weddings were not actually weddings. In fact they were not weddings at all! However, this week was all slightly exaggerated!
I had met the people who were sitting by the pool on Sunday, earlier in the year. The male of the couple was English, and we started to chat as I sat on my chair. They were dog sitting for a friend and taking advantage of the end of summer sun. The conversation started by them telling me that they were due to move to Illinois in the New Year, and not only would they not be dog sitting anymore, and able to take advantage of the pool, but they would probably be wrapped in winter coats when I started my swimming season! It was a fun afternoon. "Have you got a Texas driving license, I asked my fellow Brit. He told me he had not, and was it hard to get one. I understood the question. He was not asking about appropriate paperwork, or eligibility, but about the severity of the test. I told him the story of how, many years ago, Samantha and I had arrived at the driving centre after five in the afternoon, had been told that we were unable to take the test until the following day, gone back at ten the following morning, passed our 'theory', and then taken the driving test at four that afternoon. I told him about the young chap who had been sitting at a screen opposite ours, was taking his 'theory', failing and having the programme reset so he could re-take it immediately. He did this three times to our knowledge. His girlfriend smiled. "See, not too bad!" The look of "You have to be kidding me" was recognised by this fellow Brit, and he proceeded to tell her how different it was 'at home'. "Booking your 'theory' takes forever. Then you have to wait forever to get a date. Then if you fail you have to re-book, and wait forever for another date. Then you have to book your driving test, which is set for a date so far out in the future, you are too old to drive!" Perhaps a slight exaggeration but it made a point. "How long was the drive?" he asked. "Five minutes!" he shouted, after I had told him. "And no emergency stop?" I smiled. "What's that?" said the girlfriend. I explained that the examiner would bang his clipboard on the dashboard, and you would have to stop the car, without skidding, swaying, hitting anything, or ending up in someone's front room. She looked perplexed. "I skidded across the road and back on my first test", I told them. "I realised that I should not get out of third gear, until he has slammed his clipboard when I took my second. Oh yes, I forget to mention, "I said looking at the girlfriend, "If you take your test on an automatic car, you can't drive 'stick' (manual) unless you take another test". She seemed suitable baffled, or perhaps impressed. I am not sure which. We continued to chat about the tests and managed to slip into speaking 'English, English' without giving it much thought. "What's that?" was a frequent question. By the time we had finished discussing the driving test, she looked horrified. "I will never drive in England!" she announced. We talked about language differences, and food. I told him where to buy 'proper' gravy and other items. "I haven't had custard since I have been here!" he said. "Is that like ice-cream?" his girlfriend asked, tentatively, her voice slightly trailing off as she got to the word 'cream'. Without hesitation, he looked at me and said, "Translate, please". I obliged. "It's sort of like your banana pudding, but without the banana flavour". I received a nod of approval. "That's it!" he said. Eventually, the talk of food reminded them that they had not had lunch and they left the area, expecting to be back later. I swam and then read until the sun had departed from the patio, and left to go home.
The rivalry between myself and Jerry, (our server,) has become quite amusing. He is a Dallas Cowboys fan. I am not! Supporting the Houston Texans means that I cannot possibly have any sympathy, empathy, compassion or any other expressive, connective, feelings when the Cowboys lose. To me, it's a win! Football (and I mean football, as in English, not American) or soccer to my American followers, is a serious business! Dana follows the University of Texas and will support any other Texas team if they are playing an out of state team. I cannot imagine a Liverpool fan cheering on Everton! There has never, EVER been a time when as a Tottenham Hotspur fan, I would want Arsenal to win! It is tradition. It doesn't happen. Arch enemies remain arch enemies. So when the Cowboys lose, I don't exactly gloat but I do try to make Jerry understand you can only support one team! However, I digress. The radio station that I log into to check out the local news had a headline regarding the 'miserable' effort by the Dallas team, I had to read more. A day after Jerry's birthday, he walked into the office, and blaring from my computer was 'The Funeral March'. He could do nothing but laugh! Fortunately, we are on the same side when it comes to supporting college teams!
I was going to prepare an 'ol' fashion' country dinner' on Wednesday, but did not! I was unsure as to how many people I was expecting for dinner, and chose to make something more traditional. 'Boiled beef and carrots', is translated to corned beef, and something I usually make when Cyndie, Grant's mum, cannot join us. She does not like it. I was not expecting her, as she had 'car issues', but the car got fixed, and I prepared an alternative for her. She sampled the beef. "I don't know what I had all those years ago, but this ain't it!" she announced. I was so excited, least of all because the fish I had prepared for her had shrunk to the size of a bean in the oven!
