Part Two - Germany to Mankato, the pets

The pets had a long move. They started the friday before we flew. They went to a kennel in Miesau, Germany. They spent 3 nights there before they were put onto a Northwest flight Monday morning. From Frankfurt, they flew to Detroit and had a long layover there. Then they were flown to Minneapolis. We were told that their plane would land at 6:10 pm and that we could pick them up at 6:30. So we drove up to airport a little early because we didn't know where exactly to pick them up at. It took us about 30 minutes and a lot of asking to find the right place, but we finally found it. By now it's 6:30 and we are thinking that the pets will be close to being released. Boy were we wrong. When we checked-in at the cargo counter, they told us that the plane wouldn't land for another 10 minutes and then it would take 30-40 minutes for the pets to be ready. So we were thinking, Ok an hour from now we should have the pets and then we can go. At this point we are still thinking that it is going to be Ok. The kids were really tired, but still well behaved. By 7:10, Michael could barely keep his eyes open and asked if we could go sit in the car so he could go to sleep. That was fine with me. I took both kids and sat in the car with them. It wasn't to cold, but I turned the car on anyway to keep us warm and then all 3 of us went to sleep. I don't know about anybody else, but when I sleep, I have an internal body clock that keeps pretty good track of time. When I woke up, I knew that enough time had passed that it was getting late. When I checked the time, it was well after 8:30. I was starting to think that there was something wrong with the pets. As soon as I had that thought, the door opened and out came Barry carrying one kennel and one cargo handler holding the other. I was very happy to see that everything was alright. The kids were still passed out in the back seat. Both of them were slumped over so far in the seat that their heads were touching their knees!! I would LOVE to be that limber again. Sleeping like that doesn't make them hurt when they wake up. It is totally amazing. But I digress, back to the pets. So Barry loads up the pet kennels when the dog is done going potty and we get on the road to go home. He is so tired because we are still on Germany time. As soon as we get on the highway, the cat starts this annoyingly low moaning sound. It was so low and loud and so very annoying, but at least it was keeping us awake. It almost sounded like he was saying "I love you" with his moan. I stayed up to talk with Barry to help keep him awake. After all I did have a nap in the car. That helped me out a lot. About halfway home, we had to switch drivers. He couldn't keep his eyes open and I was doing fine. I would have driven from the beginning, but I didn't know the way home. (That's what I get for moving to a new city.) The poor cat was crying all the way to the house. Then to make it worse, we took him to the vet the very next day to get him neutered. By the time he came home on Wednesday, he was very cuddly. Even now(days later), he likes to get all the loving that he can. I'd have to say that the pets have adjusted very well to the new house. They are pretty happy and get along very well now. The cat has gone back to playing with the dog. He likes to sit on the ledge in the basement and pounce on the dog's back. It is great fun to watch. Every time the dog is taken by surprise. What can I say, my dog is all beauty and no brains.