After exactly nine days back in the place we currently call home, here and once again I am blogging from the road. Our bags or as I say it, “Behgs,” well, they are packed, and we are somewhere between here and there, Phoenix International Airport, to be exact. Indigestion is settling in after ingesting our overpriced airport food. I’m sitting on the floor just outside of gate A10, leaning against a poorly painted pinky-beige column, guarding the outlet we found. Kyle is sitting over at gate A12, and Eli is sitting behind me.  I cannot see him. He came over and assured me he was there, and now we communicate via text.

Blogging from Europe was not only an insane writing goal, a goal that I thought up during a Red Eye; in truth, it actually kept me sane.  While traveling through England and Ireland, instead of things getting under my skin, when I felt like screaming, I would reach for my phone and take notes. In truth the happy moments were equally motivating. Recording them assured me that I would not lose the memory of those lovely times. It worked. Now today and seeing as how Kyle, Eli and I are on our way to a family reunion, a little sanity is what I could use. I am also counting on a lot of happiness.  (Yes, it is also true. I am sure this family reunion would make a most excellent Lifetime Television movie.)

It is Day one. Between the time the Salt Lake City gate attendant scanned our boarding passes until the moment I dropped our carry-ons off for gate pick-up, the boys looked over to me and said, “Mom, we think this whole family reunion is making you a little nervous. You are not yourself.”

My boys are right. I am nervous. And as much as Kyle and Eli know I love and adore my family, the truth is my two brothers, three sisters and I have not been in the same place in fifteen years. It was October 1999. I was pregnant with Kyle. My oldest sister was getting married, and even my biological father (Will) was there.  I believe he touched my pregnant belly. Uncomfortably weird, which was exactly how things were between us.  He will not be in Minnesota, and coincidentally he currently lives in Arizona. My sister’s wedding is the last time I saw him too.

October 1999. My mom and I flew to Minnesota early. I was at the end of my you-can-fly-safely-while-pregnant window. And it is a memory that started with pregnant and frustrated tears, lots of tears.  My mom and I booked our flights late and could only get middle seats. My tiny-sized mom got her seat, and eight month pregnant me was seated in the middle of two colossal people, each using their own “extend-a-belts” that they attached to the regular airplane seat belt.  However un-cool and un-PC I was, at the sight of their individual extend-a-belts, I immediately burst into tears. I am certain they were heaving sobs. The moment the lady lifted the armrest between the two of us and said, “Do you mind if I keep this up for the flight. It just doesn’t fit,” I short-circuited. could only give her a blank stare.  I was pregnant and just as big, and had no idea how we would all fit. I jumped to my feet, waddled my way past the extend-a-belt guy, and found a flight attendant. “For the love of the three of us, please find me another seat.” I couldn’t stop crying, and he complied.

 

