A UK Jaunt

Week two is under my belt -- well sort of, and I am finally feeling like I have figured some things out, such that routenization is setting in.  This week we went to Stratford upon Avon to visit Shakespeare's birth home, his wife Anne's family home and his daughter's home.  We also attended the play Henry IV at the Royal Shakespeare Company theater on the Avon River, and it was wonderful.  The stage is right among the audience, so you feel like you are really part of the play.  The Dirty Duck was "home" for refreshments when we finished with the play, and it was interesting to hear the students' thoughts and "favorite parts" about the play.  We stayed at different B&B's, mine being Moss Cottage, hosted by Bill and Peter, and it was delightful!  We met a couple from Liverpool there who do not like to admit that their city is most known for the Beatles!  I found them interesting and had wonderful conversation with them!  One of my favorite parts of the sites we visited was the church where Shakespeare was buried.  It was once a Catholic church, now an "English" church, but very old and very beautiful!

Holy Trinity Church

We spent most of our second day at Warwick Castle.  Being my first visit to a "real" castle, I found it very intriguing and interesting.  I cannot imagine having lived there, but it was breathtaking.  Seems the Earl of Warwick tried to hang onto it as long as possible, but eventually sold it to Madame Tussaud so that it could be restored somewhat, and maintained as an attraction.  Our second day ended with a brunch and a visit with one of the Shakespeare Company actors we watched perform the night before.  He was very interesting and very enlightening.  The girls love him (he was cute) and the whole student body asked lots of great questions!  What a treat.  We arrived back into the city at 7 pm, being dropped off at a tube station, then had about a 45-minute ride to our home station.  It was a long day.  I was exhausted. We enjoyed our two-day "jaunt" to Stratford!  

Warwick Castle

I think at 53 I never really thought about having the kind of adventure these last few weeks have given me.  I find myself counting my blessings, in many different ways.  This has been a journey of self-discovery for me. I have met many wonderful, friendly people.  I have conquered things that I never knew I would ever have to, and there is empowerment in that.

London Times

Bubbles

  Well, hello London!  I have been here nearly a week, and I feel like I am just getting things figured out!  Okay, I'm a slower learner, perhaps!   This is "Bubbles" the cat, one of two that lives in my "Home Stay"!  Sorry Belle (the other cat)!  They are both very sweet.  Sue and Esme are wonderful hosts, and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them!!!  I feel very lucky to have landed in such a "warm" environment.
   We are about a 15 minute walk to Cockfosters where I catch the tube into the city each day.  It's a spectacle watching me with my harness for writing, my backpack with 40 lbs of equipment, and essentials like a raincoat, (rain, rain, stay away!),  my Oyster card, and my wallet of "pounds" in case I need cash!  People often stare at me carting all of my stuff, and the looks I have received while walking/writing, being "peripatetic" are countless!  I wish I could take a snapshot of all of the many "faces" people have made while passing me by!  It's been quite comical.  Since it's "peek" season for tourists, the crowds are seemingly unending and all trying to get somewhere fast!
   We have had two very interesting tours so far by Peter and Mike, wonderfully vibrant and interesting guides, and though I'm writing and can't always "take it in" like a tourist can, the walks have helped me get very familiar very quickly.  We have seen the World War II Memorial, the WW II Women's Memorial, the spot where Charles the First was beheaded, Parliment, WhiteHall, the stairs the Brits uncovered while digging that have been "host" to many, many Monarchs.  We have seen the River Thames, the London Eye, Hyde Park, Oxford Street Picacdilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and the Blue Cock there, and my favorite Westminster Abbey!  I am hoping to go to services there.
 

  This is me at the World War II Memorial.  It's right on the River Thames and beautiful.  Yes, that is my writer "pad" made by my husband, Kevin.  Gosh he his so handy!!  And then the 40 pound backpack on my back.  The first couple of days were exhausting, but I'm getting the hang of it.  More when I have time.....  Cheerio!

Hibernation is Overrated

   I have always known I was a "social" animal.  That would not shock any of my elementary school teachers in the least, although I'm not sure how many are still with us. :(  I remember my best friend in elementary school Marianne and I were in second grade together and we were THRILLED.  Hence, that was the last year we were ever together in the same class, because we talked and had fun!  I might go so far as to say that our friendship waned because of that fact, and I used to be somewhat angry about that.  Anyway, I digress...
   We learned recently that the Bear is returning to SD, for which we are so thankful.  You see, he procured a job on the east coast for the summer, and we thought we would not get to see him at all.  I am not fully sure of his reasoning, but I'm pretty sure it had to do with the cost of his living there potentially eating up all his profits from the job and he would head back to Loyola with nothing in hand.  I think it was a wise choice, but I know I'm biased. 
   Like I always do, I started to daydream about all the things we will do together (the four of us) while he is here.  I imagine long hikes, with picnics and fried chicken, potato salad and homemade granola that I made, all from scratch, when I rose earlier that morning (5 am) before anyone else, and  we are now, in my daydream, partaking of all of it!  There is water near, and a gentle breeze blowing, and we are laughing and eating and enjoying the "velvet" moments! 
   Of course, I am startled out of my bliss by the voice of my husband telling me he is home, and I come to my senses knowing full well if I could just get us all home from jobs at the same time a few times during the summer, I will be thrilled, never mind the long hike and fried chicken!  A girl can dream, can't she??
  Now back to a bit more of "reality" in my daydream.  Perhaps we can all coordinate our schedules to spend some Friday nights together, with a movie, pizza, or a Hooley's night, maybe bowling.  If we are lucky, maybe some Sundays that include mass, brunch or breakfast and a nice dinner later in the day, after the grass has been freshly cut and the sun is starting to go down, and perhaps a bonfire with smores to top off the evening!  Ah, that's really more like it, but "not bad" on a "family time" scale of 1-10!!!
  Family vaca to Iowa, that will be solid.  We will drink Moscow Mules and catch up with our relatives we have not seen in years.  Giving the boys some more "roots" will be like opening buried treasure!!
  Of course, the beach house -- not a bad "reality" at all!  Lots of vino, food, conversation, laughter and unlimited amounts of love there among all of us.  Cannot wait for that week, but I won't wish the summer away.  My prayer is that this summer moves like a slow-moving vessel in the Caribbean!  
   I am savoring these few years where we are all still a family unit, at times, and I know that making memories are the ties that bind.  Summer, come slowly, last long, and leave us feeling satiated and rested and ............ truly blessed......

