My alarm went off at 4:30am
…one year ago today. Bags packed, cab waiting, coffee and an apple fritter at the airport, and the surprising realization that SFO is on the same longitude as Ballard.
The flight to Beijing. The shortest thirteen hours of my life.
Landing in China at night. The thick air. The darkness. The sounds of the traffic. We were finally there.
The Carrefour, before bed.
The rain comes down in Seattle on November 7, 2006. But in my mind today I’ll be remembering last year. Reminiscing. And holding my daughter tight.