OK, we are on our way to the airport, did you turn off the coffee pot? No? I thought you did! How about the garage door? Did you close it? No? Maybe we should go back and try it again! That’s why we always leave for the airport an extra hour early just in case we need to go back home and re-leave. No problem, we’re retired! We don’t take anything really serious anymore. We know if there is time for a do-over, then there’s no problem! I love this retirement mentality!
We’ve spent the last day or so getting all four of our suitcases to weigh exactly 50 lbs. each. I sure hope our little porta-scale isn’t off!
We get on Delta at DFW around 5 p.m. and go to Atlanta where we will change to a bigger plane for the 9 hour and 45 minute flight to Brazil. So somewhere around 8:30 tomorrow morning I should be looking out the window at Sugar Loaf Mountain there in Guanabarra Bay in Rio.
I have made this trip a number of times but I never get used to the experience of stepping out of customs and onto the street and being bombarded with all of the sights, smells, and noise of the people. That’s what Rio de Janeiro is all about! I hope all of you virtual hitchhikers and stowaways brought your sunblock and are ready to get your Samba freak on! Last one on the beach is a rotten egg!
Ted Purcell 
I hope you and Charolette have a good time.
We’re with you two.
Hey John & Cynthia
Good to have you along on the trip! Get your taste buds ready because we are going to have some wonderful dining experiences!
Hey Ted! Well, Charlotte asked me to post something to serve as a reminder to you, so here I am. I merely mentioned to her that in light of the fact that Brazil has so many beautiful gemstones, there were some she shouldn’t pass up!! So I told her to be sure to get herself something amethyst, and something rose quartz, and something emerald!!! She HAS to get those. Of course, there are bajillions of other beautiful gems that I know she will love as well and I’m sure she will see tons of tempting things to buy–but she just HAS to get those three. Charlotte asked me to post it for you so you could, um, help her remember the gems she had in mind. Actually, it was so you could be sure you got them for her–but you knew that.
Hope you guys have the most wonderful time. We will be praying for you and thinking of you all the way. Thanks for letting us come along!! 🙂
Elizabeth
You make me laugh! As if I would be allowed to forget about the jewelry! Really, this whole trip is designed around Charlotte getting to a little place in the city of Campinas, São Paulo called Bill’s Rock Shop. He has everything you can think of.
Thanks for the reminder!