Worth the wait?

Tried.  

Failed.  

Tried.  

Failed.  

(repeat at least 10 times!)  

This year?  

For me, the answer is yes!

And you are loved!

Patience

I have discovered as one nears closure of an established goal, a geometric decrease in patience occurs.  Take for example, a trip home from a fantastic vacation.  Yesterday, with the specter of an 11 hour flight to whisk us back to the U S of A, I was resolute.  It had to be done.  After all, I had no desire to spend my life in Argentina (although I am convinced we saw the Castle Rosado on our trip from the national to international airport in Buenos Aires and was impressed!). Landing in Dallas, I knew we had a 5  hour lay-over, awaiting our trip to Sioux Falls.  It had to be done, and our gate was directly across from Duncan Donuts (by 9:30, the clerk could call me by name!) and down the pike from Chili's, where we had lunch (at 9:45!).  Due to another flight, we were required to change gates three times.  It had to be done.  Then, it was time to board the plane.  With happy heart and heavy eyelids, I psyched myself into a state of calm.  Then the announcement.  We would not be boarding because a flight attendant had not arrived.  Really?  Really!  And yet, even though the nerves were frayed and the psyche on edge, I retained my composure.  She came.  We boarded.  We are 45th in line for tale-off (just a slight exaggeration).  If this plane isn't air-born in 10 minutes...I will wait!  But oh my goodness, not patiently! 

And we're off!  Next goal?  Drive home.  Can you say speed limit 80?!  If patience is a virtue, and lack thereof the opposite, today I probably need to heed the advice of my students the year I retired...move south so I can get used to heat before my demise!

Know you are loved!

They say that all good things...

Packing for the trip home.  Wow!  Thought you might enjoy an inside perspective, so if this works, here's the poetic version of our trip!!  Know you are loved!

Canto uno

We meet in the lobby at just half past nine

Eclectic as we may be

Well traveled for sure with memories fine

Just waiting for new things to see.

There's Ed and Linea from the mighty Northwest 

And Beth from the state O-hi-o

Montana does bring us miss Ann on a quest

To savor the Argentine show

Like new blends of wine, diversity's good

There's Deborah our next double x

She's north and she's south and does wonders with food

That makes her our own Canimex.

Dakota is covered, at least one that's south

It's Sarah and Jeff her best friend

And Cathryn and husband who runs at the mouth

It's I and for guests it's the end.

That brings us to leaders and they're quite a pair

It's Erica and her pal named James

Adventures await us --for us they will care

That covers the gamut of names!

The hike is a warm-up and if it is true

beginnings portend what's to be,

We're in for amazing...delightful...a clue

Of great things that we'll get to see.

Canto dos

Day two and it's sunny, an omen I'm sure

We're off to our picnic at noon.

Our first shrine a woman, a mother most pure

We beseech her--safe travels real soon.

A ways up the road, our second approach

To sainthood, a  male never fear

Our offer to him lest disfavor encroach

Is Salta, you got it, a beer.

Then lunch it is offered, varietal bliss

If hungry we leave?  Fault is ours

Then back whence we came, no bite did I miss

For short option?  Thanks to the powers!

As darkness descends, we meet at the van

To supper, please whisk us away!

For James and sweet Erica do all they can

So Sayeth we all, "What a day!"

Canto tres

Visions of tenderloin colored my dreams

And mem'ries of squash and of corn

The morning came quickly despite all my schemes

A new day of hiking is born!

The van and young Gabby do take us away,

The scenery?  It is divine!

We'll walk and we'll climb cuz we know it's the way

To eating and tasting more wine.

And after the luncheon, unique best imbues

The art work amazing to see

No subject, no object, it's all done with hues

The blue room oh how can it be?

Then matte for some and supper awaits

Each does whatever he pleases

Some wander around through alleys and gates

Some go to a mass with flat Jesus!

Canto Quattro

The cat fight a mem'ry, we're off to day four

All bundled...it's winter, you know

It's up to the mountains--we want to see more

Cross rock and some gravel we go.

