Thursday August 30th, 2012
There's 2 small notebooks with jottings about shows and sights and sounds that I'll be looking through and posting from for the next couple of days. The highs... the lows... the sticky toffee pudding. But first I'll be driving my mom back to Dead Lake (unfortunate name, but a very nice lake). It's a 3 1/2 hour drive up there, and I'm still a bit jet lagged, so I thought it would make sense to write the postings after sleep and rest and a little bit of forethought.
I must mention my family picking me up at the airport. Of course by the time I arrived I felt ultra scuzzy. Travel can be hard work. In order to save money, I did not fly direct. So, one stop in London, then on to Texas (?), a 3 hour layover, and finally back to Minneapolis. It was a long day.
I'd bought and packed chocolate, which might be gifts if I can stop myself from eating all the Tunnock's tea cakes (they're SO good) and Cadbury chocolate. All of my clothes and possesions got heavier while I was in Scotland and of course you always end up with more stuff than you brought. So lugging the suitcases (I had two), plus one carry-on, a really heavy purse and a bag of gifts and chocolate treats really took it's toll. There's also that scary feeling when you approach the gate you'll be boarding. You know that you have too much stuff and technically they could make you check another bag ($$), so you try and maneuver your way into standing between those classy passengers who maybe have one tiny carry-on, or just a newspaper. And, you barely make eye contact with the flight steward(ess) so they don't notice how much stuff you have. Anyway.... long day.... lots of heavy stuff ..... and snacking to relieve the boredom of long flights and lots of waiting.
When I finally saw Glenn by the luggage carousel in Minneapolis my body was relieved. I got a nice hug (PDA) from him and my mom, and looked around but didn't see Mabel anywhere. "She's home watching a really interesting TV program." I was told. I was sorry to not see her, but she's 13, so I can't expect that single minded hero-worship-adoration that a toddler can give you.
Bags collected we headed to our car. Right before leaving the terminal I noticed a girl wearing glasses, texting on her cell phone.
Me: (to my mom) That girl looks like she's wearing a wig!
Mom: Ya, she kinda does.
Me: You don't think she heard me do you? She could be a cancer victim or something.
Mom: No, I don't think she heard you.
Well, we sit down in the car and the possible cancer victim climbs in the back seat with me, pulls off the wig and it's Mabel!
I screamed first, and then we all laughed.
So, check back for the final few postings, I still have lots to talk about. : )