Well I've been home for a week today (Thurs). I came home with a horrible cold, couldn't even talk by Friday and have felt simply shitty until about yesterday, when I woke up feeling great. So I went down to the beach and danced my butt off to resume my exercise....ha ha...and woke up during last nite coughing and with an aching chest. Ok so today I took it a little slower. But- and this is very cool....I started the today with my coffee in my chair by the beach watching the waves, bot dogs by my side, and then finished the day off by doing the same thing. It's not dark yet, so I came in before the sunset, but yeah- getting my balance back...my acceptance, my serenity. Did I say I love it here? I love you Mexico!
Northern California was nice. The weather was amazing, and my daughters everything I could have hoped for. Little drama with daughter #2- always right? But (thank you God) it was with or about me!! She will be 21 in just a few weeks and has been living at home with my ex and his wife, but apparently it has not been all rainbows and unicorns- yes the ego me is not unsatisfied with that ha ha- but honestly I want my daughters to be happy, confident and self assured, and for that to be, those around them, those who influence them- well I want the best for them as well- simply because they affect my children. Ok so anyway- my daughter has had a hard time not being the only star in her father's eyes, and so was not really nice about it. Meaning: sullen, disrespectful, etc.....so as a young adult it was time for her to move out, and she's doing that. She's very excited about it and I am so happy for her! Instead of leaving something, she's going towards something. She moving to a small town, a college community in many respects and she and her roommates are all in school so she has many happy plans.
My older daughter started a new job, closer to home and in the field she wants her career in. So everything is working out for everybody, this is all a mom can ask for. They took me to Armstrong Woods for Mother's Day- a grove of redwoods with trails and picnic areas, a place I love, I like to simply breathe in there, I like to rub the spiney leaves on my hands so they smell like the trees. It was a perfect day. It started with a beautiful brunch at a hotel, then we went to the Redwoods. I love them both so much! I also got to spend alot of time with my "future" granddaughter, she calls me Grandma Terry and I consider her my granddaughter already....I got to go on 2 field trips with her kindergarten class. One was a mentor appreciation day. Ha ha the 3rd graders mentor the kindergartners! So about 200 kids walked from school to a nearby park for a bbq and games and fun. Then at the end of the week, at about 7am, my daughter comes in and says -we're going on the school bus field trip to Armstrong Woods! (The "real"- and of course as I am completely un-objective I use the term "real" loosely ha ha- had to cancel about an hour before) So I went to the redwoods a second time, this time with only about 90 kids (ouch), and we explored, saw a banana slug, listened to the woods, laid on our backs on the benches in the amphitheater and counted shades of green and how many different birds we heard...had a sack lunches...I was happy and tired. Then- they announced the hike to the waterfall!!! AAARRRGGGHHH I was tired- hike to a waterfall!! Ha ha talk about trudge the road of happy destiny...(AA reference)....I was wiped out. Yep I'm a grandma- not a mom of a 5 year old!
Other things....oh we went to see the place my daughter wants to get married at- it's a castle that's a winery- or a winery with a castle I guess. We went after she got home from work from her first day, and the place had just closed. My daughter is nothin' if not determined. She wanted me to see it. Ad I am not allowed to say the name, or show any of the fantastic pictures I took, either. After they both got laid off jobs last summer, they lived off their savings- which included their wedding fund, and that's why the wedding has been moved to next summer. This place is very very expensive. She wants a fairy tale wedding and is willing to work for the money to pay for it- so I say- go for it! I'm sure I wrote about this before. So now I got to see the place she is dreaming of- no wait- the place she planning on. So did I say it was closed? Ha! We were at one set of huge gates that we could not figure out how to open and decided to go to the other set. Well as we got there, the last employee was coming out, so we flew thru the open gates, just before they swung closed. Uh oh- but in totally me and my daughter's style decided to worry about that when we wanted to leave. So we drove in, parked along a side road, jumped a small hedge and went to look at this awesome castle and the amazingly beautiful grounds. Oh did I say 5 yr old granddaughter was with us? She asked if we were going to jail.....I told her she was our ticket to stay out of the pokey- her sweet smile...Anyway the grounds are so beautiful; roses everywhere, a big fountain, statues, big patches of thick green lawns, and then the castle itself. We talked about a couple of places they could have the ceremony, where they food would be, the dancing, everything. My daughter's face- she was excited, awed, happy, and she was darting all over the place to show me this and that. It will be....amazing, awesome, epic...everything she wanted- a fairy tale wedding. Oh and when we finally left as the sun was going down, the big gates swung open automatically as we approached...so we were never really stuck, even tho' we talked about ramming thru the gates with the big truck we were in, but I told her that might create a problem for her wedding if she is forbidden on the grounds......
