If we just spend the next 18 months digging

So, as Hailey would tell you, yesterday, Cooper goded to China. That's go-ded. Like the past tense of go.

Goated. Maybe that's better. Maa-Maa. Or goaded.

Anyway. I've taken this too far. He went. Very far indeed. But she doesn't like to say went, even though she knows that's the correct word. She told me so. Like it was really important information, this preference she's got for goded. He goded.

We watched the live tracker all day, and compared it to our own globe, as he flew over the North Pole and into oblivion. Brrr.

He'll be gone for 18 months, and by then, my guess is she'll be saying went, and all sorts of other interesting things to go with it. And so will her sister. Keelyn is about the same age Hailey was when Coop left for his second half of Peace Corps volunteering, and she will be about the same age Hailey was when he came home then, when he comes home next time. (If that makes any sense whatsoever. Go on. Read it again). Thinking of it that way makes it seem easier. Like we've done it before. Plus, this time he'll have a computer (as well as a working sewer system), and we can talk more regularly...even Skype (but not while using said working sewer system. Eww, no).

He's done a semester in Spain, a summer in Mexico, more than two years in Bolvia, and now a year and a half in China begins. I have been at the airport to bid him adieu each time. We will miss him. We will miss his silliness. His endless ability to entertain the kids. I will miss having my brother here. A drive away if necessary. But it's so exciting. He's doing so many exciting things. And it's already exciting to think of him coming home. Sometime, in 2011.

And when you think about it, 2010 is like, the day after tomorrow, so it's not that long at all.

And also, I can very clearly remember being young on the ride at Epcot where you see the "future people" using the phone where they can see one another, and very distinctly thinking I would not like that because they would be able to see what ever you were doing, so you better not be using your sewer system, if you know what I mean (and of course you do). Good thing us future people didn't create a webcam that sees 360 views, or we'd all be in trouble.