And Now We're Home
The end of the semester came quickly, after our trip to Budapest and Kris' visit. The academic side was its usual flurry of student conferences, test preparations, meetings, grading, etc., but we had to add to that usual stress the additional pressure to pack up all our textbooks, clean the house, and leave forever these people we'd come to love and enjoy. Dec. 14 was house-cleaning day:
Then, that evening was the house party. Henry catered, providing us some very nice snacks and sweets (really nice sweets!), and there was an open bar, dancing, and karaoke (which the Scottish seem to have a strange fascination and aptitude for). Although they couldn't persuade us to sing, the students did persuade us to dance, and I think they were duly impressed by how well Cyndi and I could shake our groove thangs. Here's a couple of shots from the party; there's Jerry, in his Charlie Brown sweater:
And Cyndi and Nic (Nic wearing the beret we got him for Christmas after he had admired Dennis' all semester):
Here are two of my students, Erin and Maria:
And here we are with Dennis' two faves, Beth and Abby:
It was a fun time, and the students got more and more sentimental as they returned time and again to the open bar. We left the party around 10:30, and although their bus for the Glasgow airport left at 7:00 the next morning, I did hear a few students coming in around 5:00. I'm assuming they all made it home . . . .
We left Saturday morning, the 16th, and after a LONG, LONG (like 28 hour long) day, arrived in La Crosse early Sunday morning. Here's me, our first morning home, with buckwheat pancakes, veggie sausages, and the Sunday paper:
So, home safe and sound. Happy be home, happy to see the kitty, happy to cook for myself again. But missing the woods of Dalkeith, the walks into town, the easy access to Edinburgh, the excellent pastries, the students, the shared meals, the company of Cyndi, Nic, Jerry, Pat, Tim, Gloria, and Bill. I'll leave this blog with a picture of Simeon, who took such good care of our cat, our home, and our yard (even though he looks guilty of something in this picture, the house was fine, and I'm sure we'll solve the mystery of the disappearing blow-dryer).
Then, that evening was the house party. Henry catered, providing us some very nice snacks and sweets (really nice sweets!), and there was an open bar, dancing, and karaoke (which the Scottish seem to have a strange fascination and aptitude for). Although they couldn't persuade us to sing, the students did persuade us to dance, and I think they were duly impressed by how well Cyndi and I could shake our groove thangs. Here's a couple of shots from the party; there's Jerry, in his Charlie Brown sweater:
And Cyndi and Nic (Nic wearing the beret we got him for Christmas after he had admired Dennis' all semester):
Here are two of my students, Erin and Maria:
And here we are with Dennis' two faves, Beth and Abby:
It was a fun time, and the students got more and more sentimental as they returned time and again to the open bar. We left the party around 10:30, and although their bus for the Glasgow airport left at 7:00 the next morning, I did hear a few students coming in around 5:00. I'm assuming they all made it home . . . .
We left Saturday morning, the 16th, and after a LONG, LONG (like 28 hour long) day, arrived in La Crosse early Sunday morning. Here's me, our first morning home, with buckwheat pancakes, veggie sausages, and the Sunday paper:
So, home safe and sound. Happy be home, happy to see the kitty, happy to cook for myself again. But missing the woods of Dalkeith, the walks into town, the easy access to Edinburgh, the excellent pastries, the students, the shared meals, the company of Cyndi, Nic, Jerry, Pat, Tim, Gloria, and Bill. I'll leave this blog with a picture of Simeon, who took such good care of our cat, our home, and our yard (even though he looks guilty of something in this picture, the house was fine, and I'm sure we'll solve the mystery of the disappearing blow-dryer).
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