Day 1

• Eli, Kyle and I are flying to MN while Dave works in San Francisco. My mom took an earlier flight. My sisters are driving in, and my other Utah brother, yes, I have a brother that lives in Utah and yes, we hardly speak, well, he flies in I don’t know when. I have one brother and one sister who live in Minnesota, the land where I am from.
• OCD. Did I lock the truck? Did I shut the garage door? Did I start the dishwasher? Did we get the lock on the storage unit? Safety is my OCD. Where did it come from?
• Boys know I’m stressed. They tell me so.
• We are on the plane.
• Taking off.
• Kyle and Eli hold my hand.
• We are seated in Row 22, seats, A,B and C . It is the best back row I have ever sat in.
• Dave offered to fly out for the weekend. I felt heard. Way to go, “Big Daddy!”
• Now listening to Sigur Ros’, “Alright.” A little Icelandic music is good for the soul.
• Mumford and Sons is playing.”We run and scream. You will dance with me. We will fulfill our dreams and we will be free.” Turbulence. I don’t like turbulence. Pressure change. Ouch! My ears. “We will be who we are. It will heal our scar sadness. We will be far away…I will love with urgency. Not with haste.”
• Yes, music always always connects my heart. It eases my mind.
• Kyle us playing on his DS. Eli is watching,  “The Simpsons.”
• Kyle has been getting into Simon & Garfunkel so I put the Concert in Central Park on my iPhone. I am glad.
• The Acronym BFF is on Coke can I am drinking from.
• There is a soundtrack  playing in my head, because I hear it through my headphones. Even though you may not know the melody, I hope the words connect. Now playing: Avett Brothers, The Perfect Space. “I want to have friends…that love me for the man I’ve become not the man I was…all alone is when being alone is all I need… I want to fit in [pause] to the perfect space…” Now from The Concert in Central Park, “Hello darkness my old friend…” The song makes me think of home. Singing with my sisters, sitting at the table in the back of our camper. “But my words like silent raindrops fell.”
• Remind me to charge my iPhone.
• 25 minutes left of the flight.
• Ouch. Pressure. Ears.
• Don’t tell Dave (because I always give him grief for doing the same): I gave Eli a few sips of my Coke.
• Yes I have “Blurred Lines,” on my iPad and yes, I’m doing a little shoulder shake while I type this.
• “It’s 98 degrees in Phoenix.” The captain says over the loudspeaker and I think of boy bands.
• “Every time I see you falling I get down on my knees and pray.” I am so glad New Order’s “Bizarre love triangle” made it on the Shuffle.
• We are about to land, and the cups haven’t been picked up. Oh well. We piled them onto Kyle’s tray.
• “She keeps it simple and I am thankful for her kind of loving, because it’s simple.” Bobbing my head to the Alt country (is that what you would call them), Avett Brothers as we hear the landing gear ready itself.
• Words do mean something, even without the melody. Although I readily admit the melody makes it much better.
• The Avett Brothers continue, “I hope I don’t sound insane when I say that there is darkness all around us…in January, we’re getting married…it no longer matters what circumstances we were born in.”
• Did I mention I’m taking two poetry classes in the fall?
• And Bohemian Rhapsody shuffles on at just the right time. Freddy Mercury aptly sings us into our turbulent landing. Yes and perfect.
• Kyle teases me when I grab his leg.
• “Don’t mean to make you cry if I’m not back this time tomorrow. Carry on. Carry on.”
• Hello Arizona.
• Crazy companion fare: SLC – PHX – MSP

Touchdown

• “Mama Mia. Mamma Mia. Let me go.”
• Landed.
• Airplane mode off.
• First text shows up from our friend Kevin. It says, “yep. Breathe.” Exactly.

 

PS. Hours later.  My lifetime, BFF, Marianne,  picked the boys and I up at the airport. On the way home we stopped at my oldest sister, Brenda’s house. All six kids (and my mom) were there. We hugged. We laughed. We were awkward. We hugged some more. It was amazing. I would call this weekend a success and it is only Thursday night. So cool!

Day 17 (really Day 18, when you include travel, I think)

Europe
We won’t miss:

• Inconveniently placed hair dryers in every single hotel.
• The Shining bathroom
• Inconveniently sized spoons
• Paying for parking everywhere
• Under seasoned food
• Roads too narrow for cars
• Fighting over dessert
• Painted ceilings
• Hampton Court
• The Tower of London
• Overly complicated but ineffective European plumbing — toilets – hot water on one side, cold water on the other.And what I won’t miss about the journey home.
• This is really not about Europe, but I will not miss the Newerk Airport. I am sure I will have to fly through you again, but today you have let me down.

What we will miss:

• Superior bacon
• Dark chocolate covered rice cakes
• The Chalk Cliffs (especially Kyle & I)
• Dublin
• The Cliffs of Moher
• The Fountain Inn, Whales
• Cornettos
• Croissants every morning
• Bulk loads of Nutella to smother all over the croissants.
• Tea kettles filled with piping hot water
• The Kensington Whole Foods
• Ruined castles and abbeys
• Walls adorned with hundred of guns and swords as decoration
• Downtown Leeds
• Brighton
• Beachy Head. We loved Beachy Head.
• The cute boutique London Boutique hotels
• Dave says he’ll miss Marmite. I do not believe him.
• Little Ass Burrito, DublinAdditionally,
• Grandma, additionally we will miss you! <3
• I will and I will not miss the parallel universe, and overly reserve, polite people.

And about today, it is not over, and we are about to board another plane.

