A Memoir for Mother's Day 2021 -

Leaving home and mother . . . . . October 1962

Heathrow Airport suddenly appeared so small. Knowing she was standing down there somewhere, my father at her side, my much loved mother perhaps was looking skyward where the grey clouds soon enveloped every plane going and coming, but having no idea which one was taking her only daughter so far away. She already missed her own mother so dear to her, and must have wondered what on earth was I thinking, leaving her, father, brother, family, friends, home, and even country, even though I had been given her blessing, and she worked hard to help me in my dream to see America.

The airplane food was strange. Different, with lots of caraway seeds. Scared?  Yes definitely as this was my first ever flight. Travel to date had been in cars belonging to friends with wealthier parents for Sunday picnics on Dartmoor; double-decker buses into town; the old Western Lady ferry across Tor Bay; day out motor coach trips to Cornwall or North Devon with maiden aunts; tiny row boats on herring fishing trips along the Torbay coastline; trains now and then for school trips to London followed by a boat up the River Thames in the rain to see where the Magna Carta was signed. Another major school trip was a memorable endless train ride north to Shakespeare country to visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, then swooning over a very young Albert Finney in an amazing production of 'Othello' at the Royal Stratford Theatre  . . . . . . but never an airplane.

Coming into New York was exciting. It still is. Breaking through the late October cloud cover, seeing such a huge city from above in shades of dusty grey and misty blue, two thoughts came to mind. How does one ever find the way around a place so huge, and how does the pilot get this huge plane back on the ground! Of course only first time flyers feel that way. When you’ve done it once you know all the answers for ever more . . . . . . . . .

A tribute to my wonderful mother. 

I "crossed the pond" home so many times to see her, and

 she came to visit me many times in the ensuing years.

I miss her and think of her every day.  

A special lady - Gladys Mary 1911 - 2003

 

Leaving home ---------------

This could be my 'last rose of summer' - a yellow Peace tucked in between 

two huge now withered hydrangea bushes.

Did it bloom to say "goodbye" as we leave, hefting the cumbersome luggage 

down the driveway for our ride to the airport later?

We stowed all garden knick knacks, seat cushions, bird feeders, umbrella etc., 

anything able to blow around and cause damage in a windstorm.

First leaves falling from the fig tree - on yet another already sweltering morning.

Very little autumn color here yet, but perhaps on our return it will have cooled at
 long last, the leaves will have changed to gold and rust, and hopefully rain - a lot
 of soaking rain - will have fallen to end the serious drought conditions. 

When we leave town this afternoon the temperature will be 99F/37C - hard to
 believe this is October and each day is breaking heat records here.

Next post should be from London when we arrive tomorrow and have an
 overnight at Heathrow, then on to Lisbon Saturday where we board the
 ship . . . . . . . or, if not from there, who knows where! This trip is going to so 
many places and I'm hoping to blog when Internet is available!
At least it will be cooler our first few days in Europe . . . . . . . . . . . I'm so
 looking forward to that, plus wearing boots and a sweater at long last!

Enjoy your October days.

Goodbye garden. . . . . . . .

As much fun as it is to travel to far away places, leaving home has it downside.

For me waving goodbye to the garden is always hard. Having to say au revoir, 

when it's just starting to thrive in the warm springtime sunshine, brings a catch 
to my throat and even a tear to my eye as the car backs down the driveway.

Last weekend I picked parsley and scattered annual seeds. There will be no 

languishing at the garden centers this Spring, sighing over all those gorgeous 

pots of perennials just waiting for a garden spot. 

So right now the garden IS lovely, things are growing rapidly with April showers 

and warm sunshine. Although the azaleas are late this year they have bloomed and 

I've enjoyed them this past week before leaving. Above you can see the first fig

leaves appearing - by the time I return perhaps there will be tiny fruits.

The grass was mowed - hopefully it grows slowly. The neighbors will watch the 

cottage and hopefully the weather will be gentle whilst we're away, with just quiet 

breezes to blow the last of the pollen off the roof. 

I know it will look like a jungle when we return mid-May!

What do you miss most when leaving home for an extended trip?