taking off!

Question: why am I up at dawn, driving to the other side of town, looking at free if somewhat rotten fencing with Ed?




It is one of those imponderables. Something to mull over. There is not good answer. It just is.

*     *    *

Today is the day when I take off. This is a trip that has been long on the books. I'm not the one who selected the dates nor itinerary. It's all the young family's doing. I'm just a tag-along (though we worked jointly and tirelessly on some aspects of it -- like, for example, where we should stay).

My daughter and her husband have a conference to go to. That event will take us to Belfast. But for now, we're all flying to Dublin. From Chicago. (The economics of travel so dictate.)

We'll be together throughout, though not on the leg of the journey from Madison to the Chicago airport -- they have arrangements to make with their house sitter. I have a bus to catch. But once in Chicago, we join forces and away we go!


*     *     *

All this happens after a very busy morning. Sure, there is the calm of breakfast...





But after, there is the whirlwind of packing, of talking to the docs that are caring for my mother (so far everyone's upbeat), of talking to people about fences, until I can talk no more and Ed sweetly says -- gorgeous, I'll take over. I'll figure this out for you.

He is one sweet guy.

A last look at one corner of my June garden...





And I'm off! Next post? From Dublin!