• We had breakfast in Belfast.
• On the drive to airport, we joked about the Utah pronunciation of the word mittens pronounced, mih’ ins. We promised to name our pet Mih’ ins (if we ever get one).
• I was totally thrown at Belfast Security when they sent Eli’s jams through the x-ray another time. That is where we kept the jam(s), and somehow my very lovely toiletry bag did not return to my backpack. Arhg!
• Yes, and about airport searches. Really, about airports… I think airports are their very own governing unit/police state, with the ticket agents representing say War Lords.  (Um and yes in this moment we are a little frustrated with frustrated rant to follow):The ticket agents know the system and know how to manipulate their power. Everything is always “out of their hands.” And apparently in the Country of Newark, it is ok for four ticket agents to stand in the path of people trying to check-in.  When we first went to check in the agent, Shereen snapped at us and sent us to a computer. When Dave asked her a question, she snapped again, and told us we had to call Award Travel, because some of our tickets were paid for, and some were Frequent Flyer tickets. We kindly stepped away and called the Award Travel People. They couldn’t help so we decided to simply take our original flight. No problem. We walked back up to check in.  As we did, the same United Airlines Premier Access Ticket Agent loudly said to the three other agents she was talking to (instead of any of them helping customers),
  “Oh great, they are back!”
  Yes, that is what she said. And yes, Shareen R. we are back. Where else are we supposed to check in? And when we, the  lowly customer, say something like,
  “I heard that (which I did as we walked by, and I am also tired of bullies, who come in all shapes in forms 00 my bad 😉 ),”
  it is apparently also ok for the not-doing-their-job-gossiping ticket agent to grunt and then say,
  “she should not be eavesdropping on our conversation.”
  (Um, I don’t think it is eavesdropping when you give us the obvious once-over, as you share loud enough for us to hear.)Anyway…
  I caught my breath and while walked over to see if Dave heard, the lovely ticket agent quickly went across the way, and called a supervisor  over to talk to us (we found out  who she was calling moments later).True story.
  Lame.
  Customers are powerless.

  Shereen R. was using her knowledge of the system to bully us, the customer, and to avoid responsibility . She should have just apologized, helped us and moved on. Instead, she lied and undermined our credibility.  This is one of the reasons why I think airports are no longer places to feel free or safe, especially as the customer. We really are powerless, and it is their (stealthy and practiced) word against ours.

  The three other lady agents are not without blame either. They knew Shareen was wrong. Instead of helping us, they covered themselves, and went back to work.  Yet before I called out the ticket agent, instead of helping all the customers, they thought it was ok to stand in our path and complain about us.

  It is my understanding that a ticket agent is a customer service job. Apparently I am wrong. By calling a supervisor over (Dina), Shareen cut me off at the pass, saving her own bacon.  Instead of saying that what she did wasn’t cool, she created a drama that did not exist.

  We couldn’t change our flight, and were ok. We moved on and as we were walking away, Dina (the supervisor),  stopped us (got in our path) and began to accuse us of having a “confrontation.” We were puzzled and really confused.  When I pushed for answers, she said, “the gate agent called and said there was going to be a confrontation.”  What the what?  We explained, she didn’t listen, and then she kind of did. She actually said, “well, I don’t see why we couldn’t help you.”

  Honestly, we were so tired and worn down. We know airports. We were actually were calm and nice. Because Shareen was protecting herself, the supervisor kept waiting for us to strike. We did not. After a few seconds the supervisor could see that we were harmless. We were simply confused (like I said), and caught in the path of a ticket agent, who apparently, has a problem with personal responsibility and integrity. Her reaction was bizarre and also calculated. She knew what to do to avoid punishment and what she did was sicl. She has the power.  We were no one really.  Just people who got in her way. So gross!

  And because of the police state airports have become, there was really nothing we could do. Dina, the supervisor, promised to call both the United Lounge and Customer Service. We stopped at both. Neither knew who we were. Customer Service was useless. They did not listen. Our original concern: “can we get on an earlier flight?” United Airlines, you blew it. Shame on you!

• We found a Smash Burger in the airport. I finally ate.
• I talked to two very lovely men in the United Lounge.  Renewed my faith in humanity. Reminded me of Brian and Robbins, my favorite, favorites, who really do make the world a better place.
• Oh hey and my brother Bill just called. I told him not to hold me to anything I say in this conversation. I’ve been up for awhile.
• The boys are good. Dave is settling back into the work groove and we are very excited for the next leg of our journey.
• Ahoy!

