My return flight was one of those effortless flights that make travel fun – even KLM was on its best behavior. Every flight was on time; there wasn’t a cloud to be seen anywhere, with great views of the glaciers in Iceland. Interesting seatmates: a woman who was returning from Germany after buying her 17 year old son a $70,000 Beemer (!?!) because he was a good kid and studied hard (Work after school to pay for his own gas?? Why?); a Republican business man who loves the interesting Governor of Texas, Rick Perry (Sometimes my asperger’s coaching does me well – I was able to smile sweetly and change the subject instead of say what was sooo close to the tip of my tongue.). An American who worked on the rigs off shore. Nice folks all around being helpful and kind to each other. Darling babies running around airports.

I even spent a very memorable evening (the parts that I remember) getting sloshed with my client who took me to The Scotch Malt Whiskey Society where I was given Innis and Gunn (a beer made from the whiskey cask… you’ll have to ask him to explain it) BEFORE drinking the single malt whiskeys, to prepare my palate for the different whiskeys I was given to try. Just don’t ask me how many because I have no idea…. What I do remember is that the whiskey they serve there is only made once, in one cask, and then never again.

I’ve been so immersed in writing my new book without a day off since March, that I forgot what it was like to be a human. Although I did 6 hours of final page proofing on the flight across the pond (What are long flights for anyway?), I did manage to have 4 days of plays and music in Scotland (and haggis for dinner every single night!!) which gave me the ability to see the world again through bright eyes.

Work is necessary, of course. But I must remember to take regular time off to smell the flowers. Believe it or not, I am not a workaholic: this book project just took me over. But now I’m free. Back to dancing regularly, having weekends off to play with friends, and evenings off to do whatever I want.

I guess it took this trip to make me appreciate what life is all about: good people, good theater, and an endless supply of haggis. Oh. And occassional malt whiskey.

Good night…

sd

Thoughts From A Weary Traveler is a post from: SharonDrewMorgen.com

This year we’ve had problems: it’s been triple digits since May. Unbearably hot and humid. And to make matters worse, we’re also having a frightening draught. My grass is dead, plants dying, pond evaporating.

At the moment, I’m having a respite. I’m in Edinburgh for the week with a client – and, luckily, will get to spend a few days going to the Fringe Festival and enjoying plays and music, jugglers and haggis (I adore haggis, btw). But the most enjoyable thing is the rain.

Lovely, glorious rain falls at least once during the day. I’ve been running in it and drinking it in. Surprisingly, the people around me are annoyed by the moisture, yet appreciative of the flowers and grass and green, green trees and meadows. It’s rich and vibrant, verdant and lush. All around is the dazzle of soft sunlight off of plump leaves.

I realize that we often fail to appreciate what we have. So, just for today (and one day at a time), let’s appreciate who we are, what we have, and the earth we’re living on. Let’s make sure we take care of what and who we love, and wake up each day happy with our rain.

sd

Rain is a post from: SharonDrewMorgen.com