... will have to be worth one picture for this post, since I can't take pictures at the moment.
I think you would agree, that when one is on the verge of moving family, hearth and home to another country on the other side of the world, that roughly 10 hours before departure it's standard operating procedure to bathe your iPhone gently but thoroughly, in a front-loading washer, for about 30 minutes or so. That's enough time to cover a full wash, rinse and spin cycle, affording your iPhone that bedraggled, soap-and-waterclogged look that we all so deeply lust after for our handheld electronic devices.
So yes, my iPhone is currently chilling in a bag of dry white rice, which hopefully will suck the water out of it. And the suds that now bespatter the underside of the viewscreen.
Amazingly, the thing was still working when it came out of the washer. After a fashion. It was on, I could see the graphics, it was asking me if I wanted to turn it off -- poor thing was rather forlorn about the whole experience, apparently, and craving a good nap -- but the touchscreen wouldn't respond, so I just had to keep resetting it until it stopped restarting itself. Crazy little device.
I've got a few other things on my mind just now, and am not attached enough to my iPhone to worry too much about the loss, but the prospect of having but one electronic pediatric sedation device in hand tomorrow -- Allison's -- to share out among three kids on a 15-hour flight to China, is causing me a bit more anxiety. Kicking the seats in front of them, playing with the flight attendant call buttons, and spilling drinks in their laps will only keep them entertained for brief periods of time, at the end of which they will turn on us. If we don't have sufficient shiny-flashy things and processed sweets about our persons to distract them, they may penetrate our defenses. It is a terrible thing to see a pack of feral children draining the lifeforce from their parents at 37,000 feet. Let alone, being said parents.
We leave for the airport in about 6 hours, at 3:15 a.m. With roughly 1,000 lbs of luggage in 15 suitcases. To travel 9,000 miles on 2 flights over 20 hours.
Is it strange to be excited about this?
We are strange.
What a slog to get here, how could we not be? Moving out of our house, renting it to someone, selling a car, dealing with legal junk, securing residency/work permit visas, renting a new place in Shanghai, living in the Mindels' basement, sorting everything we own and figuring out what to take and then packing it all up, working full time. I mean, don't get me wrong, these are clearly first-world problems that I should consider myself lucky to have, but still... it's good to be on the right side of that little tornado of first-world crap. We are looking forward to planting our feet on Chinese soil.
The Mindels... they love Allison very much. Otherwise I can't imagine why they would put up with us and have us in their house (including Eli -- who has entered a phase we are calling "El Diablo" -- and myself, who has few redeeming qualities even on my good days) and drive us to the airport at ungodly hours. These are beautiful people.
Naomi had some tears after a lovely send off at school. She is game for the adventure but also highly in touch with the implications of leaving her friends and world behind. Townes and Eli are excited, even though neither of them really understand what they are in for. None of us do.
But then, who of us ever really does?
Oh, my brothers and sisters. We will miss you so. But we will return bearing tales and gifts and riding beasts of legend, of that we can assure you. Look for us just under Casseopeia's crown at eventide, and you will see us waving to you, and bidding you peace, and good wishes, and fond fare-thee-well's.
M&A&N&T&E
I think you would agree, that when one is on the verge of moving family, hearth and home to another country on the other side of the world, that roughly 10 hours before departure it's standard operating procedure to bathe your iPhone gently but thoroughly, in a front-loading washer, for about 30 minutes or so. That's enough time to cover a full wash, rinse and spin cycle, affording your iPhone that bedraggled, soap-and-waterclogged look that we all so deeply lust after for our handheld electronic devices.
So yes, my iPhone is currently chilling in a bag of dry white rice, which hopefully will suck the water out of it. And the suds that now bespatter the underside of the viewscreen.
Amazingly, the thing was still working when it came out of the washer. After a fashion. It was on, I could see the graphics, it was asking me if I wanted to turn it off -- poor thing was rather forlorn about the whole experience, apparently, and craving a good nap -- but the touchscreen wouldn't respond, so I just had to keep resetting it until it stopped restarting itself. Crazy little device.
I've got a few other things on my mind just now, and am not attached enough to my iPhone to worry too much about the loss, but the prospect of having but one electronic pediatric sedation device in hand tomorrow -- Allison's -- to share out among three kids on a 15-hour flight to China, is causing me a bit more anxiety. Kicking the seats in front of them, playing with the flight attendant call buttons, and spilling drinks in their laps will only keep them entertained for brief periods of time, at the end of which they will turn on us. If we don't have sufficient shiny-flashy things and processed sweets about our persons to distract them, they may penetrate our defenses. It is a terrible thing to see a pack of feral children draining the lifeforce from their parents at 37,000 feet. Let alone, being said parents.
We leave for the airport in about 6 hours, at 3:15 a.m. With roughly 1,000 lbs of luggage in 15 suitcases. To travel 9,000 miles on 2 flights over 20 hours.
Is it strange to be excited about this?
We are strange.
What a slog to get here, how could we not be? Moving out of our house, renting it to someone, selling a car, dealing with legal junk, securing residency/work permit visas, renting a new place in Shanghai, living in the Mindels' basement, sorting everything we own and figuring out what to take and then packing it all up, working full time. I mean, don't get me wrong, these are clearly first-world problems that I should consider myself lucky to have, but still... it's good to be on the right side of that little tornado of first-world crap. We are looking forward to planting our feet on Chinese soil.
The Mindels... they love Allison very much. Otherwise I can't imagine why they would put up with us and have us in their house (including Eli -- who has entered a phase we are calling "El Diablo" -- and myself, who has few redeeming qualities even on my good days) and drive us to the airport at ungodly hours. These are beautiful people.
Naomi had some tears after a lovely send off at school. She is game for the adventure but also highly in touch with the implications of leaving her friends and world behind. Townes and Eli are excited, even though neither of them really understand what they are in for. None of us do.
But then, who of us ever really does?
Oh, my brothers and sisters. We will miss you so. But we will return bearing tales and gifts and riding beasts of legend, of that we can assure you. Look for us just under Casseopeia's crown at eventide, and you will see us waving to you, and bidding you peace, and good wishes, and fond fare-thee-well's.
M&A&N&T&E
Oh Matthew. Oh Matthew. If you're going to insist on machine-washing your electronic devices, ya gotta stick to the Knit Delicate cycle.
ReplyDeleteReading this brought tears to my eyes. I will miss you all so much! You are all beautiful people (as are your in-laws).
Thank you once again for including us in your adventures. We are so excited for you! We look forward to following your journey. Several times today I wondered where (in this world of ours) your family was at that exact moment. Hoping you are all safe, happy and together. You are all indeed beautiful people too. We are blessed to call you friends. Love to all, Jules
ReplyDelete