I was awoken at a little after five on Thursday, to a message on my phone. My friend Beverly's mother had died. She had been poorly for sometime, and was a fraction of the woman I knew when I visited her last Christmas. She had celebrated her 99th birthday earlier in the year. The message was to announce her death and the link to the funeral! It was at one o'clock, which meant seven my time. Having just woken up, it seemed like an impossible scenario, but once my alarm went off I thought about it a little more. I headed down to the pool at six thirty. Samantha had arrived just before seven, and we sat down and 'logged in'. It was a strange concept, attending a funeral six thousand miles away, but it was not dissimilar to attending Kate and William's (royal) wedding on television at three in the morning! The only difference was that Kate and William did not know we were there. Of course that was not the only difference. If Kate and William had know we were there, they would not know who we were! I think it is safe to say that this was the first, and very probably the last funeral I will ever attend wearing a wet suit! I did get changed half way through, not because I thought it was inappropriate, but because I had to get ready for work! The break in the service allowed me to have a shower and show up to 'part II' a little more traditionally dressed. I did not wear black. However, my suit is black! Excuses, excuses!
Friday was a little more of a conventional day. Early start in the morning, weather was mild and comfortable. I went into work, and watched as the rain started to fall, the wind started to blow, and the temperature started to drop! By the time we left, it felt cold. I was arguing with myself as to whether I should forego the evening swim. I wanted to ask Dana to tell me not to go. That way I would have an excuse! I really cannot tell myself "No"! I must practice! However, as my husband nearly always tells me that it is up to me, I thought there was little chance of him agreeing to forbid me to leave the house in a swimsuit! As we exited the car and walked into the house, he said, "I think it would be inadvisable for you to go swimming tonight". He still did not say 'don't', but it was enough for me to sigh, shrug my shoulders, and say, "If you say so". I did say "Thank you" afterwards, and told him that I was going to ask!
three policemen sitting at a table. It has been my practice since I moved here to thank law enforcement, fire fighters, military personnel, for their service. Not something I had ever considered at home, but it is commonplace where I am now. "Excuse me, guys", I started. "How can we help you, ma'am", said the lady officer. I proceeded to express my thanks for their service, and appreciation. They all beamed, genuine smiles, and wished me a good evening. As I walked away, I said to Dana, "I just called those policemen 'guys'. I can't ever imagine walking up to a group of bobbies at home, and not saying 'officer'. I just called the police, 'guys'." My husband found my embarrassment amusing, but I was devastated. Why? I had lost another piece of me! I had added another piece of Texas to me! Did I die a little bit, or was I enhanced? I am not sure yet!
Saturday morning started early. We were heading to Dallas. Dana's sister and brother in law had arrived at his oldest brother's house the day before, and we headed up to see them. I still get rather excited at seeing the Dallas skyline, and sang the theme tune to the television soap opera. It never gets old. It never gets old to me! As we headed over the flyover I had a really good view, and "dar, dar, dar'ed" in a loud voice! Things you never thought you would say: "I am going to Dallas for the day!" Admittedly, my brother in law lives just outside of the main city, in a suburb, but it's near enough!
We had a really lovely day. I always enjoy visiting with my in-laws, both ex and new! Cindy and I sat and chatted whilst the guys watched the game! I felt rather humbled at being in the presence of three men who had all served in the military. At around five, two hours later than we had anticipated, we left to come home. UT (University of Texas) had beaten Baylor in the college game, and thankfully UT were playing at home. We drove through Waco, where the Baylor Bears have their university, and the traffic was bad. If the game had been played at their stadium, our journey home would have been a lot longer! We drive past the stadium on our way, and it is a stones throw from the Interstate. As we entered Austin, I commented that the UT tower should be lit up orange, due to the win. Dana laughed. He found it amusing that as we were nearing home, that I should be the one looking for the tower. "The little English girl!" he called me. Definitely an enhancement!
I wore boots on Saturday, and jeans. It was cooler in Dallas than it was here, but it was cool here too. I did not swim. I did not walk. I did not do any exercise. Cindy, Dana's sister, had said we should have gone for a walk and we should! I felt rather lethargic.
The cold water ran through me on Sunday morning, but it wasn't too bad after a few laps. I think my time is up! My time in the water that is! Lamenting has begun, but I am not quite sure the funeral march can be played quite at this time, as there is a glimmer of sunshine on the horizon. The clocks do not go back in Texas until next weekend, despite the extra hour being had in England. It has been an interesting week. Perhaps next week will have some highlights to write in ............. another story!
No comments:
Post a Comment