With a Mercedes moving truck that has fringe in the windshield, how can anything go wrong?

The boxes slowly found their way out of the house and we started to prioritize as the movers and packers told us that everything wouldn't fit.  We would have to leave a lot behind.

This crate is packed with pressure..They had to use this second truck to force the doors closed to compress the mattress.  When those doors open.....SURPRISE!

3 great women were here cheering the packers on.  We were all crossing our fingers that everything would make the trip.  It was touch and go.  Laughter and tears. 

 Thanks Marilyn, Sharon and Shari

Packing up our giant antique door dining table.

Moving Days....

Slowly our lives here in Abu Dhabi are getting packed up and sealed neatly into containers.  Photos on hard drives (several back-ups), friends in our hearts, furnishings in specially designed corrugated cardboard boxes.  The sound of tape peeling off rolls and around boxes is the background noise to the Filipino moving guy's Bon Jovi music and karaoke singing.  As each piece of our lives is put into a nice protective covering I am slowly peeling myself away from our time here. 

 It has been charmed.

More than we ever would have hoped for we have created memories here that will last a lifetime and beyond.  This is what the B & T Cooks were meant to do.  This is who we are.  Every family has an identity.  Our identity is always closely tied to family and to most recent experiences.  The Abu Dhabi experience will be a mark on the timeline of our lives.  Each of us remembering things that happened before AD and after AD.

For Jack and Charlie, who have now spent 1/2 their lives in AD..Most of their memories, for now, will be of AD.  And summers spent in Utah playing with cousins and Grandparents.  Living the best of both worlds, as we all have.  For Sam and Cairo who have spent a large percentage of their lives here the memories will be a bit stronger.  Impressions a bit deeper.

Hopefully, for all the children, as for B&T we have been changed for the better.  We leave here with a greater love, understanding and compassion for all God's children.  We leave here knowing that most everyone is good and we are all more alike than we are different.  We leave here knowing the differences among individuals are to be valued not feared.  We leave here knowing....We'll be back.

Oh, soaring spires and majestic arches...I will miss you.  

Call to prayer, I will miss you.  (5 times a day)

Crazy Abu Dhabi traffic...hmmmm.  I may even miss you because you allowed me extra time in the car with the kiddos everyday.  Time we spent singing, picking songs from the IPod, and practicing spelling words and math problems.  

Pakistani men, in your traditional clothing, walking to and from mosque, I will miss you.  

Porters at Spinney's (who were so careful with my eggs and bread) and who always remembered to ask about my children, I will miss you. 

Clear blue skies and ocean water, EVERYDAY, I will miss you.  

Camels and jockeys, I will miss you.  

Villa #11 Fortress Compound, Home, I will miss you.

Abu Dhabi, I will miss you.

I may wrap up this blog just as I wrap up all other things Abu Dhabi.  We are on to a new chapter in the B&T family adventure.  Adding different colors to this mosaic we call life.  We pray they continue to be bright and vibrant and exciting...

In Dubai at Madinat Jumeirah.  THANKS LORI!  We stayed like queens and had a great time!

T and Jabar...The man who was always there for me through thick and thin of Abu Dhabi traffic and traffic accidents!  My Hero

On the Abra..This is how we were escorted to our room to spend the night in Dubai.

Cairo and the camels...two of my FAVORITE "C" words.

Cairo and me in our Indian clothes.  We need some good Indian food to go with these great outfits.

At Abu Dhabi Women's College with the ladies from Riverside.

Dinner at Emirates Palace

Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Emirates Palace, Spice Souk

Day 1: Camel Track at Dawn

Obama Speaks to Mulsim World

Brad and I had the opportunity to watch President Obama's speech, addressed to the Mulsim world, at the U.S. Ambassador's residence.  We were in the company of Diplomats and Ambassadors from all around the region.  It was amazing to watch and listen to our President speak so confidently and sincerely about his desires to focus more on what we have in common than on our differences.  

It is a great lesson I've gained from this experience of living in Abu Dhabi.  All of human-kind is really more alike than they are different.  The speech was very well received.  Many Diplomats spoke following the broadcast of the importance to get behind President Obama.  To trust him and to take this opportunity they have waited so long for to create a healthy relationship of trust among strong religious countries and individuals.

If you didn't hear the speech, it's worth listening.  

Lunch at Gunita's

Gunita cooked a scrumptious lunch, an Indian smorgasbord!

Her smashing outfit inspired all of us to take a "field trip" the following day to purchase beautiful embroidered cloth and take it to a tailor so we can all look a little more

  "Gunita". 

(Which is now an adjective as much as it is a name of a dear friend.)

Molly puts it best when describing Gunita as "Divine".

Thanks for the lunch, for sharing your culture and beauty and especially for your friendship.

I am going to miss ALL OF YOU

(Gunita, Becky, Yoca, Moi, Molly and Margo)

SO MUCH OF ME

IS MADE OF WHAT I LEARNED FROM YOU

YOU'LL BE WITH ME

LIKE A HANDPRINT ON MY HEART

AND NOW WHATEVER WAY OUR STORIES END

I KNOW YOU HAVE RE-WRITTEN MINE

BY BEING MY FRIEND...

(For Good - Broadway Musical Wicked)

A Farewell Tribute to Molly

There Aren't Words Enough..

How does one say "Thank You" to so many people who have each given something of themselves that changes that person for good?  

It's impossible.

Today was a day full of mixed emotions.  To be in a room full of amazing women.  Each with her own unique talents and beauty.  Each one has a story, a specialty, a reason for being in Abu Dhabi at this time and in this room.  They were all there to say "Farewell" to four of us who have to move on.  Our time has come.  Eventually it happens to all of us.  It's such a weird feeling to come into a strange country, lay down roots, build a life, create relationships that are surrogate families, all the while knowing (but denying) that one day you will have to say good-bye.  That day has come for 4 of us.  We were celebrated in style.  A huge group of generous women came to the Hilton for a lunch and chatting and lots of hugging and kissing on both cheeks and, of course, tears...Oh, there were tears.

As if all of that wasn't gift enough we were each given the gift of my dreams..

A CAMEL CROSSING SIGN!

I cannot think of a better parting gift.  The only thing better I will take with me is the friendships that have been made that will last a lifetime.  Thank you ladies!

And kiss, kiss, kiss...That's a right cheek kiss, a left cheek kiss and another on the right.  

(I will miss that tradition too.)