Bo and I have traveled a lot together. We took her first flight when she was ten weeks old and have traveled pretty much constantly since then. It’s always been just Bo and I on the plane. No helping hands, no entertainers… just us.
Today we are flying to Queensland to be met at the airport by a friend I’ve never met in real life. The internet is a funny beast isn’t it? This amazing woman (and her beautiful family) are practically family to me… and although we’ve shared some of the most incredibly joyful and unbelievably grief-filled moments of our lives with each other – we’ve never shared a glass of wine or the same space or a hug.
That will all change!
When I was pregnant I was alone. Both figuratively and literally. I was in remote Indonesia and I was lonely and scared and I totally unprepared. So, I spent hours trawling the very slow internet trying to find a community. And eventually, I did. I found a community of Australian mamas-to-be through a baby website, that then became a Facebook group and has evolved into some of the most important relationships of my adult life. I have talked about this virtual village before, at length. But today we are going to meet some of these beautiful mamas.And I couldn’t be more excited (or nervous!) about the whole thing.
Ni will also be in Noosa, competing in a surf competition. In fact, he has been in Australia for more than a week now doing a surf tour of the East Coast… I’m trying to find a quiet place in my mind to go to – to find the patience and the kindest part of my soul so that I can open myself up and give him a chance. Give him a chance to show me that every promise he has made is true. We’ll see. It won’t be easy for me but I’m very glad that Bo will get to see her dad. It’s been a long three months. And either way, I’m very glad I will be surrounded by new old-friends to support us.
Bo and I will head to Melbourne next week to curl up in the love and warmth and generosity of my favourite city in the WORLD. A place I called home before marriage, before babies, before I was who I am now… My university ctiy where i studied and partied and flirted with a thousand different lives before I packed my bags in search of adventure. I can barely contain my excitement… Melbourne is ACE.
I hope you all have a glorious weekend filled with laughter and inked in colour and joy.
I’m sure ours will be lovely, with beautiful friends and lots of kids and warm weather and swimming pools and beaches and wine and good food and all that good stuff.
Sending prayers to the weather gods to move that
Bring on the good times!
jane@flightplatformliving - ahhh that’s so wonderful, i hope you have an amazing time! I also had a similar situation when i met an internet friend in real life! i had fundraised for a year for a little girl in the Ukraine abandoned because she had cerebral palsy and finally after a year a family stepped up to adopt her. it was joyous and talking to her mama on the phone was breathtaking. We became friends and finally met in the Ukraine! I travelled from the UK and my friend from the states and we did court together for her adoption and i got to meet the little girl who had consumed my prayers. now me and her mama are forever friends, what an amazing time! i hope your time is equally amazing and love filled. hugs xxxxx
Lilybett - Can’t wait to see you in Melbourne.
bron@babyspace (@babykidspace) - I have a group like that too — I am amazed at it actually; that it exists, that it works, that it keeps going. sounds like you have a super-exciting weekend ahead of you with your new-old friends. enjoy x
Lila Wolff - Have safe and joy filled travels!
Julie - Gnomes! Oh my, I am more than a little excited by the gnomes. Where was this image taken? I hope you enjoy QLD, we have had (almost) two days of no rain. So I hope you actually get to see some sun while you are here.
thetwincesses - I just clicked on something that deleted my post. I think it deleted my post so if I post this more than once I apologize. I hope you have an amazing trip! I met wonderful women online while I was ttc. I consider them very close friends. Since the majority live in England and France we have never met in real life. I am planning a trip to France with my twin girls and husband in a couple of years to visit my family and while we are there I will finally get to meet my online friends! I am so excited for this day and can’t wait to hear about your journey!
Cassie Nguyen - Love. So much love!!! The sun is shining. 🙂 xo
Elena - Have stack of fun Bo and mama!xxx
Jess - The photo of Bo surrounded by the Gnomes- so cute!! xx