Yes it’s true, once again.

I’m leaving on a jet plane.

I always sing that when I am sitting in the airport and heading off somewhere.

Well obviously not out loud.

That I know of.

Of course when I am flying with MoD I am not just sitting in the airport.

I am sitting in the Koru Club.

Now that’s faaancy 🤪

This time, as opposed to our trip to Houston last year, I AM going to practice some self restraint at the all-you-can-eat-and-drink Koru Club, and further, not drink or eat too much on the plane 😰 even though you get two meals in the space of six hours.

Last trip was definitely ugly.

Our first leg of that did not, a good travel companion, make.

Sorry MoD.

This time we are flying to Chicago.

We have left the Princess at home, guarding the house, with her two other mums. She looked soulfully at us as we left, just to break our hearts. We popped our heads back in a few seconds later and there she was, running around excitedly with Hayley and Rita.

Seems she loves them and without question they love her.

And we were long forgotten.

Back to the Koru Club and our trip to Chicago.

We are heading to a family wedding.

MoD’s family.

My family too now 👏👏

Which brings me to the question. Does the nick name MoD still fit? Should I remove his Man of Dreams title and refer to him as hubby?

I shall ponder that.

He is still, after all my MoD.

And I am sure that won’t change. Even though he never screws the top back on the Diet Coke properly.

Distracted again.

The wedding.

So special to be invited but then again, MoD’s family are very special.

From the moment they met me they embraced and accepted me. Gathered me in their arms, loved me.

Good timing.

Twas about the time things were pretty rough for me right here in NZ.

And when things get rough, as my besties know, I go to ground and remove myself from any situation I perceive as dangerous to my emotional wellbeing. At the time PTSD and I had been doing a lot of removing ourselves.

So right then, being loved and accepted was exactly what was needed.

Those who know me, know I have had a pretty challenging family life. Not unlike so many other family stories of course.

A fact which has cemented in me, my firm belief that the only things that matter in this strange world we live in, are family including non related family (I have a lot of them), and family values.

Inclusion, kindness, acceptance, tolerance, respect.

That’s what MoD’s US family live by.

Every single one of them.

Getting to know them over the last few years has been chicken soup for the soul. I feel absolutely blessed to be part of this beautiful family. And invited to this wedding.

Unfortunately we won’t be seeing all the family this time, but I am sure we can make another visit happen soonish.

We do, after all, have a ‘my side of the family’ ten year wedding anniversary trip to Florida AND the added bonus of a family wedding in Mexico in September 2024……Joy…..Blake????

Back to Chicago, which will morph into a Wisconsin wedding.

MoD’s nephew Calen and his beautiful fiance Lauren.

And what a wedding it promises.

Not just about spending precious time with all these beautiful whanau including MoD’s step sister and 91 year old step mum who has made the long haul trip down state, but a beautiful location, fantastic weather (29-30) a great group of wedding guests (my new SIL has already briefed me) and five fabulous functions for us to attend.

Which means at least the same amount of frocks and shoes.

I am totally up to that challenge.

As you would expect.

To say I am excited is an understatement.