So we are leaving on Wednesday night for an extended UK trip with Syd and SQ’s parents. This trip is really the realization of Syd’s dream, and the nagging from her since she was about 5 or 6 to take her to Scotland. I’m not quite sure how she became obsessed with Scotland in the first place, but it’s firmly there now at the age of 11. It must be genetic. I did the same thing at about the same age (perhaps even as early as 4), however the object of my affection was France. At the age of 36, my obsession is still there.
We are flying into London first for an overnight to see my dear friend Kirsten and her boyfriend, James. Kirsten and I met on a flight from Boston back to Dulles about 3 years ago. She, of course, was traveling on back to London. I had decided on a whim to upgrade my seat to Business Class at the last minute while checking in. There were several seats available, the one I happened to choose put me in the row with Kirsten. Our plane was very late taking off from Boston, we started talking and didn’t stop all the way back to Dulles. We traded e-mail addresses and have been friends ever since. She has come out of her way to meet up with us twice here in VA over the past couple of years, it’s our turn to reciprocate.
After London, we’re off on a train ride up to Edinburgh. Having never been to London, Scotland, OR on a train this should be an interesting adventure….
Now, if I can just get Syd to remember that the Blarney Stone is NOT in Scotland, but in fact over in Ireland. It’s totally adorable the ideas she has about time, costs, and foreign countries at this age. She thinks we can just ‘zip over’ to Ireland for a quick look ’since it’s so close.’ She also still firmly believes that the Queen will be there to greet her personally as she gets off the plane in London (yes, she thinks she’s royalty as well), and that Scotland is completely overrun with Westies and Scotties. Perhaps I should just let her form her own opinion about the Loch Ness Monster??
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