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Just a couple of side notes.
ONE... I planned my dentist visit BEFORE I went off to Scotland because who wants to have dental issues in the UK? SO I get to the dentist last night 5 minutes early. I am told to wait. I wait and wait and wait. 35 minutes later, I am told that the dentist is doing emergency work and can't get to me... I would have to reschedule. Okay... I remained calm, but then it took me over an hour to get home from Berkeley and I was fuming when I got home. Waiting for me on the answering machine was a message from my dentist (who I actually like). He apologized and offered me a sonic electric tooth brush as compensation. I will take it, but it won't help if my tooth goes bad in Scotland. Have you ever seen their teeth???
Of course, the unsightly condition of their teeth could be because of the whiskey! Speaking of whiskey, I had one last night after getting home. I just wanted to make sure that I still liked it.
Other note. My mother wrote me that my father announced to her the other day that he will be able to catch up on his sleep on vacation. I am glad my mother saw the humor and insanity of this statement. I wonder lately what is wrong with my father's logic? Does logic leak out with our memory as we get older?
You have to understand why I think he logic is dwindling. He goes to bed at 10pm. He gets up between 7:30 and 8am. EVERY DAY! Now, what sleep is he catching up on? Maybe he lost when he was in his youth? If I ever get 1o hours of sleep, I get nervous that I might have missed something.
Oh well... traveling with my father is never predictable or normal (nor would I want it to be.)
Life is to be lived!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
4 days before take off!
My mother is very excited by this disposable clothes idea. She gathered all my Dad's oldest undershirts and told him after wearing them, toss them. I imagine she even took some out of the rag pile to find enough to give him. I still can't get over the picture of disposable clothes self destructing after a certain number of hours after wearing. So there will now be even more room in Dad's suitcase for the Scotch he will buy.
My sister is already stressing about doing laundry. She will only be there a week, but isn't sure she even has enough underwear for one week. I said, "what? do you do laundry every day?" She answered with a big "Of course!". Well... that is a new one for me. I am lucky to do laundry once a week.
Yesterday, I went to Whole Foods at lunch time to buy some granola bars in case Dad gets hungry between meals. My work friend, Dora, told me I was a mean daughter. Are you kidding me? I am taking him to Scotland, what is "mean" about that. She demanded to know why I didn't buy something more appetizing than granola bars. What is wrong granola bars, I ask you?????
Well... even though I don't feel as if it is wrong to give my father a healthful snack, I decided to buy some organic dark chocolate and some cheese (It is processed enough that it won't go bad being in a suitcase for a few hours.) BUT I will still offer up the granola bars first! Why wouldn't my Dad want to be healthy and eat healthful foods?
I got an email from the driver, Mike. He finalized some things for us, and told me he would be at the Glasgow airport waiting for us with a sign so he doesn't miss us. How could he miss us? I think he shouldn't bring the sign and try to pick us out. I know what he looks like from his website.
I remember when I was travelling around England and Scotland for a couple of weeks visiting family in the early 80s. I stopped at the home of my Dad's cousin, May. She asked me if I would be visiting cousin Ivor McKinnon. I was totally confused and thought maybe I had misheard her (Scottish accents can sound like another language). I had never heard of cousin Ivor. She got him on the phone and he told me he would love to have me visit if I wanted. I said "sure why not?"
He lived near Cambridge in southeast England. I didn't know what he looked like and as far as I knew he had never seen me. I got off the train, and I was looking around, and this small man with the biggest grin on his face came running over to me. He said he would have known me anywhere. (he said I looked just like my father.... well my mother's father always said I looked just like him... I think I look like me!) Anyway, he came up to my shoulder (remember my father is 6'1"). He was so excited to see me, and we became instant friends. The first day we sat having tee with his lovely wife, Peggy and he said to her. "Oh I wish I could see Elizabeth's father's face when she tells him that she is staying with me... oh BOY!" I panicked for a moment wondering why I had never heard of him and if Dad would be upset.
Turns out they had a small falling out, but were perfectly happy to be reunited and stayed in constant touch until his death about 10 years ago.
Anyway, he told me he recognized me because I looked so American!
Still packing... but have to go to the dentist tonight for 2 fillings... I have British teeth.
Later!
My sister is already stressing about doing laundry. She will only be there a week, but isn't sure she even has enough underwear for one week. I said, "what? do you do laundry every day?" She answered with a big "Of course!". Well... that is a new one for me. I am lucky to do laundry once a week.
Yesterday, I went to Whole Foods at lunch time to buy some granola bars in case Dad gets hungry between meals. My work friend, Dora, told me I was a mean daughter. Are you kidding me? I am taking him to Scotland, what is "mean" about that. She demanded to know why I didn't buy something more appetizing than granola bars. What is wrong granola bars, I ask you?????
