Emigrants

A couple of weeks back Karen and Robert left the country, to start a new life in the United States of America (USA).  They had been planning their move for a long time.  Any dealings with government can be slow and bureaucratic.  The Americans are very good at it, even excluding their own citizens from their Embassy without an appointment.  I suppose it should be no surprise that their people don't seem to trust them. 
Anyway, it was up early on Friday morning to take the car to Jo's mum's house (where they have stayed since they left Luton).  They had been there months rather than the expected weeks, but now they were off.  Surprisingly little luggage was  loaded.  Mike took his car as well, for the long good bye at the airport.  We ended up in different car parks, we were in the departures car park, so the trolleys could be moved across the walk way and into the terminal. 
As ever the automated check-in system failed to accept the vast amount of data required - who knows why?, so they had to queue for the baggage drop and do the check-in the old way.  We met later in one of the pubs in the airport.  Then came the long wait.  What do you talk about when you are not expecting to see someone again for months, or maybe years?  Nothing very much it seems - everything important has already been said.  The subjects are the journey, the airport, and whatever is happening in the world at the time.
Sooner than expected the flight was called and we said our final goodbyes. 

Here's the last pictures before they disappeared into Departures:

Then there is a very strange period of time.  Until we hear they have arrived safely the world is on hold.  We function, but not fully.  There is only one thought - where are they?  It's not worry - I rarely thought anything awful had happened (as you do when a child is unexpectedly late home) - I just needed to know that they had got to where they expected to be.

They had of course.  What with time zone differences and exhausted travellers, it was a while before we heard it.

Since then we have communicated by skype (video conference) twice.  Something that would have been impossible just a decade ago.  So, the world is smaller than it used to be.  What must it have been like for those who said good bye to family members  a hundred years ago? Weeks of travel, and the same number of weeks again before a letter could be received.

Everyone's reaction is 'great - cheap holiday's'.  That may (or may not) turn out to be true.  We are planning to visit soon, but there are other things going on which may make those plans harder to put into action.  However, in reality, we will miss them more than the occasional holiday can compensate.

We do of course wish them the very best in their new life, and look forward to hearing of their progress.  Some small corner of me is quite jealous of the opportunities they have, but not of the difficulties they will face, nor the hard work!

Nor could I live in America - the way they do things is just too alien - Guns for example.