My granddaughter is a hoot. She talks to herself to the point of me jumping up and running out to the front room because I thought she had opened the door to someone. Nope- she teaches school- to her "kinders". They all have names and need frequent discipline. Sometimes Cookie is in the class and so has to wear her leash in the house, and all her chew toys get put up on the table to get her attention. ha ha. Cookie is only 6 months old, but big enough to get her paws up on kitchen counters and strong as an ox. But the sweetest puppy dog who instantly won my heart. She slept with me a few nites, and we went on a couple of walks- well she pulled me around the neighborhood. She's at that stage where she steals shoes, clothes, my new camera (it was unscathed), did I say shoes? and then makes a beeline for the back sliding door to take her treasure out to the lawn. I love that silly mutt. Kids and dogs- yeah that's what life's about.
I saw a few other friends, saw my house and our renters. They are such a wonderful couple and the house- now their home- looks fabulous. Everything is green and growing, they use the backyard all the time, and he showed me this wireless doorbell they attached to the front door and you can plug in the bell anywhere so when they are so often in the backyard they can now hear it when somebody comes to the door. Cool. We couldn't be happier with them renting our house. When and if we ever go back up there to live, we can't afford to live in that house- need the income...and this trip I let go of it, just a tiny bit. I love that house, more than any I've ever lived in...but unless we win the lottery....yeah I own it free and clear, but property tax, insurance, and utilities in that area....big ouch! Yeah we could live there if we worked....but I don't wanna!!
So the trip was nice, but different than last year. This year it really felt like you can't go home again. I mean I felt exactly at home with both my daughters, but otherwise I felt like visitor, which I am. I love Petaluma but am no longer married to the idea that we need to live there. I want to be near my kids, but Santa Rosa, or further north, or west towards the beach would be fine. A granny unit on someone's property. Living in this tiny trailer- although apparently it's a "double wide" (oh god oh god)- but with all the outdoors we have here, the beach, the estuary, the open fields....it's outside I crave now. Tiny inside is cozy, less to clean, and warm.....
I had a crazy funny day with my best girlfriend (oh bff right?) who went with me to me -LAST as it turned out- oncology appointment. My cancer doctor said he never wants to see me again! Yippee! 5 years clear of cancer. Yeah baby! Anyway after that, we went to a mall in San Rafael, first to Macy's where I made myself not look at anything, and then to Kohls which is like the old Mervyns...more affordable, and then found out they don't check you at the dressing rooms! ha ha you can take all the clothes in you want, and I immediately noticed nobody bothered to take the discarded clothes out....they were just in piles on the floor. So after telling my bff I was ok with my body image; that yeah I'm overweight, but starting to make different choices about food, and getting into exercise down here with my beach dancing/walking and the free gym.....I start to try on a swimsuit and she yells "I'm comin' in" I protest, and then say- "yeah I'm ok with my fat but not while I'm stuffing it into a plastic bag!". In she came anyway with an armload of clothes, and pretty soon we were trying stuff on in the hallway outside the dressing room! Oh forgot to say she had the same swimsuit so put it on and we took a "selfie!!" in the dressing room mirror- laughing like we were in jr high! I have NOT posted that pic on facebook and do not plan to do so....After that we went back to her place- and it's so funny! She is living in a "double wide" too! And yes this is in northern Cal not Kentucky or Louisiana.....or wherever it is that people live in trailers, marry their first cousins and are on episodes of Cops! (Is that still on the air? Bet it is). She is in a nice park at the north end of town, and her mobile home is basically the same size as ours, just a different layout, but 2 beds 2 bath. She is so happy- it is the first home she bought herself- she is no longer a renter. It needs work and she's doing it. It was fun and comfy and...real to be there with her. Love you girlfriend!
