until we meet again

Lucas "vlogging" me... he may have been crying too

Tomris had left her purse at the hotel and I decided to run by on my way to school this morning.  The play purse had her favorite toy - Robin - as in Batman's Robin - and I thought I may catch my friend just before they were to leave by a private mini-bus service they had booked to take them to the airport.

Their ride wasn't hard to spot.  It was packed floor to ceiling in the back three rows - including that dog whom I've never actually seen.  I came in the hotel and Enoch was working out the hotel payment with Kristen looking concerned by his side.  I didn't interfere...well not physically...instead I texted them: I'm right behind you. 

Kind of always wanted to do that.  

I retrieved Tomris's purse.  Kristen joked that her friend said she should come to throw water on the vehicle.  I told Kristen I had timed my visit to see them off one last time and throw water at them.  It's a Turkish thing I always see at the bus stations... family's waiting and waving, and then as the bus pulls out they take they splash water on the bus, emptying their bottle in a prayer and blessing for safe travels - that your road will be open and your travels fast and light like water.

"You did?  Did you bring water?  (Me pulling my water bottle out of the car).  She brought water!"  Kristen started to cry.  "You came to throw water after us (bah hoo hoo!)  She came to splash water on us!"  The Turkish porters nodded and smiled in approval.  "So how does this work?" Kristen said pulling out her phone camera and everyone gathering around.  I explained how I must do it while they drove away - and while they had all come out to say goodbye once again, they all eagerly and dutifully clamored back into the van, skipping hugs in their excitement, trying to fit their viewfinders through the tiny spaces between suitcases to capture a final Turkish moment.  I tossed the water at minibus as he pulled away and the porters yelled at me "throw it all ON the car!  ON the car!" and so I chucked the water so that it splashed on the back as they pulled away.  It was kind of awesome.