And not because I was sad the trip was over.
Yes – I was sad, but it gets way worse than that.
We were up early. And we had packed most of our stuff up the afternoon before. We got the big kids up and really just completed the task, letting Johanna and Katriel sleep as long as possible.
I can almost not look at this photo.
We had everything put together when we finally woke her, helped her into her clothes and after a quick bathroom visit we went to the Washington Dining Room for our last breakfast. We ate at the same table as our first morning and had the same exquisite meal options as all the other days. Carnival is the only line I’ve been on where that was the case. Other disembarkation days we’ve found ourselves offered a lesser menu.
We ate, went back to the rooms for our bags just as we were being given the all clear to disembark.
Because we were on a lower level than 3, and because we were willing to take all our own bags, we were amongst the first guests allowed to disembark. This mattered a lot to us as we had to drive to Williamstown, KY, some 12-13 hours away.
Disembarkation was smooth.
About three hours into the drive Katriel reached into her back pack and lamented when she did not have her “yellow and orange taggies.” At that moment I felt my stomach and heart switch places as I fully realized that we’d left her beloved blankies on the ever-loving ship. A guttural moan left my soul and I’m not too proud to admit I started bargaining with God. Oh….. even now – six weeks later – the tears are streaming down my face. What kind of mother am I?
“Maybe when we get to the vacation house I will find them in my suitcase,” Katriel hoped aloud.
Mama knew. They weren’t in there. John and I had been packing while she slept. As John handed me her two little stuffies, my brain clicked, *then we will grab her taggies when we get her up.*
But I didn’t. We didn’t.
I filled out some online forms. And – I honestly have hardly been able to talk about the trip because this loss has overshadowed the whole thing. I’m chronicling our trip now for the sake of collectively remembering our vacation times together. That said, here it is 6 weeks later and Carnival has yet to send a message that they found them. Clearly someone came across them in the laundry. Why they didn’t send them back is known only to Carnival and their protocols. For days and days afterward I just would wake up condemning myself. I finally had to just give it to God. And now I’m not going to type more about it.
We drove for 500 years until we finally got to our vacation rental in Williamstown around 11PM.
It was nice. Thankfully.
We found our way in and around and into bed. It was the least comfortable bed I’ve slept in in a long time.
Dayspring Disciples 