10 October 2023

 Today’s the day! Ruth is on her way down from Cloquet, my luggage is packed (mostly), snacks are prepared, comfortable yet elegant clothes are laid out for the plane, and I’ve showered and trimmed my hair. Also, the bedsheets are laundered and hanging out in the sunshine to dry (I do like coming home to fresh sheets). It’s a cold day with brilliant sunshine.

Note the sheets hanging on the line. I LOVE sun-dried sheets!

Still to be done: Clean the bathroom, dust, sweep, clean counter tops. Make additional soup for the small group coming on Thursday. Water front flowers and pots. Clean bedroom and study. 

However, this is the most organized I’ve ever been before a prolonged trip. I feel calm and am starting to get excited for the trip. It’s odd how all the little details take precedence in thought and emotion while preparing to leave. I’ll start anticipating the trip itself once we’re ensconced in the car on the way to the airport, with nothing more to be done.

For example, our neighbor put a huge basket of tomatoes over the fence yesterday. I’m very grateful, but those had to be sorted and laid out to ripen while I’m gone. 

Another question is what to bring. Soy milk and agave for that all-important first cup of tea? Herbs and spices for cooking? (Who wants to spend a lot of money buying them over there?) British hair dryer? (I bought one in England years ago and still haven’t had a chance to use it.)

The plan, once we hit Minneapolis airport, is to head to the newest Delta lounge after clearing security. I’ve just got an American Express card that allows me lounge access, and I intend to make full use of it on this trip! Here we are, bags packed, ready to go:


And at the airport, the lounge was a great success, and also handy, as our flight was delayed for almost an hour due to technical difficulties. It was a great place to relax, eat a light dinner, and enjoy comfortable chairs rather than the crowded space of the airport gate, which was standing room only.




Walking down the runway to our plane:


The flight to London was like every other London flight I’ve taken: fine, but sleep evaded me. I think Ruth dozed a bit. I watched The Quiet Girl, an Irish film, and the rest of the time tried in vain to fall asleep. Well, it was all as expected. With the usual terrible airplane food and awful-tasting tea. Delta can do a better job than lukewarm chicken curry, tough breakfast sandwiches, and hot tea that tastes like it’s been made in a coffee pot. But enough complaining. We are on our way!


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