Jetless Lag

It's way too late to be less than half packed, to have the Christmas and Hanukkah presents piled in the hall in the boxes they were delivered in. There are phone messages left unanswered, laundry not yet washed, and a couple of suitcases missing. We still have not mastered those simple and reassuring Mandarin phrases we have been practicing or rounded up one more set of passport-size photos, or dug up all the books and swimsuits and entertainments for the plane or bought enough little-boy clothes. The Jibbigo translation, most expensive app purchased so far, butchers our English let alone our attempts to see if it can recognize us speaking Chinese. When Meimei tried to say "Wo ai ni," or "I love you," into the microphone, her words were translated as "national security." No, we are not prepared, but we are so ready.