Surprises

sunset from the plane

It was the longest flight of my life. I got to Munich without a hitch, but then my connection was delayed due to equipment problems. When we finally took off, I was sandwiched in by this Russian grandmother who moved slower than I've ever seen anyone move in my life. Not only did she move slowly, but she wouldn't let me help her with anything. She sat the entire flight staring at her blank TV screen and wringing her hands. When it was time for the customs forms to be completed, she spent a good two hours staring at that piece of paper. But she smiled the entire time. I was too cramped to sleep and when we landed ten hours later, I was delighted to be able to stand in the rain as I waited for Calvin to pick me up. 

Calvin is the best when it comes to secrets. He's like a safe. When I got in the car it went like this:

Me: 'Is Mom home, or did she go to yoga?'

Calvin: 'Yeah, she's home. She was watching TV when I left'

Me: 'Where did you say you were going?'

Calvin: 'No where, I just left.'

It was weird driving to the house. Like I'd been there yesterday. When we pulled up the driveway all the windows were completely dark. 

Calvin: 'Oh shit. Did she go to bed?!?'

Me: 'No way, it's only 8:30pm. She's probably just in the family room. Let's bring my stuff in and then I'll go downstairs.'

We dragged my bags in and then I headed downstairs and said, 'hi Mom!' 

She looked at me and then this big smile came across her face. 'Hi honey!' Then she was just sitting there in surprise, so I said, 'Come here!' and she got up and gave me a big bear hug. Of course, the first thing she wanted to do was publish the fact that I was home on Facebook, but I told her she had to wait 24 hours until I had a chance to tell my friends I was home. 

Due to the jetlag I was up at 4am the next morning, so by the time 7am rolled around it felt like high noon. I was a little nervous about driving, since I hadn't done that in eons either, but it turns out it's just like riding a bike! I pulled up in front of Vivian's apartment around 7:30am. We had a phone date scheduled for 8am, so I figured instead of calling her I'd surprise her at her apartment. When I called from outside her apartment, she didn't answer and then a few minutes later, she called me, but before I could answer she hung up. So I called her again. Before even saying hello, she immediately launched into a conversation, which is so typically Vivian.

Vivian: 'Madeline! I don't know what's wrong with my phone, it keeps saying you're calling from your 9198 number.'

Me: 'Well, that's because I am. Hey, I'm outside, could you buzz me in?'

Vivian: 'WHAT!?!? Madeline, that is not funny. Don't fuck with me, you're gonna make me cry.'

I pressed the buzzer.

Me: 'Can you let me in, please?'

And then I almost went deaf from all the screaming on the other end. 'OMG, OMG, OH MY GOD!!! MADELINE'S HERE!!!'

The door finally buzzed and I ran up the stairs, but I wasn't fast enough. Vivian met me on the landing between the first and second floor in her nightgown, still screaming, with tears streaming down her face. She wrapped me in such a tight hug, I could barely breathe and between laughter and tears she kept saying, 'I can't believe you're here!' Then she released me and I looked up to see Stephanie standing in the doorway with a look of bewilderment on her face. 'Madeline?' she said. 

Steph headed off to work, and Laura was still sleeping so Viv gave me a tour of their gorgeous renovation and then we lay in her bed talking and laughing until we heard Laura wake up. We Facetimed her and her response to seeing me on the video was, 'Where ARE you?' Viv had her come into the room and she just stood in the doorway, staring. 'Was this the surprise you were talking about?' She asked. 'COME GIVE ME A HUG!' I said. 

After Laura left for work, Viv and I headed to Milk and Honey for some breakfast and more chit chat. That is when the planning began. Within an hour we had the whole week planned together. Viv got me a job organizing, we decided to take a trip to Green Lake and we also worked out dates to see all our friends together. Then I went home to take a nap and Viv went to her afternoon work meeting.

Playing bartender at Viv's

After her surprise, Vivian and I were joined at the hip. That night we had a lovely get-together at her apartment. It was so nice to be surrounded by my friends again. I had forgotten what that feels like. And I laughed so much! It was like I couldn't stop. Everything hurt from so much laughter. Vivian spent the night with me and in the morning we woke up early (like always) and headed to Evanston to do an organizing job. We knocked it out of the park. In four hours flat we organized the basement and the attic, and turned the attic into a guest room. The look on our employer's face was priceless. She was shocked and thrilled, and we still had the afternoon to fix my phone issues. 

Later I had a wonderful evening with Rachel at one of our favorite places: Pizza Art. We had pizza and salad and red wine and tiramisu with frangelico for dessert. It was so delightful. The kind of night I never have in Kraków.

Me with Amanda

Saturday was like a dream. It was exactly the kind of day I think about whenever I miss home. Everyone got up slowly, at their own pace and made their respective tea or coffee. We sat around futsin and chatting, no one really doing anything in particular except for Mom who is always doing something. I skyped with Krzysiek and his family and then I went with Dad to the grocery store. Now, I always like the store, but this time around I was hyper-sensitive to all options that were unavailable in Poland. I wanted to take pictures of everything to show everyone in Kraków just how it really is. 

And then we went home and started dinner preparations. Heidi and Tonya and Amanda came over for dinner and it was so much fun to see everyone. I was a little overwhelmed with all the joy and delight and familiarity all in one place. I get all that in Kraków, but it is more piecemeal, rarely all at once.

Sunday Mom and I performed a little concert for Krzysiek's family. We played our very own rendition of Silent Night on Skype. It was sufficiently awkward and hilarious, but they loved it so it was all good. Then I went for the final surprise of my visit.

I picked Vivian up at Navy Pier and we headed to the Southeast Side to go see her family. On the drive there I was bombarded with memories from High School and the last few years. I could write volumes....and then we were heading up the walkway to her house and all of a sudden Vivian's brother, Mikey, comes bursting out of the house screaming at the top of his lungs 'OMG!!!! MADELINE!!! YOU'RE BACK?!?!' and then, once he had announced it to the entire neighborhood, he came and gave me a big hug.

Me and Nayeli

We had delicious carnitas for lunch and then we waited for Vivian's Mom and Dad to come and pick us up after they finished with church so we could go and get their Christmas tree. They finally pulled up in front of the house and Vivian went out first, then me and then Mikey. It took her two seconds to recognize me. Vivian's Mom came running out of the car and gave me a huge hug. Then she pushed Mikey toward the front seat and crowded in with me in the back, grasping my hand. It was so good to see her. She is my Mexican mama and she didn't need to say a word. Just sitting next to her, holding her hand was comforting.

Me and Naomi

We got the tree and then went back to the house where I struggled with my Spanish, trying so hard to suppress the Polish that kept jumping out. Then I got to see some of the grandbabies. Vivian's niece, Naomi was shy at first after not having seen me in so long, but soon she warmed right up. I also got to meet her new baby sister who was absolutely darling. It was hard for me to leave that night. It felt so good being piled on that couch again with everybody. Then Vivian's Mom made me promise to come back again before I left and  invited me to come on the 23rd to make tamales!!!! Then Viv and I headed back to my place so that I could pack for our trip to Wisconsin.