Next Morning, which is this morning:

I tried and I tried and I tried to post the post from Newerk. Alas, I could not, so here it is from Los Angeles.
Today is a new day. After twenty-four hours of travel, at midnight, we arrived at our hotel. Sure, once we arrived they had lost our reservation. After watching Eli pass out on the hotel couch, Brian, the front desk guy, took pity on us.  In on fell swoop, and a few calls, the hotel went from full to one room left.  High fives to that! Dave was up at 3:45 AM for his 6:00 AM flight, and is already back in San Francisco. And from our Los Angeles hotel room I am already knocking away at all the things we missed while we were away. It is nice to be back in the United States. Sure, everyone came to the hotel breakfast in flip-flops and sweats, and a lady stole Kyle’s pancake right out from under him because and I quote, “is going to miss her flight.” I am curious. What do pancakes and morning flights have to do with anything. And yes, it was literally the last pancake, by the way. Anyway, we are home (sort of). As I reach for my adaptor, Eli reminds me that those plugs, plug right in.

We enjoyed the journey and are very glad to be back.

 

I like Dave. I like that tonight we sat in our hotel bathroom so I could have a minute. “Dave, will you sit here with me? I need a minute. I will be quiet. I know it’s hard when I vent.”

“What? What’s wrong with the hotel?”

“I love the hotel! It is awesome!”

“Oh, was it because you have been sitting in the car all day?”

“Yep. You know I am ok sitting in the back. After so many hours being trapped, I just need to let it out.”

He smiled. I vented. He vented with me, and all was right in the world.

I love Dave.

Here is a little about our day. I hope you are totally not getting sick of these posts. I am writing while snuggled up in our hotel bed. Eli is lying next to me, going old school, playing his DS. He and Kyle are talking across the room. Dave is reading “Esquire.” The television is playing the Meg Ryan, Russell Crowe classic, “Proof of Life,” in the background. Grandma is staying in another room down the hall. She had cheese, grapes, cheese, and bread for dinner. Dave, the boys and I hit the Dublin streets and found some really awesome Mexican food at a restaurant called “Little Ass Burrito Bar,” made by Brazilians in Ireland. Yes, totally awesome.
Breaking it down:

• Our last day in Killarney. I was ready to leave our Bed and Breakfast. Is it wrong to say that the magic had worn off?
• Breakfast Memories: As we sat at our B & B breakfast (between 8:30 – 9:30 AM) we laughed as we mentioned “The Shining” shower in my and Dave’s room.  See, for our last night, Dave and I moved to our own room in the carriage house, which was just as lovely except for the scary bathroom and musty smell. Eli laughed and said, “wasn’t it more like a ‘Psycho’ shower?” To which Dave responded, “no, the little kids rode over on their trikes and opened the shower curtain.” At that I held my right index finger up to Kyle and whispered, “Redrum, redrum.” We all laughed. We needed to let off some steam. We all agreed, as lovely as the Bed and Breakfast was, as awesome as the little pony and donkey are, and as delightful as the owner is, there were definitely some hilarious horror-movie quirks. Yes, my shower did have a circa 1975-One-Flew-Over-The-Cookoo’s-Nest vibe. Eli (yes, this next part is gross) did extract a long brown hair from his scrambled eggs.  Hey, but it is a B & B, not a health code required restaurant. And the worn brown towels, I am still a little confused about them. I know it’s a picky thing, but I would have preferred white.  Now the rest of it, the land, the flowers, the big giant, lovely, wallpapered home, an incredible home on forty acres, that has remained in this Irish family for four generations is simply amazing and totally worth the stay.
• Another note on breakfast. Somewhere in our B & B evaluation, I went rogue and used the giant porridge spoon for the teaspoon. And as we listened to the music playing in the background, I sang a song, “I lost my tea in Glengariff,” because I did. I did lose my green tea in Glengariff.  As I sung my homespun tune, I decided like everyone else in Ireland, that I would make my own music CD, and just like everyone else I would sell each copy for ten Euros on the side of the road, or on the steps of the Cliffs of Moher overlook.  Ok and so by the time our Adams family breakfast dialog was coming to an end. My music CD had evolved to a band of musicians playing in a pub instead of the side of the road. Of course there would be a dulcimer, lute, banjo, and a harp.
• Grandma is here. I don’t write much about extended family anymore because, well, I don’t want to get into it. Anyway, Grandma is here, and she has been the most major part of the journey. We see here and are glad she is here.
• My grocery list: Stain remover, solvent, soap, black food coloring
• You know, that whole letting go thing?
• Proudest parenting moment. Because I birthed someone who communicates like me. In all honesty I don’t know if it is parenting or genetics, but I am THRILLED!  These are the words I heard and I am tickled, “Mom, I don’t need you to do anything, I just need you to listen.”.
• Remember I am the mom ❤
• Cahir, Ireland Public Toilet Experience. I pulled a long, old chain attached to a box, which was attached to ceiling. That was a first.
• A perfect and unexpected lunch
• Cahir
• No giant hands sign. Good one, Kyle.
• So much cow and sheep poop at the Rock of Cashel and the abandoned Abbey across the street from the Rock of Cashel.
• We didn’t pay to get into an historical site. That was awesome.
• We made it to Dublin and that is where we decompressed.
• Made Dave sit and talk in the bathroom. He was worried until he realized all is well I simply needed to blow off steam
• Eli was Facetiming while sitting in hotel tub.
• “Men At Work” remix was playing as we waited outside for our food at Little Ass Burrito, Dublin. Food was great! I want to go back.
• Dave and Kyle got ice cream on the way back.
• Our hotel is right by Grafton Street, which is so cool and makes me very happy. It is nice to be here.

