And so it begins

As trips go, I’ve got to say that this one deserved an award.  I even managed to sleep from Iqaluit to Reykjavik - how often will I ever get to say that?  A big, beautiful AC 787 jet, comfy seats with extra legroom, smooth air and the entire last season of Downton entertained me through the shortest night of my life, given that dawn lightened the sky at 1 am, somewhere over Greenland.  Heathrow was orderly and our suitcases arrived on time, our driver arrived early and after a rather hair-raising 2 hour drive, we arrived in beautiful Chipping Campden just in time for dinner.  This is the view from our idyllic B&B:

Right now it’s nearly midnight in the Cotswolds and my body is in a state of complete confusion, having jolted me awake with one of the worst foot cramps of my life due to sitting like a statue for 10 hours while hurtling through time and space.  But it’s kind of fun to be awake in the night and not care.  There is no office in the morning, no obligation beyond breakfast at 7 a.m.  Tomorrow (today, I mean) we will explore and organize our gear for the hiking that begins the following day. From what we saw on our short walk to dinner last evening, this historic little village has much to see, and we are itching to begin exploring!  For now though, I am hoping that Captain Gravol at the helm should give me a couple more hours of sleep before the breakfast hour arrives.  I wonder what a "proper British fry-up" is going to look like, vegan-style?  Stay tuned.

Hold on to your knickers!

It has been nearly two years of planning, but here I finally am on the cusp of a two week holiday tromping and traipsing through the Cotswolds, England.  The journey begins in Chipping Campden on September 4, and my intrepid buddy Kate and I will walk approximately 160 km through such bucolic-sounding places as Birdlip, Winchcomb and Old Sodbury, before resting our boots in Bath.  Fortified with faggots and mash, haggis, neeps and tatties, spotted dick and as much Cadbury as we can carry, we plan on absorbing every moment of this amazing journey, and I’ll be blogging along the way as WiFI allows.   Hope you will come along for the fun!

Conversations with Benjamin

Maui through the eyes of an 18-month-old is like a different planet.  Stores are emporiums of endless choices and painful decisions and clocks that move far too quickly.  "More?" he pleads and then, just in case we didn't understand, the hand signal for "more" rapidly follows.  "Peez!" he tries.   It's just so important that he stays to read every book and try every car/van/plane/bus.  In his mind being requested to leave before he is finished is just bad manners.  Like, why?  Why would I want to do that?  Silly grown-ups.



And then!  We discovered the beach.  The beach with a swing that overlooks the ocean and palm trees and not only that, he was the only kid there.   Back and forth, back and forth he swung in his baby swing and almost every time, he would comment on the empty swings beside him.  "Beeg kidsh", he would say, with some awe and reverence.  And my heart gives a little tug when I realize that too soon he'll be in those big kid swings too.



Kamaole two has a shady section that is perfect for a guy with a buck-IT and shovah, as long as Nana keeps the watering can full.  This was used to meticulously fill up all the footprint holes on the beach, an exhausting and dehydrating task.  To walk along the shore resulted in a curious parade that involved Ben stumping along in his best diaper swagger and Nana riding rear shotgun, Dee Dee en point and mama within a fingertip grasp as he neared the waves.  We ambled slowly up the beach, a dignified herd of pachyderms protecting their precious babe.



Funniest all of are the moments between Dee Dee and Ben.  For reasons no one will ever comprehend, certain words have almost magical qualities and when the two of them utter them to each other, it brings on giggling hysteria.   This week the word is "meat."  "MEAT!"  Ben will say to Dee Dee, with a sparkle in his eye, daring and pleading with him to play.  "MEAT MEAT MEAT!" Dee Dee replies in his big, deep voice, and Benjamin dissolves in giggles.  He catches his eye from across the room. "MEAT?  Dee Dee!   MEAT!!!"  Lisa and I sigh and smile.  Ben takes aim and toddler runs across the floor... "Wun Wun Wun Wuun I wunning", his eyes locked on Dee Dee's face, and just when the suspense is unbearable, Dee Dee bellows out "MEAT!!!  MEAT!!".  Ben's entire body goes into paroxysms and hoots of laughter as he takes refuge on Mama's lap and plots his next ambush. 



The World As Ben Sees It is a heck of a good place, where there is excitement and affection around every corner and colors, numbers, shapes and animals are every bit as fascinating as a sticker that he peels off the sidewalk to give to you.  Nothing has been more fun for these grandparents to share in these irreplaceable moments and to let the clock slow down for a little while.  Those big kid swings are just going to have to wait!