My trip home,
11/19/2007
A trip through memories and a chance to do some shopping!
I headed out to the airport on Wednesday morning to find out my flight was going to be changed to the airline I dislike. The plane I was going to take broke and I had to switch carriers, I should have just delayed for another day, waited for the evening flight I just should have done something different. I should have known: there was a guy getting off in Austin in full camouflage gear: hat, shoes, cap pants and shirt. He looked like a real hunter until he picked up the pink paisley suitcase from the baggage carrousel. No woman around I could see. Why was I watching? I was stuck for another hour waiting for the next flight to NYC.
Once on board, we were just supposed to stop in North Carolina to drop off and pick up but we landed and got told to deplane. It ended up taking me 14 hours to get to Mom’s house when it only should have been a half day. I was whipped by the time I arrived: it was late, we had dinner and I just headed to bed. My evening plans were not what I was expecting.
I was in my old room: it is quite smaller then I remember, but it is still my room. It was strange being at Mom’s CT house. We were trying to figure out the last time I had a visit there. I think it was my high school reunion in 03. Mom has made some changes, done a bit of remodeling and it looked great! I usually visit in FL now.
I spent a lovely day on Thursday meeting up and checking in on some old friends. It was so nice to see and spend some time with them. A few were announced visits and a couple of unannounced visits. I was driving in the old neighborhood and saw a house I vividly remembered: K and E lived there with their parents. We hung around quite a bit in Jr. high and high school. I asked Mom and she said the house had sold a couple of times. I kept wondering what the boys were up to.
I decided after dinner to look in the telephone book and one of them was listed. I gave a call and talked to a child who gave me their dad’s cell number. I figured what the heck and gave a call. I met up with E for drinks with his friend and his brother in law. Yes, married with 4 kids same with his brother. It was strange to talk about times more than 20 years ago. It was quite nice to get caught up for a bit but they were on the way out. I stopped and spoke to another man I had seen at the bar, it turned out I also went to high school with him. I was a bit put off when he asked who my teachers were. I responded “I have no idea; I have had quite a life since then, I don’t remember.” I guess that was a bit snitty, but it is the truth.
Friday C and I went into the city to do some shopping. C and I shop: it is an all day deal, lots of stores, lots of choices, lots of back and forth to the pickup truck to drop off bags of goodies. We shop wholesale for her store and I was able to make some purchases along with her. I managed to get some Christmas presents and some shinny, bling things for me. We stopped for some great NYC food and then headed back to Mom’s. C and I had to go through the bags and bags of stuff to find mine. Mom said it was the most jewelry she had ever seen at one time. Yah, it was over the top, but I did enjoy the experience. It is strange with C, we can not see each other for years, not talk on the phone for months and the conversations just pick up where we left off. It is so nice to have a friend like that.
Saturday was chore day at Mom’s. She had a list for me. We started on it and got it all accomplished. It took most of the day, but we worked well together and got them done. I spent a lot of hours on the ladder, restringing plant things, fixing some damage from the new woodpecker and getting the house ready for winter. I asked Mom later why she keeps the place and not head to FL permanently. She is so not ready to do that, message received.
I went out to dinner with L and R for Saturday night. I was hopping their kids would be there, but they are now teenagers and I remember how that works. I did get to see pictures of all them, learn a little bit more about how they are doing. I am so proud. J is R’s older son; I got to see pictures of him and his bride and there kids. Yes a trip down memory lane, it always is. They were so nice to me, I kept hearing about a development area and I wanted to take a look so they took me on a little drive so I could see for myself what it is all about.
Sunday I headed out early to the airport. The car service showed up a half hour earlier then I had planned. I was glad I was ready to go; I had packed the night before. I was so relived when I checked my bag in NYC and I was going to fly my favorite airline home. I had a very nice ride to Kansas City: my seatmate M turned out to be quite lovely to share the flight with. I hope when he is in Austin, I can meet up with him again. I managed to make my flight to Austin, it was a tight gate time and I was heading in and out of security.
I landed at home and was so glad to see my place, my dog and my friends. I love to travel, but I also love that feeling when you get back to your own place, there is nothing else like it. I took Saba for a long walk down at the new park. It was a beautiful night and the views were gorgeous. I sure missed having Saba along, but with the travel troubles I was glad it was just me to worry about.
Today I spent a day getting caught up: I had some appointments to keep, I had some running around to do. Tonight I was watching “Dancing with the Stars” and Helio looked so good tonight. Who would have thought a race car driver could dance? Not me, but it is Helio Castroneves.