Shaved & Tapered

    It's 200 Fly time.  Kevin is in the "window" viewing area.  I think it's because he's nervous and cannot sit still.  We know this is his last event; we want our son to finish strong and with some self-satisfaction that all of his hard work has paid off.  I decided my view from the top of this beautiful pool is too far from his swim.  I make my way down the stairs and out the double doors.  I navigate myself over to "enemy" territory (Navy's cheering section) and enter quietly with the Nikon on my hip.  Do I take pictures or video?  Which would he prefer?  Coach Brian has the iPad, taking video.  I will do pictures.  Kevin sees me.  He leaves his perch at the window; I know he's coming to be nervous with me!!!  Hey, there he is stealth and swift -- Kevin, I mean!  Let's hope Cole has inherited those characteristics, especially now!  Hey, there he is, shaved and looking white -- Cole, I mean.  He has his Loyola cap on, and he looks focused.  God, please be with him; help him to feel like a dolphin in the water, stealth and swift!! 
    He's on the block, my heart is in my throat -- you could hear a pin drop!  I chirp out my usual, "Let's go, Bear"!  I really wanted to scream, "Let the animal out of its cage!"  (an inside joke) I know the Navy people are all around me; I decided to err on the side of caution and stick with my usual "line"!  They're off.  He always has a fast start, quick reactions he and his brother inherited from Dad.  I'm so happy about that!  His underwaters are excellent.  I cannot breath until he does.  He's coming up!  His walls look better today, less hanging and more quick-touch and he's off!  He is swimming with conviction; I can see it in his stroke.  When you are a mom of a swimmer, you know your child's stroke so well that you can tell if it holds trepidation or power or confidence.  I like what I'm seeing.  Dang, I missed the split because I was clicking away.  Thank goodness for the "action shot" ability on the camera, as it snaps away!!! 
   We (Kev & I) determine he is looking strong.  As he approaches the walls he is fighting for it, pushing his swim.  Looking good, Son!!  Third leg, he is tired, but he is fighting.  Go, Bear, hang on.  He turns to come home.  The 200 Fly is brutal.  I am so proud he can even swim it!!!  Yet, he is coming home strong.  I can't bear to look at the clock and jinx it.  Come on, Son, hit that wall!!!  I look up, YES!  He reaches his "goal" time, 3 seconds off his personal best!  His season is over.  He is happy, we are excited that he will feel good about his finish this year.  Bettering times in all his swims was the goal, and he did.  This was the "race" he was waiting for, and he fought for every stroke.  Well done, Son, well done! 
   Patriot League Conference, these Loyola swimmers will be back; you can count on it!!!!
  

When I Was King...

   It's much more quiet in the house.  Kevin and I have time to devote to some of our own passions, favorite things to do.  Now I'm starting to realize what that "look" the women at church would give us when we would walk in for mass really meant.  I think it meant, "Your boys are so cute and you are so lucky you are in the midst of that 'busy' family time!  I envy your life right now."  I could be wrong, maybe it was "I am so very glad I'm not you," but I don't think so.  You know why?  Because I'm them now.  I see families in church with young children and although there are times when I'm thinking, "I'm glad I'm done with those years," more often I'm thinking to myself,  "Your boys are so cute and you are so lucky you are in the midst of that 'busy' family time!  I envy your life right now." I admit it, I wish I was in that place again, only with more awareness of what it means.
   Kev and I think back to the time when our boys were young and so full of love for us.  We were the world to them.  Kevin fondly refers to it as, "When I was King"!  He used to come through the door, home from work, and the boys would shout, "Daddy's home" and they would throw caution to the wind and go bounding toward him and plop themselves in his arms.  He barely had time to set his lunch bucket down!  Not once did I see him display any emotion but pure joy when that time of the day came crashing into his life!  He would oblige them, tickle them, and usually herd them into the living room where reckless abandon would ensue!  A blanket was placed on the floor (Kevin was a wrestler in high school, so my thinking is he thought this took the place of the wrestling mat he used to roll around on) and as soon as he was on his knees, they were on him.  The giggles were constant, the play was gentle but exhausting, and it usually didn't stop until I shouted out that dinner was ready.  A few times I hid around the corner and I bellowed in my Iowa "husband calling contest" voice, and the boys would belly laugh! 
   The pure joy they knew, the love shared on that blanket, is something so fleeting you don't even comprehend it, until it's gone forever.  One cannot get back that kind of sincere, honest love that exists with boys so young.  Now when we see a young boy, with his dad, joyfully playing or laughing, Kevin will lean over and whisper into my ear, I remember when I was king.......