Day 2: My Beautiful Aotearoa

Lindy and Grandma were there to greet us at the Airport. I was so excited to see them both that I nearly took out a small child with my cart as I rushed over to give them hugs. I was so glad to see them! It has been 15 years since I have seen my Aunty Lindy and several years since I have seen my Grandma. Grandma used to come to America and babysit my sister and I while school was out for the summer. After my grandpa got sick, her travelling slowed down quite a bit. It was a beautiful day to arrive in New Zealand, that's what we were told anyway. It supposedly had been crappy out the last couple weeks. But today was bright and sunny...just perfect! We loaded up Grandmas car with all of our bags. Grandma sat in the back with me while Lindy drove the lot of us home. It was good having Grandmas company in the back...since I was getting tired of looking at the back of an aeroplane seat. Grandma was good company. And the scenery on the way back to Temple View (My hometown) was absolutely beautiful! Green, green, and more green. Grandma said, "look at the moolies!", as she pointed out the car window. In confusion I said, "Moolies! What on earth are Moolies?" She replied, "You know, Moo cows." I just looked at her and smiled! I haven't seen so many cows in all my life. And they were beautiful too! I remarked to Grandma that they say "happy cows come from California" I don't believe it though, I believe "happy cows come from New Zealand." She just laughed at me!

It took us about an hour and a half to arrive at Temple View. We drove through Hamilton and dropped Lindy off at work...we would be catching up with her later that night. Grandma took over driving the rest of the way home. We drove around Hamilton Lake and got to see the Waikato Women's hospital, where Chelsea and I were born. We then headed into Dinsdale, up the hill, and took that, all so familiar left turn, onto the "Mad Mormon Mile," that is what we call it anyway. Until we finally turned down Fosters Road and pulled up outside Grandma's house. Still the same...just a little shabby at the corners, like a well-read book as I would put it. There was a "Welcome Home" sign posted up for us. Someone must have secretly snuck down and put it up while we were being picked up from the Airport. Grandma said that she didn't know nothing about it. My suspicion was that Aunty Jo had snuck down from up back. That reminded me that I couldn't wait to see her too!