Apples on the Road

I'm back in Scotland!! I actually only was home (in NJ ) for 2 weeks,yet it felt as though I was away for much longer.

I learned a new phrase while I was here..to get something "sorted"....It is pronounced more like "sawrt-ed" and is used to convey getting something fixed, or arranged.and that was what I did when I was home. It felt wonderful to see my friends and my dogs, and to plan my return...and I could hardly wait to come back again.

While I was home, Alix set up both of her computers as as well as both of mine so that we could not only keep in touch with my friends in the US but also so that I could see into my house. Though it specifically watches the room with my desktop iMac computer, it allows me to hear my dogs.

It was so much fun watching her via my laptop, as she spent the day figuring out how to have my computer automatically open its video at our invitation from the UK. I went out shopping for gifts to bring back as well as some neccessary items for home. I left my laptop on my kitchen counter, facing my door. It was delightful to check in and say hi as I walked back and forth doing my fussing (scottish term is fettling) as well as having her there to say hello and welcome me home as I came in the door! It was like she was sitting in my kitchen with me, working alongside me to help me get ready to visit her.

Again, we delighted and were awed all over again, knowing that she was 3.333 miles away, setting up a computer in NJ, so that when I was in Scotland I could feel at home!
We are consistently amazed at the incredible capabilities these Apple Macs have and give us! By the time I was up in the air, Alix had created the links so that we also could activate our sharing and video to home as well as laptops, wherever we were! EXCELLENT!

The trip was fun. I was flying into Manchester UK this time, so did not have the change of flights to deal with in Edinburgh.

I love people-watching, and had ample opportunity during my 3 hour time period of waiting for my flight...I am chronically early when I fly!

I enjoy trying to figure out where everyone is from. There was one classic, elderly couple who I really enjoyed observing.

They were of the era when one dressed to travel. She was head to toe in bright red, with matching little red shoes. He had a waistcoat, starched collar and softly wrapped - over shoes, built for the comfort of a man of his age. She had accessorised with gold jewelry galore, and was very perfectly coiffed and made up. He carried a little bag that had books and snacks for both of them, and the polished air and accent of someone who was accustomed to traveling and being in control.

They were in delightful contrast to the tall, pony-tailed man dressed totally in Harley Davidson motorcycle regalia. His leather vest declared his home state as North Carolina. He had his own unique poise... not so much unlike the elderly couple's as one would imagine by the difference in their presentation of themselves.

He too was perfectly accessorised for his world. Some of his leather was polished, other bits were artfully worn-looking. His hair was perfectly twisted in a leather tie, and he had boots that declared him loudly as an American.

The flight itself was made more delightful because of my travel-mates. I had filled my iPod and was prepared to snuggle down for a bit of sleep as I had on my previous flight. This plane was much fuller than the prior one had been so there was no extra room to stretch out in. I am short so I tucked myself in and dozed all curled up in a ball. When I smelled coffee, I cracked open one eye and my lovely seat-mate asked if I was all right. She was somewhat amazed at how I had contorted to get comfortable!

We started to chat. She and her partner were from Liverpool, UK and on their way home after spending 3 weeks in the US, which they had loved!

I told her that Alix, and her (now mine too) friends Julia and Pam were going to be coming over for their first visit at the end of June. She told me to send them her reassurance of how much they would enjoy their visit! Our conversation started to roll all over, collecting topics that ranged from the reputation of Liverpool as the home of the Beatles, to the spiritual connection she had felt in Sedona, AZ. She wasn't at all shy to pull out her photos and I enjoyed a vicarious visit to Joshua Tree. We chatted the whole rest of the trip, which went very quickly. By the time our landing was announced, I was truly delighted at the depth of the connection we had shared. We hugged as we stepped away from the plane and back into our separate realities, acknowledging our time together, and the gift of having been 'well met'.

It was marvelous to race as quickly towards my friends as I could. I saw their faces and grabbed them into the biggest of hugs. I am back in my second home in Scotland......

b