It's cactus and brea with stickers that prick

Our leader?  His name it is fido.

Delighted we're blessed by the path he did pick

See burros--says James--nay..burritos!

The river does call us, She dares us to ford,

And each of us heeds to her call

So simple it looks...that current?  My Lord

Miraculous!  No one does fall.

The lunch is delicious then back to the van

To learn of the weaver's great skill

Then out for the evening, we prove that we can

Consume with the best...eat our fill.

Canto sinco

When breakfast is done we head in for snacks

And a sandwich on one loaf of bread

Apparently they had been given the facts

Of what we've been eating ahead!

The van it does climb to trailhead so fine

Where air is as thin as my hair

We head down the path our intrepid nine

To scenery beyond compare.

The plans they do change no long option we

But lodging invites us relax.

And while we pursue that our good she and he

Make plans for our pleasure to max.

At six empanadas we learn how to make

Great pride goes with what we create.

There's dancing and music for everyone's sake

Our pleasure it will not abate.

Canto seas

This morning two separate paths we do find

Some go to the city, some ride.

Reports from each group say we truly did find

Two options...both bona fide.

Then off to the airport, casino next stop

With scenery? We're told "it will do."

With breath that is baited next shoe that will drop

Will be falling at great Iguazu.

As normal, the plane ride was beautif'ly planned

Our only need was to be there

Ensconced in our rooms, all worries are banned

So lucky to have this fine pair!

Tomorrow part two of excursion so fun

Day seven as if on call

Will give us an eye to the watery run

Great Iguazu will take a fall!

Canto sieta 

We've made it...a milestone, enjoy now day seven

The power, the beauty....amaze

We'd been told to expect it...a small touch of heaven

But madre de deos...we were dazed!

From throat of the devil to island so pure

The water is truly a hit

Descriptions do limit, of one thing I'm sure

Repetitive...holy shit!

Lunch

Thanks

A bunch!

To put into words the effect of the day

Seems foolish, ill planned and naive

The mem'ries we've made, the things we will say

Mother Nature, I truly believe

Canto ocho

The morning begins, the rain it does fall

But onward do some of us go

The village, antique, the old and the small

Indigenous, don't you know!

Then into the van and border we ford

From Argentine to great Brazil

Goodbye Alejandro, great smiles we do hoard

And at lunch we do eat our fill.

The afternoon ours, to do as we want

Some resting some walking is done

The trip it is ending we've time for a jaunt

The negatives? There have been none.

So how do we put it?  In words that express

The gratitude that we do feel

To group from day one that did us impress

It's been great, it's been fun, it's been real!

Like all things in life, it's not about ends

Or even about how we get there

It's those with whom you travel, my friend

And those with whom you do share

So wherever the roads will take you from here

May the powers that rest up above

Watch over you now and forever, my dear

May you always feel from us our great love!

Vaya con dios!!!

On this, the hiatal eve...

I wonder...what have we forgotten? 
Back packs?  Nope.  We are the proud owners of two new ones.  Here was the logic.  We figured the minute we walked in the door with the new ones, the old ones would show up.  As of yet...nope! 
Fudge?  Not yet--it's in the fridge and I have written myself a note to take it in the morning.  South America has experienced the fudge before, but one can never overdo?!
Credit cards?  Nope.  In fact, I did my due diligence and informed them that we would be traveling out of country.  That, of course, brings me to the point of this hiatal discourse.  For the most part, I love credit card companies.  Their service is amazing.  I like the frequent flyer points.  I like the fact that they obviously hire technical support proficient in English grammar.  Unfortunately, with both companies today, they knew the words proficiently...they used the words proficiently...but I was unable for the most part to understand what they were saying.  It was the accent.  I AM OLD.  My hearing ain't what it used to was.  It is difficult for me at times to get the phone centered on my good ear.  But I'm willing to bet in the 12 minutes it took to do 2 minutes of work, I must have said, "sorry?" "what did you say?" "I didn't understand that!" at least 20 times. And part of that time was spent when I did understand and give an answer (who knows whether it was the right one?) with the very solicitous, "Thank you so much for that, Mr. Zubke."  I do appreciate a thank you now and then, but not after every single utterance.  At this point in time, I believe they know we are going on vacation.  I believe they know where we are going.  And I believe that I may have promised my first born child to one of them.  Will they be surprised!  Now, if we can only make it back so I can call them to thank them!
We will be out of touch for the next two weeks.  You faithful readers are familiar with the drill.  I will catch you up poetically on my return.  As I write each day in our foreign lands, I will think of you.  Do the same, and as you think, know you are loved!

