Royal Encounters

Three weeks ago, the thought of changing jobs, moving 2,100 miles away and having Baby Girl in a totally unfamiliar location wasn't even a consideration. Two weeks ago it was really more of a "when Baby Girl arrives," thought than anything.

So it is no wonder that, when realizing that we were moving (a week ago), I grew anxious about how to fit in some of the plans we'd made for next month. By nature, I am a planner. In fact, one of the most endearing traits (okay, and truthfully, sometimes nerve-wracking traits for a Type A person like me) Himself has is his ability to be spontaneous. So it was with shock we greeted a complete role reversal when we had the following conversation Thursday evening:

Moi: "You know, since you're working this weekend, we could go to Philly tomorrow to see King Tut."

Himself: "You have got to be insane. We won't have enough time."

Moi: "We will. I can get off at 11 - we can do it. I really want to go."

Himself: "So do I, but this is a really bad idea."

Somehow, my "bad idea" won - I think it had something to do with pregnancy hormones, a *slight* amount of insanity on both our parts and an act Himself hoped would keep me from falling off the precipitous drop of emotional stability I've been clinging to for the past week.

We went to Philly to see King Tut, Himself silently wishing my spontenaity had come at time that didn't involve the beginnings of Friday-before-Mother's-Day-East-Coast-Traffic.

What we experienced was beyond what either one of us had dare hoped. Somehow, the three-thousand-year-old statuettes, vessels, jewelry, furniture and other relics cast an enchanting spell. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience - seeing items that have never before been in the United States. Fellow museum-goers were also in a hushed trance as we peered through glass cases almost incomprehensively. Painted wood that had survived 3,000 years. Tiny figurines with intricate details. Jewelry that showed remarkable style and craftsmanship. All of it breathtaking. Himself and I were nearly beside ourselves at our good fortune in being able to experience it and spent 2 1/2 hours to view every one of the 130 objects. The exhibit preview didn't do it justice, nor did the postcards of our favorite artifacts. It was absolutely breathtaking.

Later, as a result of a wrong turn, we stumbled across Xochtil (so-cheet), a traditional Mexican restaurant with the Aztec influences of the Puebla Region. Seated at the downstairs bar, due to the reservations-only status, we had a completely indulgent meal of meats, cheeses, handmade tortillas, spicy sauces and tableside quacamole.

We lingered so long over dinner, we arrived home at midnight, only five hours before Himself had to drag himself out of bed to go to work.

I would have felt bad, had we not said "Good Night" by sighing contentedly, "It was the perfect day."