 

This was a bullet point, but I made it into an introduction. I was sad for a minute, then wasn’t, and in truth I am still feeling really down. Unfortunately the blues can hit even when you are on the road. I think life hit me all at once. It was weird how that happens. One minute you are walking through your day, then something strikes you just right, tipping you into the abyss. Tonight what tipped me to sad is a picture of two friends on Facebook. Has that ever happened to you, or am I completely weird? Wait. Don’t answer that [wink, wink]. See, usually when my lovely friend comes to town, my other lovely friend and I meet up with her. We always have the best and most fulfilling connections.  Currently my visiting friend is in Utah while I am here. She will be gone before I get home.

Somehow today the sitting in the way, way back of the van for almost two weeks with Dave so close and yet so far away was starting to get to me.  Seeing the FB picture somehow smacked me with empty. Even though we are traveling as a family together I often feel disconnected and far apart. Talking loudly to Dave while he sits in the front seat and drives on the other side of the road is a little less than convenient with Kyle, Eli and my mother-in-law in between us. It is not really a complaint as much as it is what it is. I am grateful. I love to travel. I am here in stunning Ireland. I get how lucky I am. Unfortunately, sad moments don’t discriminate.  While she sits next to him in the passenger seat, Dave’s mom fills him with details and facts that are different than our usual travel conversation. Envious is not the right word. I feel removed. I am alone in the back seat. Kyle and Eli are fighting, joking about a YouTube video or have their headphones on. As cool of a mom as I think I may be, they understandably lose interest in having long, deep lady talks with me.  Most days I don’t mind. I like putting my headphones on and listening to my music.  Sure, I miss my singing at the top of my lungs, but music is good. Also, here are the facts: I am the size of a Fun-Size Snickers bar so I should be the one shoved in the way, way back. I know it is easier for me to get in and out of the back, and the tower of suitcases next to me only recently got on my nerves.  Tonight the sad hit me, I felt completely alone, disconnected, and couldn’t quite shake it. So when I saw the picture of my two friends, Emily and Stephanie, I longed for connection, because when I am with them it is always quick and easy to go deep. Hey, and the best part of this whole vent is I get to appreciate how lucky I am to have great friends in my life who see me and are interested in who I am. What a gift, and I am literally not feeling so sad. .

Still loving Ireland and here are some key points, because I am trying to shake it up and not use the word bullet.

