Our flight back to Taipei was long. We flew from Ohio to Houston and then were delayed in Houston for almost 3 hours (stuck in the plane on the tarmac due to a passenger being not fit to fly and then a storm coming through). It was awful and we were all happy to finally make it to LA and into the Star Alliance Lounge.
My Mom was a huge help. I still can’t believe I ever contemplated flying by myself with the boys – it would not have been possible.
The LAX Star Alliance lounge is amazing. They have an awesome outdoor area which was great for antsy kids.
Mom and I were able to enjoy a vodka tonic and some LA-‘fresh’ air while waiting for our flight.
Our 13-hour flight was tough but we all survived.
We arrived late Thursday night and Friday to recover. Saturday was the 4th of July and so we went to the American Club to celebrate with a BBQ by the pool.
The rest of the week went by in a flash. We had playdates,
Beef noodle soup,
Walks around town,
A vegetarian feast for lunch,
Complete with giant veggie burger,
And of course there was lots and lots of playtime with the boys at home.
One evening my Mom shared her vision for reorganizing my kitchen and we made it happen.
What she did was amazing. I still can’t get over how she shifted around a few things and made our tiny kitchen feel bigger.
I couldn’t let Mom leave Taipei with out taking her to an awesome vegan hotpot restaurant. She loved it. I brought Natalie here when she visited over Christmas and she was also a huge fan.
On Mom’s second to last night we went out for Spanish Tapas and washed them down with New Zealand wine.
The last day we spent hanging outside on the patio (which Mom also helped re-design and jazz up while there).
I can’t even begin to describe how sad the goodbye was and just how much we all miss her. Thanks again for everything, Grandma. We love you!
Five years in Taiwan 