Tuesday, March 8, 2011

The Departure

         The past month has been dedicated to making my last Starbucks latte, creating numerous last minute lists and attempting to pack.  If you’ve ever had trouble planning your wardrobe for your summer holiday imagine doing it for 10 months!  Over the weeks I have made piles, removed from the piles, added new articles, then finally given up and just shoved it all in the night before I left.  As a result I will be dragging around a rather lumpy, heavy, overly full pack.  I’m still amazed when I heave it onto my back that I have next to no clothes and I can think of nothing to eliminate. 
         After a Greek last dinner with the half-family Wednesday finally arrived.  The morning was slow and unrushed, which was great as I’m a last minute packer.  While collecting my pack from the house I discovered that the lunch kit I had planned to transport my Cholera vaccination in was nowhere to be found.  Add Walmart stop onto pre-leaving town list.  After the various other tasks on the list were completed there was only one left, although I suppose it wasn’t quite a task.  Saying goodbye to mummy.
         List completed we headed out of Squamish and on towards Seattle.  The drive was uneventful and pleasant other than random outbursts of rain.  It was my first time crossing the US border on land, very exciting!  Well perhaps not but firsts are always fun.  After battling with the Blackberry’s map we found our hotel in time for a quick change before heading for dinner.  I was treated to the most amazing dinner in the Space Needle restaurant which made me only marginally queesy near the end.  We started with clams, which always remind me of Savory Island, marinated in a delicious garlic, and lemon Chardonnay sauce.  My main was an incredibly rich yet scrumptious Seafood Fettucine, and Shaums had the Ahi Tuna with a blackberry ginger glaze which was wonderful as well.
I'm a terrible tourist photographer so I just snapped a shot of a postcard

         We were up early the next morning in time for a quick shower and last minute packing juggle before heading to the airport.  After a hurried goodbye, I don’t ‘do’ goodbyes, I was headed to the check-in counter.  Half an hour of waiting in the United line I got to the desk and discovered I was a numbskull as I was actually flying with US Airways.  Their check-in was, of course, at the other end of the terminal.          
         Oh yes, my Cholera vaccine.  The prior night had proved my lunch box and ice packs ineffective and had left me wanting nothing to do with it.  Luckily, however, Shaums brilliantly suggested putting it in my water bottle & just refilling it with ice when possible.  Ok perhaps not the most far out there idea but it hadn’t entered my head in my panicked state. It was easy as anything and worked perfectly.

Bags checked, patted down by security, waterbottle filled with ice, and coffee in my system I was on my way to Philadelphia. 

xoxo Drifting Daisy

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