Well... even though I don't feel as if it is wrong to give my father a healthful snack, I decided to buy some organic dark chocolate and some cheese (It is processed enough that it won't go bad being in a suitcase for a few hours.) BUT I will still offer up the granola bars first! Why wouldn't my Dad want to be healthy and eat healthful foods?
I got an email from the driver, Mike. He finalized some things for us, and told me he would be at the Glasgow airport waiting for us with a sign so he doesn't miss us. How could he miss us? I think he shouldn't bring the sign and try to pick us out. I know what he looks like from his website.
I remember when I was travelling around England and Scotland for a couple of weeks visiting family in the early 80s. I stopped at the home of my Dad's cousin, May. She asked me if I would be visiting cousin Ivor McKinnon. I was totally confused and thought maybe I had misheard her (Scottish accents can sound like another language). I had never heard of cousin Ivor. She got him on the phone and he told me he would love to have me visit if I wanted. I said "sure why not?"
He lived near Cambridge in southeast England. I didn't know what he looked like and as far as I knew he had never seen me. I got off the train, and I was looking around, and this small man with the biggest grin on his face came running over to me. He said he would have known me anywhere. (he said I looked just like my father.... well my mother's father always said I looked just like him... I think I look like me!) Anyway, he came up to my shoulder (remember my father is 6'1"). He was so excited to see me, and we became instant friends. The first day we sat having tee with his lovely wife, Peggy and he said to her. "Oh I wish I could see Elizabeth's father's face when she tells him that she is staying with me... oh BOY!" I panicked for a moment wondering why I had never heard of him and if Dad would be upset.
Turns out they had a small falling out, but were perfectly happy to be reunited and stayed in constant touch until his death about 10 years ago.
Anyway, he told me he recognized me because I looked so American!
Still packing... but have to go to the dentist tonight for 2 fillings... I have British teeth.
Later!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Five days before take off...
Followers:
You might think that this trip is all about Scotch, so let me put your mind at rest. In reality, this is an 80th birthday present for my Dad (from my Dad).
My father was born in London in January 1930. He was the only child of older parents. He lived most of his young life in Forfar, Scotland with (strict) maiden Aunties. Actually, he was shuttled back and forth between London and Forfar depending on where the war was or wasn't. To make a long story short, in 1956 when he was studying at St. Andrew's University, he met my mother who was there on a year abroad from Vassar. He moved to the USA in 1957 and married my mother. Since then, he has managed to go back to Scotland every few years to visit his friends and family.
Lately, he has not been walking well. (which isn't a topic I want to get into right now). He decided he wanted to go "one last time" to Scotland. I don't know if it is his last time or not, but he is convinced it is, at this moment. His desire to go was also fueled by the death of the husband of his cousin, May. In the meantime, May has had a heart attack which leaves her weak and in an unstable condition.
In addition, the wife of my father's dear childhood friend passed away last year. Faye Mann was a great woman and I will miss not seeing her this visit. Fred Mann has been a friend of my father's since they were little boys. (I can't imagine my father as a little boy!)
His favorite cousins, Forbes MacMath, and Ivor McKinnon passed away quite a few years earlier. I might mention them later, since they were important in my Dad's life. (and mine).
So at this point, it is needless to say that my father wants to visit the few people who are left from his past before they are gone or he is gone. I can understand that. BUT for awhile, what I didn't understand was why I had to be the one to take him. Is it because I am single... is it because I am the oldest.. could it be that I am considered responsible??? My mother spent almost a year recruiting me to go with him. I have traveled a few times with my father. (my mother doesn't fly anymore!). She said he trusts me. I don't know that he cares who is with him.
In the past I was happy to do it, but with his new walking issues and the fact that they expected me to drive didn't make it a very tempting trip. (Driving on the "wrong" side of the road is hard enough, but in the past, my father would give me a tally at the end of the day of all the people, bikers and cars that I "almost" hit!) I am an excellent driver, I might add!
My mother finally convinced me to go when she said I could hire a driver and include my sister, Mary on the trip. (Alice is jealous, but her three boys wouldn't like her to leave for that long... and David feels guilty that his life is too busy to take the time). I understand. And David is darn lucky, he isn't the oldest or he would be going! It still doesn't feel like a vacation, but I agreed.
Dad is a kind man, but he can be a mean grump and fiercely opinionated. I can handle it, if I need to. Mary can handle it. BUT at this point, my worry is that the driver, Mike, will throw up his hands in frustration on a deserted Scottish road and make us get out to walk the rest of our journey. I chose the driver and have been in touch with him weekly for a few months.