• After breakfast and before we left our Gelngariff hotel: A quickie with big daddy after breakfast.
• “Stop fighting,” we say to the boys and then we talk to them about how impossibly picturesque it is.  (I remember thinking at the time, “I wonder if I will remember tonight exactly how this conversation went.” I will answer and say, “not exactly.” J
• We thought about taking a boat ride in Glengariff to the island Maureen O’hara lived on. We were walking by the boat landing. I asked the boat guy about the journey and he said there were seals, gardens, and we would not be disappointed. We decided not to take the ride and I kind of wish we had.
• Then we walked to the swimming hole on the Proudly River,
• And once there, we saw a bunch of dead jellyfish, and a fly bit Grandma’s face. The boys found giant sticks and were using them as swords, spears, and walking sticks. Crack, crack, crack I would hear as they would jump on them to get them to just the right size.
• We walked around, and I bought a dress for half price in Glengariff.
• Driving from Glengariff back to Killarney, we stopped to see the view. Dave, the boys, and I climbed high up on a rocky hill to see a view of the valley and lake below. It was there when Eli fell into an unknown Irish cactus plant and had a terrible rashy reaction. His hand was splotchy, itchy, and swollen. I gave him some Benadryl and Pepcid, and it eventually went away.
• We stopped at the Irish Wall Drug and we all agreed it was much nicer and cuter.  It was really hard not to buy anything, and I am not a big souvenir buyer.
• I like Kenmare. It is a cute Irish town.
• We ate in Kenmare at the Purple Heather.
• We are tired.
• The Kenmare Stone Circle: underwhelming at best.
• Kyle and I saw a deep voiced sheep at Avoca on the Ring of Kerry drive. We said the sheep reminded us of his friend Alex, who also has a lovely and deep voice.
• Everywhere we go people are playing music and we like it.
• Killarney National park is amazing. The black, white and grey rocky cliffs, water, and all the green remind Eli and me of Hawaii.
• A delightful bed and breakfast at the edge of the park is where we are staying tonight and probably tomorrow.
• I visited with Eileen, the B & B owner, for over an hour. I loved hearing about her world. She has four daughters, and her life seems very similar to mine. I love how we, as mothers, worry about the same things, no matter what country we live in. I love how she talked about “politics” between moms. Again, I assured her that “politics ” between mothers is a universal, and we can take comfort in knowing that we “get” it.
• I am trying to keep my mouth shut (which should have been a sign that I was feeling sad).
• We had dinner at Molly Darcy’s tonight. Yes, there was music and Irish Dancing. Pretty cool.
• Oh I think it is awesome that silverware is placed on the other side than we are accustomed too.
• After dinner we went to get a treat. Dave stopped at Tesco. The Gluten Free section at Tesco is the best I have seen in Ireland.

 

PS Thank you, Melissa!

  Do you hear my son whine-breathing? It has been a long day, which ended on an especially high note. Thank you, Declan and the gang!

• Up at 5:30 AM
• Remembering where DeAnne used her credit card last
• Breakfast at Starbucks. Dave and DeAnne ate the leftover raspberries.
• On our way to airport. Stopped at the Asda (Wal-mart-like) grocery to get some candy, and supplies.  My favorite was the pink ribbon straps on the package of mini-pads.
• Goodbye Leeds. You really are a lovely city.
• Ireland plans are a mess. Flight was delayed three times.
• Chocolate – wet wipes (this is my grocery list).
• Ahoy! My Period just started at the Manchester Airport!
• Cold and Rainy in Knock. Feels cozy.
• Flung my unused tampon under the stall next to me. Officially a first! Glad I had a spare.
• Our Hertz rental had 924 km on it. I’d say we scored.
• Did I forget to mention last night’s round of grateful? When we are tired and cranky there is nothing like several rounds of the gratefuls to turn things around. What you do is say start with Eli. He tells us one thing he is grateful for, then we move to Kyle and so on. Several of the rounds both boys professed their gratitude for electronics. I professed my gratitude for my headphones and Eli’s great sense of humor. I think Dave professed his gratitude that the food was coming so the gratitude game could end. Ok. I am just kidding about Dave. He was a good sport, and grateful for satellite mapping – (me too, btw.)
• Canceled our Galway hotel reservation and I am grateful!
• Walked around Galway. Lots of singing, lots of crazy, and a dude who lit part of his bike of fire for his street show followed by stating these words, “I need an audience and one way to get one is by lighting stuff on fire.” We laughed and did not stop.
• I love Ireland! It’s rugged, passionate, and most awesomely wild!
• Resetting at the Chi Asian/Malaysian bistro in Galway. Beyond delicious!
• Boys are SO tired and are fighting like crazy puppies.
• Apparently taking electronics away from the boys enables them to not only speak to each other, but speak kindly to one another. They also break into song. Adorable!. Just now they stated that they only wish  their fried Clara was here  singing with them.
• Third time we’ve seen a tractor used as a car. This time the tractors was parked at the gas station that had a gluten free section. They tractor dude and his passenger were leaving when we were. At one point Dave exclaimed, “We better hurry, the tractor is right behind us.”
• Without my glasses and with my terrible pronunciation I am slaughtering Irish words. I kind of like it. And of course all respect to the beautiful Gaelic language.
• Mommy (that is me) scored on the hotel find. We are staying at the Ballinalacken Castle Hotel. I think Grandma may have shed a silent tear of joy.
• And on that note, this long day is coming to an end.  It was a good one. And seriously I am so tired my memory is fading.  Loved sitting with Dave at the end of the long day and looking out onto the ocean.  We could still see the sky at 11:00 PM.
• All you back home, enjoy our day! We miss you!

