Travel Attire

No hat. Tis a pity. Two reasons for that, I think only two, but I can't even really remember the other one, but I think one was I didn't want to dress up too much in deference to my grandmother, who sometimes isn't quite sure about how much I dress up to travel. Hence, the denim jacket as well, partly for style, also, it popped the black dress down a notch. And perhaps it was just the look I was in the mood to go with, I did, in deference to a hat, wear a black flower in my hair.

Style wise, I think I did okay, but comfort wise, I think I need to update my travel wardrobe a little, the shoes especially. While very smashing faux snake skin, they have become a tiny bit too big since I purchased them several years ago, and while walking long distances through an airport, when your heel is slipping out of your shoe, it is not only uncomfortable, it is not elegant. I made a detour through the bathroom and stuffed more tissue in the toes, but really…..It is entirely likely, since I’m so particular, that they will have to make do, but I hope to find a smashing replacement before another airport trek.

The other small problem I had was my slip riding up. Fortunately, the skirt was full enough that the bulge it wanted to create was concealed (hopefully!), but elegance needs to be a feeling as well as a look, and I can’t say I had it on the inside.

So, travelling does need to be a combination of comfort and elegance, although to be perfectly frank here, I’d rather look nice. However, I think feeling elegance can be a major contributor to looking elegant, so there you are, I’m stuck. Another thing, apparently airport security doesn’t like really full skirts, I was subjected to extra screening. (But hey, I flew out of a small airport and the security went above and beyond the call of duty to help me find my watch that I’d taken off and slipped into my belongings right before walking through the scanners. When I realized it was missing on the other side, they ran all my bags through again, helped me pull things out and look, and we finally found it. And then of course there was a science to having fit everything in and it wasn’t quite the same after that….but that is another story on better luggage and I did try, but I just couldn’t find something that would work. So a girl has got to do, what a girl has got to do, with what a girl has. :))

I think the basic moral to this whole post is, try not to fly right after starting to evacuate your families home because of a mud slide, it does things to your equanimity. And because I have a way of rabbit trailing, I feel so blessed that despite this crisis our family has been through; we’re all safe, we were able to move everything out, and actually, the Blue Castle is still standing. With the tornado that just recently devastated so many homes across America recently, I just shake my head, they had no warning, they lost just about everything, and some even lost their lives. What do I have to complain about?

How's that for a fashion post?

Pip now,

T.W.

Breaking the Silence

I know it's been a bit since you heard from me, and right after a rather epic post too. Well, I'm with my grandmother, far away from the difficulties that my family is handling right now. From what I understand, the house has been completely evacuated, the floors might even be swept, if my mother has had her way. There were still a few things to move from the wellhouse/office and then everything will be on hold until the situation has been stabilized and decisions can be made on what to do next.

There are some ideas under consideration, and some of them would include major changes. We shall just have to see what the future holds. At this point the family is really hoping to be able to find a place to rent in town temporarily so that they can move out of my brother and sister-in-laws, where they have been staying for the last few days. Just when I think we are "out of their hair" the step up to the plate with more gracious hospitality in a time of need.

The family could still really use prayers as they decide what the next step should be. I don't know if the Blue Castle is even an option to move back into if the hillside can be stabilized. Something has shifted enough that you can't open the doors so what that has done to the structural integrity, I can't say. Something that will have to be considered at any rate.

In other news, I've heard of women being widows before they were married, but I never thought as I should be one...........that might be a bit of stretch, but I joined my grandmother today for a widows luncheon. They were very sweet ladies and the testimony one shared was pretty amazing. I am very grateful that they welcomed me so kindly, but still, when you think about just the plain fact of it being a widows luncheon, it's interesting.

This is just a quick note, well, as quick as a lass with a few good drops of Irish blood in her veins gets, to say hi. When you will hear from me again, I couldn't say, there is this little issue of the internet and generational gap that I'm struggling to bridge. :) (Not to mention, I'm very used to having it at my finger tips and going somewhere to access it is a bit daunting.)

Till later my friends,

T.W.