I saw my dear Russian friend, once with her hubby and they made me a vege pizza from all homegrown and homemade ingredients as well as a yummy Russian soup. But the second time I saw her was the best- no husbands- just her and I, and we got to talk, from our hearts and souls. She and I have had a special connection since the day we met, and can talk about anything. She has been in the U.S. for just a few years; came by way of marrying her American husband...but we are close in age, and thought and heart, so we talk, talk talk. She will come to visit us soon we hope. I saw another friend I used to work with and we have only communicated thru email or fb msging. We met for lunch and fell instantly into easy conversation. She just got engaged and I'm so happy for her. It's funny there are just some people that you can go forever and not see, then see them and it's as if you were just apart minutes. Had coffee with yet another woman, who husband had been Halla's soccer coach for years, and she and I chat thru facebook, but are a little closer than that. She loves my daughter and offered her a safe port in the storm while she was struggling with things at her dad's house. I love her for that.
So it was a more thoughtful trip. Family and closer friends. Yes, I went to some AA meetings, some in Petaluma so I saw many old and new faces. One day when Drew was with me I was asked about 5 minutes before the meeting to be the speaker and that was very cool. Down here, at least in the English meetings there are no speaker meetings, all just open discussion, so it was nice to hit a few speaker meetings, and to be a speaker. But I will say this- except for my daughters, I could stay here in Mexico forever (at least that's how I feel now).
I caught a cold- I'm sure from one of those little kindergartners! It really hit the day before I left so I just tried to ignore it. By the time I got on the place Thursday morning I was full blown sick- yeah and just saw a news story about germs on a plane ha ha. Actually, I had to get up at 5:45 am to catch the 6:15 am shuttle to the San Francisco airport. My flight wasn't until 10am, but commute traffic....I foolishly didn't eat or pack some fruit and nuts and a pb&j sandwich like I did on the way up, so by by the time I got to the gate with about an hour and a half to go, I was really sick...my carry ons were soooo heavy because I bought some clothes, a camera, a fishing reel...etc etc etc so my suitcase was overweight, so I was dragging. Of course it was a full flight, with kids and all. Some kids who were running all over the place while the mom ate and talked on the phone. I KNEW they would be seated next to me-hmmm well at least I could give them my cold...ok just kiddding...kind of..... Then I hear there is a long wait list including 2 pilots who want to catch a lift. A third pilot shows up and gets really pissed off when they say they are not even writing down anymore names because the list is so long. Then I find out that SFO has some runways closed for repair so if your plane misses it's place in line, then your flight can be delayed up to an hour and a half. Oh so I didn't mention I had these 2 posters that had been too long to fit in my suitcase..and although light as paper, constituted a 3rd carryon and they weren't going to let me take it (2 taped together so it- not them). I was so sick I didn't care. They were AA posters of the 12 steps and 12 traditions in English because the place I got to meetings- which are all and only in English, have all the stuff on the walls in Spanish. Then in my fevered head I made up a story wherein I left the posters right there at the gate, somebody found them and decided to put them up. So an AA meeting started in the airport which became very popular for travelers, (crazy eh?), and then next year when I came back thru I attended the meeting and heard the story of how the meeting came to be. Then I was so humble I never told them it was me. Ha ha ha ha ha what an ego I have eh? Ok so thru this fantasizing I hear the woman at the gate make an announcement that there is one seat available in first, pls come up if you are interested. I am sitting so close I merely lean forward and whisper loudly..."how much?" Well one of them tells me it's only $89...and I look at the screaming kids, the pissed of pilots and the long line for standby....and I ask her "do you take debit cards?" Yep. So she tells me stuff one end of the posters in the outside pocket of my laptop case and then I will "technically" only have 2 carry ons. Uh....ok. So I am the first person on the place, first row next to the window, sipping coffee and orange juice in real cups.....and watch the fun begin. They were trying to rush people in very polite voices...saying we were going to lose our place in line....the monster children were...well being monsters, but they disappeared down into coach somewhere never to heard of, by me anyway, again, and I closed my eyes. During the hour and a half flight I listened to the very funny flight attendant make jokes and tell us how Virgin Atlantic Airlines came to be, and be pampered with pretty fruits, humus and pita bread, and a tiny chocolate truffle that was exquisite. Going first was like my own little perfect storm- if I hadn't been that sick, the screaming kids, the arguing pilots wanting to catch a lift, my heavy backpack and laptop case, both stuffed to the point of bursting....if any of those things had been different I could not have justified to myself spending the money....I spent quite enough during my stay ha ha.
