Mother-Daughter

Last month, I had the wonderful opportunity to taking a trip with my daughter. All alone - no children, no husbands. Just the two of us. We met in Orlando and spent two days at Universal Studios. Both of us being fans of the Harry Potter books, we wanted to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (HPW), and we knew that our grown-up boys had absolutely no interest and the little boys were, well, just too little.

HPW was amazing. As soon as you stepped through the entrance gates, you felt as if you were truly walking the streets of Hogsmeade with all of its rickety, crookedy, "snow-covered" shops and restaurants. We visited Honeydukes, the candy shop with all-flavor jellybeans and chocolate-covered frogs. Dervish and Bangles was filled with magical objects and the requisite shirts and caps. And, of course, we made a stop in Hogsmeade Tavern for a taste of Harry's famous Butterbeer (a butterscotch flavored sugary slushie.)

Most of the shops were nothing but store fronts that highlighted scenes or activities from the book. One such shop was Magical Plants. In this storefront window were plants that the Hogwarts students studied in Herbology class. Plants like Bouncing Bulb , Bobotuber, Devil's Snare, Gillyweed, and Flitterbloom. Highlighted in the center of the main window of this shop was the Screechsnap - a plant that wiggles & squeaks uncomfortably when given too much dragon dung. 

At the far end of Hogsmeade, high on a hill, sits Hogwarts Castle. The gates to Hogwarts are, of course, watched over by a massive pair of "pig-goyles".

Built over a thousand years ago by a (fictional) wizard architect, Hogwarts is now home to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hogwarts is, of course, an enchanted castle. So if "muggles" approach the castle, all they will see is a ruin with a sign warning them to keep out and that the ruins are unsafe. Because of the ancient spells and incantations that protect the castle's inhabitants, muggles cannot see the true goings-on of the castle. One thing is for sure, if you do see anyone in a cloak wandering towards a ruined and dangerous castle, don't stop him; he may have an exam that he needs to get to!

Hogwarts Castle is believed to be located in Scotland. It is built in a forested area and sits on the edge of the Black Lake, high above the village of Hogsmeade. All things magical happen within its walls, including the fact that people in portraits hung on the wall are still alive in another realm - they can talk and actually move from one portrait to another to visit with one another. The castle's interior architecture of staircases, secret passages, and chambers is forever changing, a feature contributed by Hogwarts founder Rowena Ravenclaw.

The fictional Hogwarts Castle is actually based on a real, still-inhabited working castle - Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, England. Built in 1096, Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in England. Perhaps daughter and I could make that trip some day.

We spent the second morning of our two-day venture at the hotel. Jennifer reading, computing, and snoozing in our room; while I sat in the lobby reading, people-watching, and keeping an eye on the storm raging outside.

We were able to make it back to HPW and Citywalk the afternoon of our second day. We got a little wet, but we got silly photos of ourselves on the Hogwarts Castle ride - rain ponchos and all.

Most of all, it was just a nice time alone with my daughter to catch up on topics we never get around to discussing with others around, and actually finishing a conversation without getting interrupted. We had great meals together and saw two movies - Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows and The Lincoln Lawyer.

Then it was up at 4:00 a.m. to catch a 7:30 flight back to our real lives. This time next year, I plan to be living near her, and I do hope we can make it an annual event to get away for just two days on another "Girl Trip".

Oh, yes. Almost forgot. I did not make any souvenier purchases for myself on this trip. But when we were in Dr. Suess Land, I did purchase Thing 1, Thing 2, and Thing 3 t-shirts for my 3 grandthings.

Blissful Sound

There is nothing like the pure love you have for a grandchild - child of my child, heart of my heart. Everything about each one born is uniquely special. Grandmothers never tire of rocking, feeding, diaper changing, hugging, smiles, giggles, and snuggles. Grandmothers may be the only people on earth who take great delight in hearing babies breathing into the phone.

But the most blissful sound is the first time you hear that Special One speak your name. That is what happened to me today. I phoned Jennifer to see how she is faring with all the nuances of her hectic schedule this week and the twins were in the mood to "talk" to me. Brett said Mark and by-by. Then Jennifer asked Gantt if he wanted to talk to G.G. and he very distinctly said "G.G." to me for the first time. 

My heart leapt. My heart was immediately flooded with absolute joy. It doesn't matter how many grandchildren you have, that first time each individual grandchild utters your name is one of those undescribable moments of Pure Bliss that simply must be experienced.

9 Months

Only nine months left - I could carry and deliver a baby within that timeframe. It is actually 38 weeks, and I will be walking out of the school building where I have spent the last 22 years for my last time.

9 Months - but who's counting?

Last year I was very excited as I contemplated what life would be like after retirement. Using mornings for exercise rather than commuting, getting the laundry and shopping done on weekdays rather than cramming it all into a Saturday, and time to visit with family and friends rather than fellow inmates.

Yet now as I am down to counting the weeks, the fears are setting in. Fear of becoming lazy because I will have so much leisure time, fear of becoming a recluse, and the looming fear of will there be enough money to make the ends meet. And sometimes I feel that little demon on my shoulder reminding me that this is the last chapter of the book. Childhood, school years, newlywed days, motherhood, profession...all those chapters have already been read and I am in the last quarter of the story. I try to ignore that little demon as much as possible.

All in all, doing what I want between 9-5 instead of what the "boss man" wants has a nice ring to it.

Retirement is when the living is easy and the payments are hard — Unknown wise person