Red

Back story.  I bought this pair of red shorts at Wally World.  Got them home.  The hanger tag and the shorts tag didn't match.  Whilst my girth has increased, it has not yet hit the level indicated by the shorts tag (the fact that they would have made a lovely spinnaker for a large sailboat should have also tipped me off!), so I get them to the car to take back.  We're at Wally World today.  The shorts are still in the car.  Cut to the chase.  I went to get them, traded them in for a smaller size, and just put them on.  Problem.  What shall I wear with them?  Nothing that has red in it has the same shade of red, and I wouldn't want to be gouache and not match!  After deliberating a while, holding up several t-shirts and putting them back, I decided blend.  That's what I'm calling it.  The two shades of red blend.  And if they don't, I don't want to know it.  Truth be told, I don't care, and since the shirt covers my body beautiful, everyone else will be happy as well.  Find the best answer today, and know you are loved!

Relocating

So...we have this gravel and paving stone walkway along side the planter next to the garage.  Correction.  We HAD this gravel and paving stone walkway.  It was/is time for an upgrade.  The gravel had migrated to various parts of the yard.  The dog had rearranged the gravel so it no longer fit around the pavers.  The pavers had settled into a unique system of high and low existence, making walking on them a challenge.  Remove the pavers.  Remove the gravel.  Let me repeat.  Remove the gravel.  Now understand, we had been bright enough to place landscaping fabric below the gravel.  Of course, it was years old and when hit with a shovel would tear, forcing the contents of the shovel to go to ground.  Insert invective here!  Cath loosened the gravel with a hoe and a planting shovel, placing the first large amount of gravel into a Rubbermade garbage can.  Gravel IS heavy.  It took three shots to empty the gravel into a wheel barrow and relocate it on the rock that exists on the north side of the neighbor's garage.  Of course, that particular landscaping phenomenon was raised two feet off ground level, making it impossible to simply empty the gravel.  I had to go up the walk of the apartment complex to the north, walk down their sidewalk, and dump from above.  Allow me to explain the access to that sidewalk.  There is a 10 foot section between the normal city sidewalk headed north and south, and the apartment sidewalk going east and west.  To get to the apartment sidewalk, the 10 foot access section is large landscaping rock.  Those of you who know me know that I work best unshod.  Up over the rock, onto the sidewalk, push the wheelbarrow to the end of the walk, turn and dump, turn and walk over the rock back down and get another load.  Thank god, that whole process was interrupted by shoveling gravel in the wheelbarrow.  Variety is the spice of life.  After 10 trips, the gravel has migrated north, the pavers are arranged at the end of the walkway, and we quit for the day.  Shoulders know we did it.  Arms know we did it.  Feet know we did it.  But we did it, and relocation project one is done.  Sing and rejoice, and know you are loved!

Ask me what's in the closets

We are completely flummoxed!  We have lost two (count them, TWO) backpacks.  Now understand, I could understand if mine were missing, but so is Cath's, and that is simply unheard of.  Not only that, but the travel gremlins have also hidden the camel backs, of which we have two, somewhere.  I have been in every closet.  I have been in every crook and nanny in the house, and they are gone.  After two days of searching and frustration, tonight I called uncle!  Argentina doesn't get to see the two bags, but we have decided to go anyway!  Closets be darned, but you be loved!