It was also my first time walking across the border at Tijuana. It was super easy- except for the whole being sick and heavy stuff part.... I took a bus from the airport for $1.25 right to the trolly. The trolley was $2.50 and took me right to the border. The correct trolley is called The Blue Line, but the trolley is red....hmmm in my sickness I stared at it for a long time and a lovely young lady asked if she could help me and showed me how to buy the ticket and helped push my suitcase up the step into the trolley. The walk is pretty short but a steep incline which I think is crossing the highway but I'm not sure. I only looked at my feet saying...step step step because I felt so shitty I was thinking about sitting down on the walkway. So I walked right thru, a nice Mexican policewoman asked me with a smile on her face if I had "cigarros? armas? alcohol?" To which I replied no, solo ropa (only clothes) and she told me told me to have a nice afternoon. I walked into the sunlight and there was my wonderful darling husband who jumped forward and grabbed ALL my stuff! He also handed me a small package wrapped in newspaper, which was 2 little dragonflies he bought at a stand while waiting for me. Home sweet home. I slept most of the way home, and then was sick for 4 or 5 days. Someone sent me an email from the states asking if I was ok- that many times Mexicans visiting the states got into trouble drinking the water. ha ha.
Viva
Northern California was nice. The weather was amazing, and my daughters everything I could have hoped for. Little drama with daughter #2- always right? But (thank you God) it was with or about me!! She will be 21 in just a few weeks and has been living at home with my ex and his wife, but apparently it has not been all rainbows and unicorns- yes the ego me is not unsatisfied with that ha ha- but honestly I want my daughters to be happy, confident and self assured, and for that to be, those around them, those who influence them- well I want the best for them as well- simply because they affect my children. Ok so anyway- my daughter has had a hard time not being the only star in her father's eyes, and so was not really nice about it. Meaning: sullen, disrespectful, etc.....so as a young adult it was time for her to move out, and she's doing that. She's very excited about it and I am so happy for her! Instead of leaving something, she's going towards something. She moving to a small town, a college community in many respects and she and her roommates are all in school so she has many happy plans.
My older daughter started a new job, closer to home and in the field she wants her career in. So everything is working out for everybody, this is all a mom can ask for. They took me to Armstrong Woods for Mother's Day- a grove of redwoods with trails and picnic areas, a place I love, I like to simply breathe in there, I like to rub the spiney leaves on my hands so they smell like the trees. It was a perfect day. It started with a beautiful brunch at a hotel, then we went to the Redwoods. I love them both so much! I also got to spend alot of time with my "future" granddaughter, she calls me Grandma Terry and I consider her my granddaughter already....I got to go on 2 field trips with her kindergarten class. One was a mentor appreciation day. Ha ha the 3rd graders mentor the kindergartners! So about 200 kids walked from school to a nearby park for a bbq and games and fun. Then at the end of the week, at about 7am, my daughter comes in and says -we're going on the school bus field trip to Armstrong Woods! (The "real"- and of course as I am completely un-objective I use the term "real" loosely ha ha- had to cancel about an hour before) So I went to the redwoods a second time, this time with only about 90 kids (ouch), and we explored, saw a banana slug, listened to the woods, laid on our backs on the benches in the amphitheater and counted shades of green and how many different birds we heard...had a sack lunches...I was happy and tired. Then- they announced the hike to the waterfall!!! AAARRRGGGHHH I was tired- hike to a waterfall!! Ha ha talk about trudge the road of happy destiny...(AA reference)....I was wiped out. Yep I'm a grandma- not a mom of a 5 year old!
