“The airport disconnected two people today.”
It was all planned out. On the exact one-year anniversary, I was going to publish a blog about my first year in Scotland. The blog would be a review. I was going to talk about all that happened in the last year. About how time flew, the great people I’ve met so far. The wonderful things I’ve done. The way this city makes me feel, the way I feel about myself being here. How I settled in in my new house and regained my passion for cooking. How I recently signed up for Hello Fresh to help me with my dinner menu decisions (feels like a life changer, no more menu stress).
I was thinking of writing about the joys of living in Scotland. How I was on my way to the supermarket one day, by car. I was approaching a roundabout; my mind was elsewhere, and I didn’t allow enough space for the other car to take the roundabout. It wasn’t dangerous, but it was clearly an error on my part. I waved my hand, as to acknowledge I was wrong and sorry. I got a loud "YOU STUPID COW" in return. I have to admit, this brought a big smile on my face. I felt a true local, being yelled at by another.
I was going to mention something about my social life here. How I’ve become a bit of a local snob. Last year, I entered a pub to meet new people, now when I enter a pub where my friends often come together and if I don’t see familiar faces, I’m inclined to leave. I’ve become too much of a local to invest in new relations. I settled in I think is what it means.
However, I could do more local things. I know that. I should travel through the country, see more of the countryside, that is truly one of a kind. I should go to rugby games, watch football games live. The fact that I haven’t yet, is a true disgrace, given my sports background. I should watch more local television, listen to more local radio. Get the local feel of things. All mental notes here.
Bonny Scotland
Furthermore, I was going to say how it’s nice to know other people like this place too. Justin Timberlake, for example, is a big fan of Scotland. I was at his concert the other day in Glasgow. In the middle of the show, he raised a shot of something premium to the fans as he toasted to the warmth and hospitality of the Scots. How he put it: “Scotland is truly one of the nicest places in the world, with the nicest people. Every time I am here, you show us so much love.” I felt proud when he said that. He’s damn right!
He also mentioned something else about Scottish culture that I had no issues agreeing with: “Boy, you all know how to drink. Where I come from in Tennessee we have a saying, ‘Friends don’t let friends drink alone’. So, here’s to you all: cheers!” The concert itself was great. Definitely nothing wrong with going to a concert alone. If you like the artist, then you like the crowd and the music. I had a great eve.
Shaken up
382 days ago I stepped out of the plane with that one-way ticket. Taking that leap of faith to become an Edinburgh local was a significant moment in my life and every day it felt like it was the right thing to do. A blissful feeling. Although now, for the first time since I moved, I’m having mixed feelings. A few things stirring up my life it feels.
This morning, I dropped off a special someone at the airport. The drive to the airport took about 20 minutes. I wish the ride was longer, that my home was further away so to have more time together. It passed by too quickly. When the GPS displayed an ETA of five minutes, my stomach literally turned into one big knot. The time has come to say goodbye. Inevitable. Cold turkey. Just like that. We both knew this was going to happen, again, and new plans to meet on the other side of the pond are being plotted, but it doesn’t make it any easier.
On one hand, the airport is a place of welcoming. People from all over the world find each other at the airport after long sees. Happy faces, glows all around. It’s a place where people await adventure and excitement. On the other hand, the airport can be a ruthless place. People are forced to say goodbye, for god knows how long. Today, the airport disconnected two people. Today, I don’t like the airport very much.
Non-stop rain and grey sky all around. Today’s weather is symbolic for the blues I’m in. The house chores keep me occupied and so does this blog. The draft was filed for weeks, but today I am finally finishing it. I guess I ticked that off the list. A small comfort ☹