Who would have thought as I went about preparing for our trip to the States a few weeks ago, it would be nearly derailed by the eruptions of an Icelandic volcano?! Certainly, not me! What a mess. UK airspace was closed for almost a week following the initial eruptions on April 14th, wreaking havoc on all of Europe. Stewart, Bowen and I were due to depart London Heathrow to Raleigh/Durham on April 22nd, but as the day got closer we had serious doubts about whether we would get out. Couple that with the already intense stress and preparation associated with traveling with an 8 month old for the first time and my head was pretty much in the clouds! Miraculously, at the last minute, airspace reopened and we made our originally scheduled flight to the US! We were even on the very first international flight to land in RDU since the volcano caos began! Incredibly, because of all this drama, Bowen's first minutes in the United States were documented by The Raleigh New & Observer complete with a photograph with Bowen's Auntie Leah!
Now, that's what I call a welcome!
Leah Chelette, of Raleigh, center, shares a tearful greeting with her sister Jessica Todd, left, and her niece Bowen, 8 months, right, at RDU Airport Thursday April 22, 2010. They were relieved that the ban on air flights had been lifted and that they could come to North Carolina for a visit on their scheduled flight. London passengers on American Airlines flight 173 arrived to RDU airport just before 4pm to anxious loved ones. Many had been stranded for days in Europe due to the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull Volcano in Iceland.COREY LOWENSTEIN - clowenst@newsobserver.com
Who would have ever thought... I am glad that Jess won the first leg of the trip. It was so wonderful to see you and to meet Bowen. She is just beautiful and you are such a great mom!!
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