Huzzah! These are the final journal entries. Life can go on now.
Journal Entry — September 21st: The National Library of Wales
Friday found us completely ignoring the alarm (the first time we set it all week, too) until the last minute. Had showers all around (and the absolute coldest shower I’ve ever has… these folks don’t fuck around when it comes to cold water) and then a walk into town for lunch at the Varsity.
After lunch we made an impressive uphill hike to the National Library of Wales to visit Sweet’s work friends, and to be shown off too. Really nice folks, Sam especially — she’s loud, forward, unashamed and would fit in quite nicely with the rest of the tribe back home. Had coffee, caught our breath and started for home.
Worked our way through back-paths and strange pathways, had some nice quiet times along the walk and crossed through a churchyard… complete with a cemetery. Took some pictures of the headstones (purely for research, of course).
Here I am, back at the house, catching up on days of missed journal entries and making my hand hurt. Blech, I need to keep up with this nonsense.
Journal Entry — September 22nd: Ceredigion Museum
We slept in Saturday, then made our way into town for some lunch. After eating we went to the Ceredigion Museum. Fun and fascinating local history… learned that parts of Aberystwyth didn’t have electricity till the 1950’s and later.
Made our way back home and relaxed with the gang. Watched O Brother, Where Art Thou, and realized that the old-tyme deep south accent was as bad if not worse to understand than the thick Welsh accent.
Journal Entry — September 23rd: Homeward Bound
Turned in early… yeah, right! Woke up early, though, and Andrew drove us the three hours to the Manchester airport on Sunday so Sweets and I could have some more time together. Spent a long time on little winding country roads and got to watch the sun rising over the mountains. It was beautiful countryside and definitely a trip back to an older portion of the world, a place with more history and heritage than I’ll ever know.
Spent ages saying goodbye at the airport, and I damn well didn’t want to leave — I miss Sweets something fierce! Breezed through security (after a “meh” full English breakfast in the airport), made the gate with time to spare and the plan took off on time.
Had an uneventful flight, and coach seating wasn’t horrible. Was fed and watered lots, watched movies, etc. Made it to Atlanta OK, cleared customs, had a bite to eat and got some coffee. Made my gate with time to spare. Scant minutes before boarding I hear the announcement about a mechanical delay.
Fuck Delta. Fuck the Atlanta airport. I’m tired of this shit, man! So here I wait.
Flight finally took off, late of course. The flight between Atlanta and Austin was the roughest stretch of the entire trip, and the crosswinds in Austin were so bad that the plane was coming in at an angle. Bounced once, twice and then settled down onto the runway… not too bad considering how briskly the air around us was moving.
Home at last. Alone. That’s the part that sucks. A piece of me is still 5000 miles away. I miss that girl more than I can ever put into words, and I love her so much, that my heart is fit to bust it’s so full.