I must admit that last week I wrote Mike and as delicately as I could, I told him to just agree with my father's lectures. My father is smart, but forgets to "discuss". He says what he says and that is it. And I am not sure if his opinions will be the same as those of the driver.
I also gently told him that my father is rather large and slow moving. (hoping the car will be big enough to handle him). I think Mike understood. SO far he has been more than helpful in arranging distillery tours, dinners and accommodations. I won't give his info until I actually meet him. (or he actually shows up to meet us... my parents have paid him in full).
So back to the point. This trip is a celebration of almost 80 years of life for my father. I hope this isn't his last trip, but if it is, Mary and I will make sure it is fun for him.
PS. Weather looks rainy, but not too cold. Mary reminded me that the way I planned the trip, we won't be outside much.... only in distilleries! NOT true. She and I plan to walk every morning, when my Dad is doing his morning ablutions. We will also visit some castles and even take a boat trip.
You might think that this trip is all about Scotch, so let me put your mind at rest. In reality, this is an 80th birthday present for my Dad (from my Dad).
My father was born in London in January 1930. He was the only child of older parents. He lived most of his young life in Forfar, Scotland with (strict) maiden Aunties. Actually, he was shuttled back and forth between London and Forfar depending on where the war was or wasn't. To make a long story short, in 1956 when he was studying at St. Andrew's University, he met my mother who was there on a year abroad from Vassar. He moved to the USA in 1957 and married my mother. Since then, he has managed to go back to Scotland every few years to visit his friends and family.
Lately, he has not been walking well. (which isn't a topic I want to get into right now). He decided he wanted to go "one last time" to Scotland. I don't know if it is his last time or not, but he is convinced it is, at this moment. His desire to go was also fueled by the death of the husband of his cousin, May. In the meantime, May has had a heart attack which leaves her weak and in an unstable condition.
In addition, the wife of my father's dear childhood friend passed away last year. Faye Mann was a great woman and I will miss not seeing her this visit. Fred Mann has been a friend of my father's since they were little boys. (I can't imagine my father as a little boy!)
His favorite cousins, Forbes MacMath, and Ivor McKinnon passed away quite a few years earlier. I might mention them later, since they were important in my Dad's life. (and mine).
So at this point, it is needless to say that my father wants to visit the few people who are left from his past before they are gone or he is gone. I can understand that. BUT for awhile, what I didn't understand was why I had to be the one to take him. Is it because I am single... is it because I am the oldest.. could it be that I am considered responsible??? My mother spent almost a year recruiting me to go with him. I have traveled a few times with my father. (my mother doesn't fly anymore!). She said he trusts me. I don't know that he cares who is with him.
In the past I was happy to do it, but with his new walking issues and the fact that they expected me to drive didn't make it a very tempting trip. (Driving on the "wrong" side of the road is hard enough, but in the past, my father would give me a tally at the end of the day of all the people, bikers and cars that I "almost" hit!) I am an excellent driver, I might add!
My mother finally convinced me to go when she said I could hire a driver and include my sister, Mary on the trip. (Alice is jealous, but her three boys wouldn't like her to leave for that long... and David feels guilty that his life is too busy to take the time). I understand. And David is darn lucky, he isn't the oldest or he would be going! It still doesn't feel like a vacation, but I agreed.
Dad is a kind man, but he can be a mean grump and fiercely opinionated. I can handle it, if I need to. Mary can handle it. BUT at this point, my worry is that the driver, Mike, will throw up his hands in frustration on a deserted Scottish road and make us get out to walk the rest of our journey. I chose the driver and have been in touch with him weekly for a few months.
I must admit that last week I wrote Mike and as delicately as I could, I told him to just agree with my father's lectures. My father is smart, but forgets to "discuss". He says what he says and that is it. And I am not sure if his opinions will be the same as those of the driver.
I also gently told him that my father is rather large and slow moving. (hoping the car will be big enough to handle him). I think Mike understood. SO far he has been more than helpful in arranging distillery tours, dinners and accommodations. I won't give his info until I actually meet him. (or he actually shows up to meet us... my parents have paid him in full).
So back to the point. This trip is a celebration of almost 80 years of life for my father. I hope this isn't his last trip, but if it is, Mary and I will make sure it is fun for him.
PS. Weather looks rainy, but not too cold. Mary reminded me that the way I planned the trip, we won't be outside much.... only in distilleries! NOT true. She and I plan to walk every morning, when my Dad is doing his morning ablutions. We will also visit some castles and even take a boat trip.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
One week before
Well.... Lise told me that my father will still have to take off his shoes, but at least he will be sitting. My sister and I will arrive around the same time at Newark. (Me from SFO and Mary from STL.) She wants to have a drink before we go out of security and get my father. That might work... there is a great wine bar in terminal C in Newark. They sell glasses or tastes. I forget the name right now, but I will record it later. But maybe we should wait. I don't want to leave my father out on on the street. My mother will drop him off and go home to start her 10 days of freedom.
