Coming Home

a shameless self-promotion . . .

One of our photos from Italy has been entered in a photo contest. Our photo is currently 21 19 out of 378 photos. You can vote by clicking here.

Remember a 10 is good!

*smile*

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Today is that sad day when the reality of 'heading home' sets in. You know the fun is over and after a trip from hell - you'll be back to reality. I say trip from hell because I leave here at about 9 am and likely won't get home until some time between midnight and 1 am tomorrow. ARGH

One of my colleagues called me at 5 am Palm Desert time so I didn/'t need an alarm and while I tried to get back to sleep - there were no more z's on my page.

Gail and John headed back to Atlanta at 6. After Palma, Brad, and I hugged them good bye Brad went back to bed for some well-deserved sleep while Palma sat by the pool, drank coffee, and debriefed.

I have to go and pack soon so this will be a short post!

Yesterday was a blast.

We got up and puttered about, tidying, organizing, and trying to clean the cobwebs that had been induced by lack of sleep, NO lack of wine, an excess of amazing food, and non-stop laughter out of our heads. There was just NOT enough coffee to do the trick.

Once everyone was up and ready to head out we drove to Keedy's for breakfast. Palma had reserved the backroom for the 23 slowtravellers who wanted a hearty breakfast before they headed out on their drives home. Once again the food was great but it was far eclipsed by the company. Say what you wnat about meeting folk from the 'net' but generally slowtravellers are a grand group!

I had flashbacks to camp momments when it came time to leave. Everyone hung about on the sidewalk, knowing that they had to hit the road, but not really wanting it to end! Unfortunately, like all good things, it had to and as each group trickled away there were hugs, references to future get togethers, and of course, in true slow traveller form . . . advice on the best route home.

Palma, Gail, Sandi, and me decided to go shopping. We stopped in at the street fair where we wandered from stall to stall looking at the items for sale and making some purchases. Later we popped into Trader Joes where I did my kid in a candy store routine.

Back at the house we puttered around while Palma napped. Lunch was an assortment of leftover desserts from the night before. By about 5 the place was looking normal again. Terry and Kathy arrived back at the house - they had taken the tram up the mountain west of Palm Springs and had hiked a bit. Everyone checked e-mail, and re-checked our flihgt arrangements for the next day.

Dinner consisted of leftovers and by about 9:30 Sandi, Terry, and Kathy had to head out to their rental in order to get ready to head home early this morning. Luckily my flight was more sensible ((although it will kill me later tonight and tomorrow).

This has been such a great weekend. Busy, for sure, but full of good fun, laughter, and lots of amazing food. I took more thna 150 photos so I shall be posting them later.

Now it is time to sign off, the shower, packing, and the drive to the Ontario airport awaits!

Comments

[gail hecko]

Jerry, I miss you! We got home at 10:00, and I hear you are somewhere in Atlanta weathered-in. So sorry. We were worried about landing with all the fog, but after landing and circling the plane parking area for about 45 minutes (!), they finally found us a spot to park.

What a weekend. I'll post more tomorrow.

So glad we met you!

Gail

[Barb Cabot]

Dear Jerry, It's nearly midnight on Monday and I'm watching the news of all the fires and hoping everyone got home okay. Still I realize you are not home. Please know that our thoughts are with you on this long journey home. It was so nice to meet you. We will all talk more in days to come. Take care and rest well when you can.

[Kim]

What, no poictures?? Have safe and EASY travels today.

[Jerry]

Gail - the trek home was a challenge for sure. Nothing like our friends in S CA are coping with though. I am home, safe and sound, the cats are all over me. I miss the laughter already!

Barb - thanks for the good wishes. I made it home finally. It was a 34 hour journey - whew! It was wonderful to meet you!

Kim - the travels were safe (I don't know about easy though). The pics will be posted later today!