Last Family Pictures

These are some pics that we took the night before Inna left (May 20^th). Victoria lost her camera battery charger though, so we couldn’t charge the camera after it died. And since mine got beaten up (No comments please), we have had to rely on hers. Soo...Everyone got their pic taken with her at home, and I had to wait until at the airport. I got to go back with Inna to the boarding area since she is under 18. They would only let one of us back. So, we (Inna and I) took a few pics while waiting for her plane to board. I didn’t cry until I saw her get on her plane. I could see her through the window, and since there was a little space between the tunnel and the airplane, I could see her. She didn’t look at me though. Good thing, I wouldn’t have lasted. Andrew called me right after she boarded and then I started crying. A lot. I tried to wait until the plane took off before I ran back to everyone, but when they started putting up the tunnel thingy, I just couldn’t stand it anymore. It was very tough.

But, she’s in Ukraine now. She misses everyone. And her friends here miss her too (just FYI Inna)!! She started back to school yesterday. But they are 7 hours ahead of us. So right now as I type this (9:48 AM) it is 4:48 PM at her house.

We miss you Inna!!

At the Charlotte International Airport

Inna and Daddy the morning of her flight

Inna and James the night before

Mom and Inna

Victoria and Inna

Daddy and his girls!

Tribute to Inna

I miss Inna very badly this morning because when I'm the least bit upset or worried/scared about something, I usually go to her. And she isn't here. I miss her more than I've ever missed her before! I keep on telling myself that she is just at a camp or on a trip and that she'll be home any day now. But that's not true. I even find myself leaving work thinking about if I need to pick her up from Softball practice or not. And when I'm bored at home, I tell myself that Inna will be home at 3:30. Then I realize that she's gone. It's tough. We fought a lot, and we made up. We played around, and we teased each other. We talked about guys, our futures, how much we hated each other, and we used to love listening to music together. When I had my surgery on my nose, she began playing doctor the minute I got home. She made sure that I ate, took my medicine, and was comfortable. She even told me to shut up a few times when I cried too much. How's that for tough love?? She made me chicken noodle soup! It was amazing! It gave me life again.

I remember coming home from Galax one evening, Inna made me make up a song. It was about a rat, a dog, a wife, and a guy. It was a funny song. And she made me sing it all the time! But she loved it!!

At the airport, when I was in the boarding area with her waiting for her plane, we sat and we took silly pictures. We ate M&Ms. We called people so she could say some goodbyes. Then she lay down on my lap and looked up at me. I wanted to cry right then.

It's hard to believe that when we first decided to have her, I had planned to not get close to her at all. I thought that she would have her own friends, and she would be out doing stuff with them. I figured that if she was close to any of us, it would be Victoria. But, despite what I thought/planned, Inna came, and for the first umm...maybe 2-3 months, we didn't get along very well. But, once we had had several arguments, and cried many times, we made up, and tried to get along better. We did get along better.

We used to argue and fight over phone and internet time. We did that from the time she got here, to the time she left. I guess we will if we see each other again too!!

So. To end this. I love Inna Zhekova-Hall. And I always will! She's my oldest-little sister. I love her dearly! So...Miss Inna...if you read this. Remember what I've said.


Cate Hall