Homeward bound

Dec. 30 was heading home day. After more phone chats with Emily, Bobbi, Dara, Julianna and Lola in recent days and lots of packing/repacking and cleaning and prepping a house for 2.5 months of vacancy... we hit the road.

Mom's wonderful friend Janey not only drove us to the airport in Columbus (four hour roundtrip) but also dealt with our first (hopefully last) drama--we lost mom's car keys. At the last minute I needed to re-enter the house to retrieve mom's purse and then was preoccupied with loading four bags into the car. I must have put the keys in my pocket and they fell out when I was in the back seat. I would have been more focused on cell phone, passports, wallet and didn't miss the keys. But Janey found them and shared the good news before we left Columbus. Phew.

Mom chillin' with one of her Christmas books at the airport. She has some cool new Puma shoes, which I convinced her to buy to up her game. LOL.

The first flight was an hour late departing. In DC we made a bit of a mad dash to flight #2 and boarded immediately, as no one was in the waiting area and it was getting close to departure time. The flight was then delayed maybe a half hour. Annoying as I could have had time to do some duty free shopping for friends.

The flight to Dublin was I'd say bumpier than the average flight but mom was in good form, giggling away at jokes that I wasn't following. She watched Mrs. Harris goes to Paris and enjoyed the Dior fashion show. Jenny Beavan did the costumes--she's amazing. I'm thinking she could win a fourth Oscar (previous were Room with a View, Mad Max Fury Road and Cruella).  In Dublin, we were met by my friend's daughter, Rachael, who drove us to Belfast. She teaches teenage boys with autism and said she is struggling with the physicality of the job. She has whiplash from one of her encounters. She said it's a real shame more men don't go into her field as they are needed as role models.

We both took four-hour naps after lavishing Paddy with praise for being Such a Good Boy. We struggled to stay awake for a few hours, watching Graham Norton, then back to bed around 9pm, sleeping 11 hours.

It is New Year's Day. We have had breakfast, followed by a tour of my Christmas decorations--almost entirely made by mom. These include the Falalalala pillow hanging on my china cupboard.

Today's agenda is unpacking and tidying up. Mom is enjoying her book. At some point I will think about new year's resolutions, but need my house in order first. I can't think when everything is in disarray.

January 1 2023