Trip, Day 10, by the way 🙂

• A better day
• It’s raining
• I was up a 6:30.
• My shameless breakfast. (I can’t even remember why I thought it was shameless.)
• Americans really are louder, including me.
• People in the UK are full of quiet restraint, and are also in no hurry to say get you your food or your check. We are the rude Americans rushing through our meals, then impatiently waiting to go.
• “Swapsies” – said by Chelsea the adorable waitress at our crazy Bates Hotel. Best part of hotel were Markus (front desk) and Chelsea (waitress).
• The drive from Hailsham to Beachy Head was rainy, dark, and beautiful.
• On our way to Beachy Head here are a few of the songs I was listening to: “Sail,” by Awolnation, and “Dear God,” by XTC.  And like my iPod shuffle understood the many broken hearts who had traveled to those chalk cliffs, as we drove away from Beach Head and made our way into Brighton, the Smith’s ,”Sing Me to Sleep,” came on.
• Beachy Head in the rain was crazy.  Beachy Head is known by locals as a popular place to commit suicide. That is what Markus, the front desk guy told me.
• At the chalk cliffs Beachy Head, I met a man from Spain in the rain. Called Dave over to speak Spanish with him. The man told us about Spain. He told us if we ever go, what to see and where it was warm. He told us the places where people speak English the most.
• Beachy Head really was full of hope. They were serving homemade Gluten Free cake. Yes, I bought a slice and it was delicious. And the bathroom hand dryers saved the day. I used them to dry my very wet clothes.
• We loved the Beachy Head Historic site. Once we finished all we were going to do, Kyle decided he wanted to take a different hike to the top of the cliffs. I went with him and am so glad I did. Of course on the way down, the cold rain began again.
• From Beachy Head, we drove to Brighton, which reminded me of an old sea town made new. Kyle and I really like the town.
• 12:40 PM – is the rain stopping (um, no.)
• I like the white Beachy apartment structure in Brighton along the ocean drive.
• Brighton Pier
• We saw kids in their caps and gowns outside an impressive looking building as we drove into Brighton.
• Walking along Brighton Pier, I heard a woman on her cellphone. This is what she said, “Sorry I forgot what a pier was until I looked up Brighton pier.”
• My jaded children walking around the rides at Brighton pier, “why are we here?”
• They like Prince (the musician) in England. “Purple Rain” was playing at Brighton Pier, and they were playing Prince at the hamburger place in London the other night. I began to sing, “Purple Rain,” as it rained, and the boys asked me to stop just like they did when I was dancing to the other boardwalk music a few minutes before.
• We ate at a Vietnamese restaurant in Brighton called, “Pho.” Our waiter, Tom, was completely adorable and joked with me about gnomes. Car
• In the crazy traffic, we saw an accident on the side of the highway. I man’s truck was turned upside down. He was sitting on the edge with his hands on his face.
• All caps traffic!
• The Sun came out around 5:00 PM. Woot!
• For a few minutes we were in Wales. Tonight we are staying close to the border, on the English side.
• I openly and happily sucked bandwidth for my entertainment during our very long car ride.
• Ear Muffs: Here is what I was thinking about on the long car ride. I was thinking about the importance of vacation sex. People should have sex regularly on vacation. If sex is not an option, make sure you are connecting. Human connection keeps things peaceful and together. Reciprocity keeps everyone feeling good, relaxed and validated 😉
• Cats were definitely in the cottage we are staying in.
• I need to write the stories of these days. These bullet point entries are helping me remember. What a crazy, hard, awesome trip this has been.

 

(Ok. So I am trying to keep my insane goal of writing everyday on this trip. So far I have. This post was a little sketchy. I promise to return and fill in the spaces a little better. Have a great day. I am going to bed now.  Bed meaning a futon on the floor of the room Kyle and Eli are sleeping in. Hilarious travel fun indeed.)