Homeward bound

Nothing like a music festival to inspire a very short but sweet visit home! I finished a trip on Friday afternoon and packed up all my stuff then returned a rental car for one of my co-leaders in Cork that evening. Got a hotel room at the Cork International Airport Hotel (which happens to look like a space station) and then stayed up a few more hours, crossed my fingers and set the alarm for a whopping 3 hours of sleep. 4am (Ireland time) woke up, stumbled around the room and took a shower

4:30am took the shuttle over to the airport and got checked in

5am strolled through the duty free shop where I deliriously decided a bottle of Bushmills Black Bush whiskey would be a good anniversary gift for Dylan.

12:30pm (Portland time) finally landed at PDX after a short lay over in Amsterdam where they confiscated and poured out my anniversary present then frisked me (all part of the normal screening) and reboarded us on a gigantic plane so that we could sit on the runway for an hour. Not that it mattered to me. I was sleeping. That's right. Already. Even before take off. I was out. Cold. Then, of course, after we did conclude our 11 hour flight with a safe landing we had to wait another 15 minutes for US customs to be prepared for us. Really? I kind of thought that extra hour and a half it took for me to get here would be enough time to get ready.

12:45pm collected by my dear friends Julie and Brent who graciously drove circles around the airport for said hour and a half and then took me home to shower and change into some more music festival appropriate clothing. And yes, mom, I know how hippie I look, but where else can I get away with it?! I now chauffeur rich people around Ireland. I can play dress up if I want to while I'm home.

The look on Dylan's poor unsuspecting face was priceless. He was legitimately confused for another 30 minutes or so and then it finally started sinking in. I apparently ruined his plans for a grand "welcome home" at the airport, but who needs flowers when you have good music and camping? Pickathon was wonderful as always although I didn't dance near as much as I normally do. Stupid jet lag. Happy to just relax with Dylan instead.

Monday night we had a few folks over to the house and I was finally starting to feel less jet lagged. I think I fully recovered by Tuesday and we went to dinner then saw a show at Alberta Street Pub featuring friends of ours and Langhorne Slim. It was fantastic. Wednesday we went to dinner with Ric (Dylan's dad), Marley (Dylan's sister), Kyle (my sister) and Nate (my sister's other half) to Apizza Scholls. If you live in Portland and have not been there yet, you are missing out. Go now and order an It's It. You will thank me later.

Thursday came too fast and I was back on a plane to Ireland. I was tired and felt like I could have used another week with friends and family, but I am grateful for the days I had and look forward to November.

You can see more photos here.