What was going through my head

I want to take a step back, from when I got off the plane until I was seated in my chair for the arrival ceremony.

I gathered my things and headed for the door, It seemed like no time had passed and I was at the door, the bright sun in my face and trying to hold the camera too to catch the excitement and remember the moment. I walked down the stairs and reached the ground. No jetways for this flight we need to step off the plane onto the land promised us so long ago. There were journalists everywhere with still and video cameras. Everyone was excited and joyus sounds were all around. I stopped and took a picture for my friends, The Solats so they could have a picture of the whole family with the plane in the background. If I hadn't been a little mentally numb I should have had them do the same for me, oh well.

We then borded the bus and it seemed there was more luggage than people, and in reality I'm sure that was true since we could each have 2 pieces of carry on. The ride to the old terminal took about 3-4 minutes. When we got close we could see all the people, flags, banners and posters. When we stopped there were hoards of people and when the doors opened the sound was overwelming, people screaming, crying, music, shofar blowing and who knows what else. It was joyus. I gathered my things and headed for the gautlet. The chayalim (the soldiers) were lined up to greet us. As I stepped toward the people, not really seeing space to go, but I went anyway, I see Natan Sharansky standing there greeting us personally, shaking each of our hands, I couldn't help myself as this amazing man was there greeting me to my new home that he endured such hardship himself to realize his dream, so I reached out and hugged him. I walked a few steps to then be greeted by Josh Sussman, yet another hug in order, someone gave me a rose and then I see a poster with my name on it (there was anther that I walked past and didn't see until I was inside) being held by my cousin Susan. They kept moving us along, wanting us to clear the way for the rest of the olim to get inside.

So once inside Susan and I got to talk and she took my picture in front of one of the banners inside, you'll see it when I get it... I got an ice coffee (coffee slush) and it was refreshing. I then met Susan's neighbors, who were holding the other poster. I briefly got to say hi to Larua Ben David and finally sat for the ceremony. When watching online it seemed to take forever to get from the plane to the beginning of the ceremony. Doing it only seemed to last minutes, so much going on and my head was spinning a mile a minute. Amazing feeling, glad to be here, glad to hear the words of wisdom and welcome, then time to get to work on life.