When one adventure fails to materialize, there’s no need to get upset or stressed out, the only thing to do is to look for another plan for the weekend.   When the weekend trip we had planned, fell apart, I didn’t need to look far, only to my calendar and the birthday gift for my niece, sitting on my kitchen table.  Lilija is a St. Patrick’s Day baby!  With her 19^th birthday, just 1 week away, I either send that gift express, or deliver it in person!  Hmmm, in person is best, right?

   Time to embody that nickname my husband gave me years ago: The Energizer Bunny,

  Thankfully, my mom retired from an airline, with benefits, so I quickly looked up flights and found a roundtrip plan to get me to and from Chicago.  Now comes the tricky part; the flight out of Seattle is not that convenient!  So, it’s going to be super tight, to reach the airport in time after work, plus get a seat on the plane, since I’m using standby passes.  If it works, I’ll touch down at dinner time Friday night and race back to O’Hare International Airport early Sunday morning!  

    Total time on the ground, about 36 hours!

    Start the clock!

    I made the flight, thanks to my amazing husband, delivering my suitcase directly to the airport and my co-worker dropping me at the airport on his way home from work!  It was perfect timing!

     Mom picked me up at the airport Friday evening and we stopped at the store to pick up a few things for dinner.   One of the first things I spotted in the store, fresh-baked Irish Soda bread, inspired our meal for the night.  I grabbed a loaf of bread and headed off in search of swiss cheese and sauerkraut.  My mom’s not the fan of sauerkraut that I am, so I made her a plain grilled cheese sandwich and I grilled up a vegetarian Rueben for myself, sans the Thousand Island dressing.  Mom rounded out our plates, with vegetables she already had at home.   After dinner, we launched into our usual, mother-daughter dominoes match, with a pot of fresh chamomile tea.  For the first time ever, we ended in a tie!  Seriously!   Even though bed’s calling us, just one more match!  And…. I emerged the victor!  I think that was another first, as she always seems to better my score!   

     After 5 hours of fun so far on this adventure, we make our to do list for the next day and settle in for a good night’s sleep.

    After 8 hours in bed, I enjoy of cup of my mom’s coffee and we get to work.  Mom’s always got a small list of house projects for me to do.  This time, there’s no toilet fixes or other plumbing work, thank goodness!  I provide some tech support on her computer, help her with some paperwork, fix a closet door and take inventory of ceiling fixtures that need lightbulbs.   We shower and head off to the hardware store, then do a little more shopping, which includes getting a birthday cake, before driving to my brother’s house.

     Awake 6.5 hours so far today and so much accomplished!

             It takes my brother Tony a minute to get the door when we arrive, having to pull himself out of the new, very comfortable furniture that had just been delivered.  His wife Annie is out picking up groceries for dinner, so the 3 of us settle into that plush furniture to visit in front of the fireplace with a fresh pot of tea Tony made for us.  The quiet time’s about over; time for me to take their puppy Primer for a walk, while Tony runs to pick up Evija, his 14-year-old daughter.  Annie returns with all she needs to whip up vegetarian chili!  Such fun, catching up around the kitchen island, the tapping of her knife on the cutting board keeping cadence while we chat.

     And then, the birthday girl arrives, with her boyfriend Kyle!  I’ve not seen everyone since Christmas!

Lilija is amid her first year of college, also working at a local cookie bakery.  She works 3 days a week, opening and closing the store, while also baking and decorating beautiful cookies!  It’s her birthday, yet she’s the one who whips out dessert; some of her cookie creations, to top off our feast of chili and freshly baked corn bread.

       After Lilija opens presents, we’re treated to a reading of an essay Evija wrote for a school assignment. She masterfully wove a tale, that transports us to an island filled with adventure.

       Tony is the first to announce his desire to hit the hay, so we all engage in a round of hugs and mom and I head home.  The clock’s still ticking, this time, giving me 8 hours of joyous laughter, catching up with mom, my nieces, brother, sister-in-law and their adorable puppy, Primer!

     It’s already 11:00 pm, but I’ve got to get the step stool out and get all those new lightbulbs screwed in and pack up my suitcase! 

As my head hits the pillow about 1 hour later, I triple check my wake-up alarm, also remembering that I’m going to lose an hour of sleep, time springing ahead for Daylight Saving Time!

      Just 6 hours after dozing off, I’m startled awake by my very loud alarm!  Time to get ready and set my suitcase at the door to leave.  Hmmm, seems like I did set that alarm a little early, so mom and i have a few extra minutes to sit and chat.  Good thing, since we missed one thing on mom’s list; getting her smart watch synched up again with her phone.

     We make the 30 minute drive, back to the airport, I get through security in about 6 minutes and walk to my gate, this 36 hour adventure just about over, filling my heart filled with love and joy I get from my family!