Dueling blisters

I've taken the last two days off running. Not because I wanted to or needed to, but because of unforeseen circumstances. Blah. So, Nadia and I set off for a run this morning at the camper. My youngest, Lily, has been showing an interest in running so we invited her along. I figured she'd peter out after a hundred yards or so. Nope! That little thing just kept right on going!

I'm still struggling with my lungs. Even though the cold symptoms have pretty much dissipated, I still have that horrid burning sensation. Feels like death, actually. So, I ended up run/walking a mile. My other issue today comes from two huge blisters on the bottoms of my feet. Ugh!

Yesterday, the girls and I drove down to Duluth to see the Tall Ships. We ended up parking 65 miles away (ok, I exaggerate a bit. It was 62.) and had to walk all the way there. I had no idea we'd be walking that far and was unprepared in my flip flops. By the time we got to Canal Park, I had a huge blister on the ball of each of my feet. Yeeouch!

We watched a couple of the Tall Ships arrive and ate a stale buffet at Grandma's. We all decided we'd rather move on than continue to stand in the sun watching the rest of the ships come in. I explained that the walk back would be excruciatingly long as the blisters on my feet were competing for my attention. We slowly walked all the way around the DECC and I saw a line of people boarding a school bus. I remembered seeing something on the Tall Ships website about shuttles running from the parking lots and I suddenly had a brilliant idea.

I gingerly stepped toward the line and asked if this was the line for the shuttle. A woman replied, "Yes, if you're parked at the last lot." Yes! We did park at the last lot! So, the girls and I got in line and waited for the next shuttle.

After a few moments, my new hero arrived. He was a dashing old fella with silvery white hair. He rode in on the most majestic yellow bus I had ever seen. Ok, I'm being dramatic. I was hot, tired, and my dogs were barking.

We boarded the bus and sat quietly as we were driven far, far away from Canal Park. As I looked out the window I realized that I had no idea where we were going. Uh-oh! Nadia and Ivy turned to me with looks of panic and concern. I reacted in my normal, motherly way and proceeded to burst out laughing. "I have no idea where we're going!" I exclaimed. I have no idea why it was so comical, but it was.

By this time we had reached our destination. We were in a parking lot. The last parking lot. But it wasn't the lot we parked in! Once again, my children looked to me for direction. "What do we do?" one of them asked as they all three looked at me. "Just sit still and be quiet." while I try to think of how the heck to get us out of this predicament!

We waited until everyone else got off the bus. I headed up toward the driver and explained, "We thought you were going to our lot. We thought our lot was the last lot."

"Nope," he replied, "This is the last lot." Ya think?!
"Just sit down right there." he said as he motioned toward the seats directly behind him.
We sat. Nadia says, "What are we doing?"
"I don't know! He said sit so I'm sitting."

We waited until the bus driver returned with more passengers heading to Canal Park. "Now, what lot did you say you parked in?" asked the driver. I explained where we needed to be. He told me just to let him know when we got close as he would ensure we got there safely. WHEW!

So, we rode along in silence while the silvery-white haired hero drove us to our lot in his yellow chariot. As the bus came to a stop and the man opened the door, I could almost taste the relief I was feeling. I thanked him profusely and said, "God bless you, sir!"

The girls and I scurried off the bus. As our feet touched the grass we all grabbed our stomachs and proceeded to burst into laughter at the adventure we had just been on. At least we got a good story out of it!