I was packing this morning and was remembering that when my father and I have traveled to Scotland in the past, as soon as we arrive, he says he needs to buy something... either socks, underwear, hankies.... so we spend the first day looking for a men's shop. SO, I called my mother to make sure he packs everything. She was excited to tell me that he bought disposable underwear. What does that mean???? My guess is that it gets thrown away after a day's use... or perhaps it disintegrates by the end of the day.. maybe it is flushable.... or maybe she meant that he has Depends. That last idea is being erased from my mind.
I was going to pack wine for my sister (and me), but decided that she (we) could buy it in the duty free shop. I will bring very few clothing items to leave lots of room for Scotch. I wonder how many bottles I can bring back without getting in trouble or paying for overweight luggage. Maybe I should bring disposible clothes.
Speaking of tours, my mother told me that maybe we should only go to 2 distilleries the first day and we should have lunch earlier. Hmmm... I didn't realize she was in control of what we all do when we are in Scotland. Did she want to join us??? No! But being a good daughter and thinking of my father with jet lag, I emailed the driver to ask if we could cancel a tour at the last minute if need be... just for my father... I will be a trooper and go to all of the schedules tours. I won't disappoint the distillery.
More to come.... next I will introduce the characters in this narration.
I was packing this morning and was remembering that when my father and I have traveled to Scotland in the past, as soon as we arrive, he says he needs to buy something... either socks, underwear, hankies.... so we spend the first day looking for a men's shop. SO, I called my mother to make sure he packs everything. She was excited to tell me that he bought disposable underwear. What does that mean???? My guess is that it gets thrown away after a day's use... or perhaps it disintegrates by the end of the day.. maybe it is flushable.... or maybe she meant that he has Depends. That last idea is being erased from my mind.
I was going to pack wine for my sister (and me), but decided that she (we) could buy it in the duty free shop. I will bring very few clothing items to leave lots of room for Scotch. I wonder how many bottles I can bring back without getting in trouble or paying for overweight luggage. Maybe I should bring disposible clothes.
Speaking of tours, my mother told me that maybe we should only go to 2 distilleries the first day and we should have lunch earlier. Hmmm... I didn't realize she was in control of what we all do when we are in Scotland. Did she want to join us??? No! But being a good daughter and thinking of my father with jet lag, I emailed the driver to ask if we could cancel a tour at the last minute if need be... just for my father... I will be a trooper and go to all of the schedules tours. I won't disappoint the distillery.
More to come.... next I will introduce the characters in this narration.
Friday, September 25, 2009
One week and one day before the trip
September 25, 2009
My 79 year old father has finally agreed to taking a wheel chair through security at Newark airport. Yippee!!! I dreaded the moment he had to sit down to take off his shoes in the middle of the security line, blocking the crazed people who are late for their flight. I also dreaded the thought of him talking to the security guards, giving them political lectures as he sat slowly undoing each shoe, further annoying passengers. Then I panicked when I imagined that he would decide to remove his belt and his pants would fall down.
Well.. none of that! The wheel chair will whisk him away to the gate. He can make it down the jetway to his first class seat on his own!
Our driver, Mike, has finalized our schedule on Monday on Islay that takes us to 4 distilleries. Yum Yum. My sister, who claims she has never had a scotch, will have fun. She can bring her flask of Chardonnay if she is worried that she won't be as fortified as her father and sister. I am not sure how she managed to grow up in a Scottish household without a wee dram of Scotch, but I believe her.
More to come!
My 79 year old father has finally agreed to taking a wheel chair through security at Newark airport. Yippee!!! I dreaded the moment he had to sit down to take off his shoes in the middle of the security line, blocking the crazed people who are late for their flight. I also dreaded the thought of him talking to the security guards, giving them political lectures as he sat slowly undoing each shoe, further annoying passengers. Then I panicked when I imagined that he would decide to remove his belt and his pants would fall down.
Well.. none of that! The wheel chair will whisk him away to the gate. He can make it down the jetway to his first class seat on his own!
Our driver, Mike, has finalized our schedule on Monday on Islay that takes us to 4 distilleries. Yum Yum. My sister, who claims she has never had a scotch, will have fun. She can bring her flask of Chardonnay if she is worried that she won't be as fortified as her father and sister. I am not sure how she managed to grow up in a Scottish household without a wee dram of Scotch, but I believe her.
More to come!
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