DONE!!!!

If there was any question left in my mind about my decision to retire from travel teaching......it's gone.  As Thanksgiving week is nearing....I'm going to share a bit of what it's like to travel these days, but mostly reflect on what I am thankful for.  #1  The amazing career I've had for the past 25+ years!!!

Without going into too much drama, though I could probably write a novel.....I'll begin by saying that on Monday, my first flight of the day cancelled and USAirways could not accommodate me on any future flights that day. Delta could get me to Atlanta, but not to Ft. Lauderdale that day.  Of course not going was NOT an option! Ultimately, I wormed a ride with two business men who had decided to rent a car together and drive to Charlotte in the hopes of making their flights.  I'm thankful for the kindness of strangers....who helped me haul my heavy suitcases in the rain from the rental car facility to the bus to the terminal and inside.  Turns out my flight to FL was delayed....then after arriving late in Ft. Lauderdale, my hostess and I sat on I95 in heavy traffic due to an accident making me even later for dinner with a couple of the Boca Raton Quilt Guild members.

To top the day off.....my credit card company alerted me that they were cancelling my card due to fraudulent charges on my account.  I'm thankful that the bank overnighted a new card to my hotel.  Now home, I spent 90 mins. yesterday updating everything that required a credit card on file...... geesh.  

My itinerary for the trip home got changed too.......the first flight departed nearly 30 mins. earlier than what I booked.  I'm thankful the president of the guild generously and with good spirits picked me up at 6:00 AM for the 45 mins. drive to the airport.  That flight was on time....but my original flight to Asheville was eliminated after I booked it so I had a 3.5 hour layover in Charlotte.  I'm thankful for my ipad.....which kept me busy rewatching season 4 of Downton Abby.

 I'm thankful and astonished that one of the students in my workshop not only remembered the story behind this quilt, made in 1997, but wanted to purchase it as well.

It's titled, 'Along The Quilting Highway' 17" x 17" - hand appliqued, hand quilted, painted, featuring 3-d trees and Barbie Doll shoes beaded to guardrail posts.  It was inspired by a teaching trip to Los Alamos, NM where shoes show up regularly displayed along the highway.

I don't know if there's a statue of limitations on what might be considered destruction of government property.....so all I'll say is that while there.....I did my part!!