Other things....oh we went to see the place my daughter wants to get married at- it's a castle that's a winery- or a winery with a castle I guess. We went after she got home from work from her first day, and the place had just closed. My daughter is nothin' if not determined. She wanted me to see it. Ad I am not allowed to say the name, or show any of the fantastic pictures I took, either. After they both got laid off jobs last summer, they lived off their savings- which included their wedding fund, and that's why the wedding has been moved to next summer. This place is very very expensive. She wants a fairy tale wedding and is willing to work for the money to pay for it- so I say- go for it! I'm sure I wrote about this before. So now I got to see the place she is dreaming of- no wait- the place she planning on. So did I say it was closed? Ha! We were at one set of huge gates that we could not figure out how to open and decided to go to the other set. Well as we got there, the last employee was coming out, so we flew thru the open gates, just before they swung closed. Uh oh- but in totally me and my daughter's style decided to worry about that when we wanted to leave. So we drove in, parked along a side road, jumped a small hedge and went to look at this awesome castle and the amazingly beautiful grounds. Oh did I say 5 yr old granddaughter was with us? She asked if we were going to jail.....I told her she was our ticket to stay out of the pokey- her sweet smile...Anyway the grounds are so beautiful; roses everywhere, a big fountain, statues, big patches of thick green lawns, and then the castle itself. We talked about a couple of places they could have the ceremony, where they food would be, the dancing, everything. My daughter's face- she was excited, awed, happy, and she was darting all over the place to show me this and that. It will be....amazing, awesome, epic...everything she wanted- a fairy tale wedding. Oh and when we finally left as the sun was going down, the big gates swung open automatically as we approached...so we were never really stuck, even tho' we talked about ramming thru the gates with the big truck we were in, but I told her that might create a problem for her wedding if she is forbidden on the grounds......
My granddaughter is a hoot. She talks to herself to the point of me jumping up and running out to the front room because I thought she had opened the door to someone. Nope- she teaches school- to her "kinders". They all have names and need frequent discipline. Sometimes Cookie is in the class and so has to wear her leash in the house, and all her chew toys get put up on the table to get her attention. ha ha. Cookie is only 6 months old, but big enough to get her paws up on kitchen counters and strong as an ox. But the sweetest puppy dog who instantly won my heart. She slept with me a few nites, and we went on a couple of walks- well she pulled me around the neighborhood. She's at that stage where she steals shoes, clothes, my new camera (it was unscathed), did I say shoes? and then makes a beeline for the back sliding door to take her treasure out to the lawn. I love that silly mutt. Kids and dogs- yeah that's what life's about.
I saw a few other friends, saw my house and our renters. They are such a wonderful couple and the house- now their home- looks fabulous. Everything is green and growing, they use the backyard all the time, and he showed me this wireless doorbell they attached to the front door and you can plug in the bell anywhere so when they are so often in the backyard they can now hear it when somebody comes to the door. Cool. We couldn't be happier with them renting our house. When and if we ever go back up there to live, we can't afford to live in that house- need the income...and this trip I let go of it, just a tiny bit. I love that house, more than any I've ever lived in...but unless we win the lottery....yeah I own it free and clear, but property tax, insurance, and utilities in that area....big ouch! Yeah we could live there if we worked....but I don't wanna!!
