Pink cadillac...with crushed velvet seats

I am going to go to the Right Coast of America in a little over two weeks. Jim and I are headed for Buffalo, New York to attend a wedding and visit relatives in his hometown. I am told that there will be autumn leaves and a trip to Niagara Falls (Canadian side). Our stay will include a rehearsal dinner, a visit with a new baby & family, certain beloved restaurants, a brunch, a tour of Jim's old haunts, & more. So that's the fun part.

I have not traveled a great deal ... mostly because I could not afford to in my single parent life. The kids & I did take trips to Disneyland and even Camp Mather in Yosemite. Suzy & I also enjoyed our two week Rick Steve's tour of London & Paris. A week on Oahu with my friend Cathie, staying in a friend of a friends' timeshare, & that's about it.

The jitters part involves Teaberry ... my one-woman dog. I have so much anxiety about how he will fare when I am gone. My sister is coming from Portland to care for him (& visit our mother). She is not a dog person. I am leaving a Teaberry Book with his routines & instructions, which should help, I hope. I am working on letting go and convincing myself that all will be well. I know it sounds silly but he & I are a family. That's all I can say about it.

Southern CA. to Buffalo in the fall. I am also agonizing over the packing. It's hard to even think about warmer clothing when the temp. has risen to 100 degrees here. I'm trying to do carry-on only so I'm doing careful list-making. It'll all work out, right?

So I am excited but anxious ... but at any rate I am leaving on a jet plane. :o)

Even though I'm on my computer daily, the writing muse has not struck me for a looong time. During the summer I enjoyed my first trip to Europe! We focused on London & Paris. It was everything I imagined, dreamed of, hoped for, and more. The memories will stick with me forever. When others ask about my favorites I reflect on two places that served as perfect places of reflection. In Paris, the night view from the Eiffel Tower was incredible! As I strolled and stood I reflected on all I had experienced on the trip. A similar occurrance took place atop the London Eye. Something about the height and broad view of amazing places seems to have triggered my appreciation of all that it meant to be there.
So now I'm back, hard at work, some of the same old/same old. Somewhere lurking in my mind is the remembrance of travel and the desire to experience more. I'll always have Paris. :o)