Mom and Dad Martin do Europe

Now for the series of 'posts I'm sure you've been eagerly waiting for: reports on the Martins' European Vacation. I know, I'm pretty anxious to tell about it.

Click here to view the photographic evidence

Waiting, Hoping, Wishing - March 31st

Remember a few entries ago where I was writing about an hour before I had to meet them? Following the blog I made the 15 minute stroll to the St. Clements bus stop- ecstatic that the weather was just perfect. Blue skies, a nice breeze....it was just the weather I'd hoped would greet my parents on their first day in England. I walked briskly- knowing that if they arrived at the bus stop before I did it might not be such a happy greeting-

I had expected the possibility of waiting around for an hour if there had been any delays. After the first few buses arrived with no sign of mom or dad martin I became certain that this would be the case. I passed the time watching people enjoy the day and greet their own families at the bus stop. After about 40 minutes I decided that a seat in subway would be a more comfy place to pass the time- and lunch wouldn't be a bad idea. I got a good seat next to the window and kept my eyes glued to the bus stop and passing buses for fear that they might just not get off the bus if they didn't see me.......another half hour passed by....and another.....

....and then the clouds started rolling in. My heart sank as I watched the blue sky disappear....and as the time approached 2 hours I became a bit concerned that mom and dad were waiting for me at some obscure place in oxford with no idea how to contact me. Even if they knew my phone number- I clearly was not at home, and I had no intentions of leaving as the sky looked like it was going to unleash a down pour at any moment. I listened to an American woman carry on about the details of city Real Estate to a guy who seemed uninterested at best....I endured bombardment of my sitting space by some young skater kids who reminded me of my friends from middle school at OBI...and as each bus stopped I examined the people getting off praying that mom or dad would be one of them....

...with the next blue Airline coach I watched a man walk off who seemed a little more exhausted and concerned than the rest, he looked like my dad - and when I caught a glimpse of the balding spot on the back of his head I knew without a doubt that Dad Martin had made it Oxford. Just as I rushed across the street the wind picked up and Mom barely had time to have a good cry and a hug before the rain started....so much for the cheery welcome to England...

I was just relieved to see them and finally start the walk back to Stanley Road. Mom had bought rolly duffel bag/back packs which only came in bright Kentucky Blue....she had also packed a spare duffel entirely stuffed with food for me which might have weighed more both of their luggage combined. I was impressed with Mom's ability to pack so light- but the uneven and often bricked sidewalks in Oxford are unkind to anything on wheels- so we had to stop frequently to get balanced again which I'm sure made for an interesting site. As we rolled along the sky cleared up and by the time we made it to the house, all was perfectly sunny again. Perhaps even with a later start than expected, the evening was going to be nice after all.