was SO excited about seeing everyone and everything (and a little wild and overtired). But we walked in to the entrance to the Taj a bit like...uh...Americans I suppose.
But again, wow. What a cool and amazing experience. I feel really lucky. And the weather, while hot, was beautiful. Everyone really enjoyed seeing this amazing and timeless monument to love.
Of course, by the time we finished at the Taj and made it to Agra Fort, Caden had met his match with the excitement, lack of sleep and the heat. And although is was in the upper 90s, and he weighs something like 40 pounds of dead weight... he slept the entire walk through Agra Fort as one big sweaty mess. Luckily I had Dad to help carry the load. ;)
It was a great start to a great couple weeks...more to come in installments in the days to come. Perhaps even a "guest blog" or two - of course after the fact, but who's counting? The above photos and memories?
- Timeless and priceless.