So the trip was nice, but different than last year. This year it really felt like you can't go home again. I mean I felt exactly at home with both my daughters, but otherwise I felt like visitor, which I am. I love Petaluma but am no longer married to the idea that we need to live there. I want to be near my kids, but Santa Rosa, or further north, or west towards the beach would be fine. A granny unit on someone's property. Living in this tiny trailer- although apparently it's a "double wide" (oh god oh god)- but with all the outdoors we have here, the beach, the estuary, the open fields....it's outside I crave now. Tiny inside is cozy, less to clean, and warm.....
I had a crazy funny day with my best girlfriend (oh bff right?) who went with me to me -LAST as it turned out- oncology appointment. My cancer doctor said he never wants to see me again! Yippee! 5 years clear of cancer. Yeah baby! Anyway after that, we went to a mall in San Rafael, first to Macy's where I made myself not look at anything, and then to Kohls which is like the old Mervyns...more affordable, and then found out they don't check you at the dressing rooms! ha ha you can take all the clothes in you want, and I immediately noticed nobody bothered to take the discarded clothes out....they were just in piles on the floor. So after telling my bff I was ok with my body image; that yeah I'm overweight, but starting to make different choices about food, and getting into exercise down here with my beach dancing/walking and the free gym.....I start to try on a swimsuit and she yells "I'm comin' in" I protest, and then say- "yeah I'm ok with my fat but not while I'm stuffing it into a plastic bag!". In she came anyway with an armload of clothes, and pretty soon we were trying stuff on in the hallway outside the dressing room! Oh forgot to say she had the same swimsuit so put it on and we took a "selfie!!" in the dressing room mirror- laughing like we were in jr high! I have NOT posted that pic on facebook and do not plan to do so....After that we went back to her place- and it's so funny! She is living in a "double wide" too! And yes this is in northern Cal not Kentucky or Louisiana.....or wherever it is that people live in trailers, marry their first cousins and are on episodes of Cops! (Is that still on the air? Bet it is). She is in a nice park at the north end of town, and her mobile home is basically the same size as ours, just a different layout, but 2 beds 2 bath. She is so happy- it is the first home she bought herself- she is no longer a renter. It needs work and she's doing it. It was fun and comfy and...real to be there with her. Love you girlfriend!
I saw my dear Russian friend, once with her hubby and they made me a vege pizza from all homegrown and homemade ingredients as well as a yummy Russian soup. But the second time I saw her was the best- no husbands- just her and I, and we got to talk, from our hearts and souls. She and I have had a special connection since the day we met, and can talk about anything. She has been in the U.S. for just a few years; came by way of marrying her American husband...but we are close in age, and thought and heart, so we talk, talk talk. She will come to visit us soon we hope. I saw another friend I used to work with and we have only communicated thru email or fb msging. We met for lunch and fell instantly into easy conversation. She just got engaged and I'm so happy for her. It's funny there are just some people that you can go forever and not see, then see them and it's as if you were just apart minutes. Had coffee with yet another woman, who husband had been Halla's soccer coach for years, and she and I chat thru facebook, but are a little closer than that. She loves my daughter and offered her a safe port in the storm while she was struggling with things at her dad's house. I love her for that.
So it was a more thoughtful trip. Family and closer friends. Yes, I went to some AA meetings, some in Petaluma so I saw many old and new faces. One day when Drew was with me I was asked about 5 minutes before the meeting to be the speaker and that was very cool. Down here, at least in the English meetings there are no speaker meetings, all just open discussion, so it was nice to hit a few speaker meetings, and to be a speaker. But I will say this- except for my daughters, I could stay here in Mexico forever (at least that's how I feel now).
