So this’ll be quick and hopefully not too riddled with typos (why do they put the @ sign there?)
I am in the internet cafe in the Columba Hotel here on the island, for just a few more minutes. Then it’s off to do some exploring.
Our weather has been incredible. While much of England is underwater, I’m told, I find myself wishing I’d brought shorts.
Keith, traveling mercies has little to do with good stories. Traveling mercies is simply a wish that you won’t have to sit in Heathrow for 12 hours (after being on a plane all night whose average cabin temperature was 83 degrees) because you missed your connection to Glasgow due to weather. And that you aren’t still trying to discern the whereabouts of your bag when the trip is more than half over. (Four people in our group for the former, three people for the latter. Not me.)
That doesn’t make for a particularly good story. A good lesson in going without, and an opportunity to experience the generosity of others, perhaps.
The girls are having fun back home. I just read the e-mail updates and we’ve talked twice. G-mommy has arrived so MaDear gets a bit of a break. When I talked to C on Sunday she said after a few minutes, ”I’m through talking to you now.” OK then. Today she was a little more chatty. M has gotten a little clingy with MaDear but is faring OK too.
Iona is everything I hoped it would be, not in the sense of a week-long ”high,” but there has been a holy rightness to the experience, even when the experience doesn’t go according to plan. The fire alarm went off one night at 12:30, but on the upside, I saw a satellite and then a shooting star over the shoulder of St. Martin’s cross, so there you go.
The pilgrimage, a seven-mile hike around the island with various stops to rest, hear a reflection and scripture, pray and sing a song, was a personal accomplishment since my center of gravity isn’t what it used to be. I’ve written a lot of notes and a few ‘’shitty first drafts” of poems and things.
And flapjacks aren’t pancakes.
12 Responses to “50 pence per quarter hour”
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Asides
» I have been remiss in posting SBJ’s latest stats: 23 pounds and 27 inches at six months. Yes, I’ve got the big mama biceps.
» Aaaaaand little she-who-is lost another tooth this week!
» SBJ is four months old, 19 pounds 5 ounces, and 26 inches tall. GIGANTOR!
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I had the experience of missing my connection to Glasgow because of bad weather. My bag arrived at Iona on Tuesday and the kindness of strangers who ended up being fellow pilgrims continues to be a profound learning and gift.
Can’t wait to read your sfd’s!
Well, traveling mercies, then, sent at $6/hour from the Kinko’s on Wall Street. (I’m printing evidence for my Taxi and Limousine Commission hearing this morning with the guy who almost mowed down my children in May.)
Oh…the joys of travel. I hope they find their bags.
Glad to hear all is relatively well and you are having a good trip.
Great picture of you and the children (children’s message at church) on the front of the local paper. Yeah for Harry Potter sermons!
Sounds like it’s going to be a memorable trip! Can’t wait to read more of the highlights. Say hello to William Wallace for me.
I’ve left the girls in great hands! I’m sure they’ll get along just fine. She already has some fun things planned for them.
Does it make me a bad grandma if I’m looking forward to the peace and quiet that is my little home?
So good to hear from you!
Sounds wonderful! Keep enjoying!!
Except for the airplane part, it all sounds delightful. A star shooting over the cross…cool!
Oh I wish we could get together…but I’m in the flood ridden part with no runnign water (ironic, eh?)so it’s just as well you weren’t coming to stay.
Flapjacks are the staple of every home with children - the first thing kids learn to bake here. If you enjoyed them, I’ll send you a recipe so you can make them with C soon.
Go on being happy.
Oh, I was sitting at that computer writing in my blog last July!
Good for your for completing the pilgrimmage. I was the only one of our group to give up — the one thing I was competely NOT prepared for was broiling sun beating down on me for six-seven hours. (I had fleece caps for the expected rain and cold, but no sun hats at all.) I’ve had enough skin cancers that I called it a day at the afternoon snack stop.
I hope you’re enjoying the beach and the oystercatchers. I expect the puffins on Staffa have already left?
bit late to tell you this - but even though I’m from England - I will do all I can to avoid flying via Heathrow because that airport has mislaid my bags too often. Once for two whole weeks! The stuff has always come eventually but it’s a major headache.
50p for quarter of an hour .. mm here’s it’s 3€ and hour so about the same.