Kansas Snapshots by Gloria Freeland - June 5, 2026
Good for body and soul
Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi often said, "Fatigue makes cowards of us all." I thought of his words as we planned our recent trip
to Wales. I’ve been running on a partial tank for some time after months of now-mostly-behind-me cancer treatments. I'd fretted about the
journey, but I knew a change of scenery would do me good. Memories of the beautiful Welsh countryside helped me ward off thoughts of the
hours trapped in a small metal tube flying over the Atlantic with 100 or so other masochists.
Whenever we can, we fly from- and to- our home in Manhattan because the airport is so laid back. Then it seemed like fate when we landed in
Chicago to find a McDonald's opposite the arrival gate. No one would ever describe Mickey D's as a purveyor of fine food, but we both had
been craving Big Macs. Maybe it was because we've had so many bad experiences with the "chicken-or-pasta" airline meal options.
The waiting area for the Chicago-to-Dublin flight was jammed with people, so we couldn't find seats together. There seemed to be an
unusually large number of youngsters, which can be bad, but in this case, was good. The kids seemed genuinely excited, and not one was
absorbed in an electronic-entertainment device. The approximately-10-year-old girl next to me had thrown herself into a crocheting project
with such vigor that it made me want to pick up some needles.
As we boarded, I was somewhat amused to see the lengths to which Aer Lingus had gone to use green wherever possible. The seats and folded
blankets on them were green, the flight attendants wore green, the boarding passes had green strips on them, and many of the usual
information signs were in green and white, rather than the usual black and white.
We were barely on our way when husband Art, who can sleep anywhere, dropped his chin to his chest and went out like a light. I found a
movie to pass the time.
Soon the meal service began, assuming the bag of flavored pretzel bits was the appetizer. I chose some orange juice as a "go with," but Art
asked for red wine. An attendant handed him a small pop-top can of what looked like a Red Bull. He said it tasted like what might be
expected from an aluminum can.
He passed on the meal, while I took the chicken. It proved to be a double whammy! It was spiced with curry, which I have never cared
for. While some cringe from hearing fingernails scraping on a chalkboard, I have a similar reaction when my tongue touches wood sticks
such as those in ice cream bars. Guess what our utensils were made of?
With most of my meal uneaten, I went back to my movie - and then selected a second one. Unlike Art, I've never been able to sleep much
on airplanes and this time was no exception.
Nothing like a fine wine in a pop-top can
With the movies over, I watched people maneuvering between the two lavatories in front of us. One fellow seemed puzzled, as he
inspected the door carefully, then reached to see if it would open to his touch. It didn't. The sign lit in red should have been notice
enough that it was occupied, but he tried repeatedly. The person inside finally unlocked and opened the door.
Much like having someone nearby yawn, the whole vignette made me feel as if I had to go, so I awoke Art to let me out. He used the
opportunity to use the toilet at the rear of the plane. When he returned, he said he pushed open the door, only to see a fellow standing
there with a foot on the floor and the other on the toilet back, doing his business. Art said he quickly let the door close. The guy later
came out and remarked, "Guess I should have locked it!" Ya think?
Once in Dublin, we learned our connecting flight to Manchester, England had been delayed in Berlin, so we didn't leave Dublin until
after our scheduled arrival time. By then, Art had slept enough that he had his phone out and watched our progress using the phone's
GPS program.
The new terminal at Manchester is quite an upgrade, but the walk - 1,800 feet! - was taxing when you have been folded into a plane for
hours. But after picking up our rental car, we were soon on familiar roads to North Wales.
Art tracking us on his phone
We contemplated having fish and chips for supper, but Art suggested we first stop in Oswestry for some groceries. He let me chill in the
car and I took the time to text with family and friends to let them know we had made it.
I was tired when we crossed the border into Wales, but the green rolling hills and familiar narrow roads raised my spirits.
After parking at the top of the farmyard hill next to our home-away-from-home, we saw our host/friend/relative Lins appear at the doorway
to her and John's home near the base. We waved energetically to each other, so glad to be close again.
The plan was to quickly unload the car and then get the fish and chips as closing time was fast approaching. But it felt so comfortable,
we decided to stay home. While we were tired, we didn't go to bed until midnight. Then I slept until noon the next day.
I have been tired for a long time and, as Lombardi intimated, that had made me apprehensive about the trip. It had made me a coward. But
the next evening, I felt the best I had in a long time. The journey had been a bit rough, but I knew this adventure was going to be good
for my body and soul!