I caught a cold- I'm sure from one of those little kindergartners! It really hit the day before I left so I just tried to ignore it. By the time I got on the place Thursday morning I was full blown sick- yeah and just saw a news story about germs on a plane ha ha. Actually, I had to get up at 5:45 am to catch the 6:15 am shuttle to the San Francisco airport. My flight wasn't until 10am, but commute traffic....I foolishly didn't eat or pack some fruit and nuts and a pb&j sandwich like I did on the way up, so by by the time I got to the gate with about an hour and a half to go, I was really sick...my carry ons were soooo heavy because I bought some clothes, a camera, a fishing reel...etc etc etc so my suitcase was overweight, so I was dragging. Of course it was a full flight, with kids and all. Some kids who were running all over the place while the mom ate and talked on the phone. I KNEW they would be seated next to me-hmmm well at least I could give them my cold...ok just kiddding...kind of..... Then I hear there is a long wait list including 2 pilots who want to catch a lift. A third pilot shows up and gets really pissed off when they say they are not even writing down anymore names because the list is so long. Then I find out that SFO has some runways closed for repair so if your plane misses it's place in line, then your flight can be delayed up to an hour and a half. Oh so I didn't mention I had these 2 posters that had been too long to fit in my suitcase..and although light as paper, constituted a 3rd carryon and they weren't going to let me take it (2 taped together so it- not them). I was so sick I didn't care. They were AA posters of the 12 steps and 12 traditions in English because the place I got to meetings- which are all and only in English, have all the stuff on the walls in Spanish. Then in my fevered head I made up a story wherein I left the posters right there at the gate, somebody found them and decided to put them up. So an AA meeting started in the airport which became very popular for travelers, (crazy eh?), and then next year when I came back thru I attended the meeting and heard the story of how the meeting came to be. Then I was so humble I never told them it was me. Ha ha ha ha ha what an ego I have eh? Ok so thru this fantasizing I hear the woman at the gate make an announcement that there is one seat available in first, pls come up if you are interested. I am sitting so close I merely lean forward and whisper loudly..."how much?" Well one of them tells me it's only $89...and I look at the screaming kids, the pissed of pilots and the long line for standby....and I ask her "do you take debit cards?" Yep. So she tells me stuff one end of the posters in the outside pocket of my laptop case and then I will "technically" only have 2 carry ons. Uh....ok. So I am the first person on the place, first row next to the window, sipping coffee and orange juice in real cups.....and watch the fun begin. They were trying to rush people in very polite voices...saying we were going to lose our place in line....the monster children were...well being monsters, but they disappeared down into coach somewhere never to heard of, by me anyway, again, and I closed my eyes. During the hour and a half flight I listened to the very funny flight attendant make jokes and tell us how Virgin Atlantic Airlines came to be, and be pampered with pretty fruits, humus and pita bread, and a tiny chocolate truffle that was exquisite. Going first was like my own little perfect storm- if I hadn't been that sick, the screaming kids, the arguing pilots wanting to catch a lift, my heavy backpack and laptop case, both stuffed to the point of bursting....if any of those things had been different I could not have justified to myself spending the money....I spent quite enough during my stay ha ha.
It was also my first time walking across the border at Tijuana. It was super easy- except for the whole being sick and heavy stuff part.... I took a bus from the airport for $1.25 right to the trolly. The trolley was $2.50 and took me right to the border. The correct trolley is called The Blue Line, but the trolley is red....hmmm in my sickness I stared at it for a long time and a lovely young lady asked if she could help me and showed me how to buy the ticket and helped push my suitcase up the step into the trolley. The walk is pretty short but a steep incline which I think is crossing the highway but I'm not sure. I only looked at my feet saying...step step step because I felt so shitty I was thinking about sitting down on the walkway. So I walked right thru, a nice Mexican policewoman asked me with a smile on her face if I had "cigarros? armas? alcohol?" To which I replied no, solo ropa (only clothes) and she told me told me to have a nice afternoon. I walked into the sunlight and there was my wonderful darling husband who jumped forward and grabbed ALL my stuff! He also handed me a small package wrapped in newspaper, which was 2 little dragonflies he bought at a stand while waiting for me. Home sweet home. I slept most of the way home, and then was sick for 4 or 5 days. Someone sent me an email from the states asking if I was ok- that many times Mexicans visiting the states got into trouble drinking the water. ha ha.
Viva
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