Saturday, August 16, 2008

The Old Lady at the Disco.

It took exactly 24 hours for the children to adjust to the 7 hour time change. It took me 2.4 days to adjust from the lack of sleep during the travel.

From Cleveland to Paris, by plane.
Paris to Warsaw, by plane.
Warsaw to a village (my grandparent's town), by bus.

Three days of travel with three children, one with stitches from Paris, to see my grandparents and parents in their fatherland... priceless.

I have a picture. THE picture. Of my grandmother, my mother, me and my girls. I got it and I would spend huge amounts of money, sweat, travel, time changes and sleepless nights to do it all over again.

My grandmother at 80 some years old still lines up her tiny little stilettos in order by color. She puckers up her tired lips to color them a pale shade of pink. She carefully picked out a vibrant yellow sweater and skirt for our photo session this afternoon. She is so stinking adorable. I am so grateful that we FINALLY made the trip over seas to walk a couple of days besides them.

Reporting again from a Polish disco, this time very well rested a bit more coherent, and a lot more appropriately dressed. Still no spell check and limited Internet time. I have a mob of college soccer players peering over my shoulder and they just called me "Pani" which basically means "Old Lady."

74classy comments:

Mr Lady said...

It sounds awesome, and I can't wait to see the pictures. :)

taawd said...

one of the problems that i had in Switzerland (my motherland) was the keyboards. They aren't exactly QWERTY and it threw me off. I blogged about it somewhere. I actually went to a McDonald's to get Internet access. It was a little maddening.

Can't wait to hear more stories and see the pictures, of course.

Enjoy, it goes too fast!

Hailey said...

I can't wait to see pictures! I know your grandmother is adorable!

Kat said...

I certainly hope that you said goodbye to the kids in Polish so that they know you understood them. HA! Old lady. Pa-lease! I think they mean HOT lady!

I can't wait to see the picture. Amazing!

AutoSysGene said...

You are so not an old lady! Shame on those boys!

Can't wait to see the photos!

Mama Smurf said...

Hope you'll share the photos with us!

polkadot said...

1. pictures
2. pictures
3. pictures

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

Old lady? WHERE?
I can't wait to see the pictures!

Unknown said...

Hey you! Glad to hear that all is well in Poland. My hubby and I started discussing our Polish trip which will either be in March or June. Can't wait to hang with you when you get back!

Beth Cotell said...

I can not wait to see THE picture! Your grandmother sounds like a hoot!

And if they are calling you Pani wonder what they would call me! Kids these days....

Tootsie Farklepants said...

Sheesh! What's Polish for "learn some manners"?

Val said...

You are not old! Crazy teens. Can't wait to see pictures. Sounds like you're having a great time.

Kelley @ magneto bold too said...

You will cherish that picture for ever babe.

I am so calling my mother Pani, and a couple of chicks at work. It is our secret K?

Tara R. said...

Such an adventure... a chance of a lifetime. Good for you and your babies. I can't wait to see all the pix from this trip.

Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] said...

You're one HOT Pani.

I SO wanna see the pics!

Rach (Mommy Learns to Blog) said...

Stitches in Paris? That's a story I'll be waiting to hear!

And THE picture - how wonderful! We got that last summer, and I hope to get yet another one this summer - it is so special. My mom has THE picture with her grandmother, my great-grandmother who passed before I could ever remember her. It's something I would pay over and over for too!

Loving hearing about your adventures (and glad you have been able to locate your desired clothing!).

How cute that your grandmother arranges her little stilettos by color? Any chance you are the same size? How fabulous that she has passed on her love of heels . . .

Anonymous said...

Can't wait to see THE picture and hear the story of the stiches.

You are such a tease!

Marcy Massura said...

I want to see THE PICTURE! I can't wait. SO glad you are doing well....but stitches in Paris? whhaaaaa?

Texasholly said...

It sounds better in the other language...I'm with Tootsie.

JCK said...

OH, you sound much more rested. I believe discos suit you nicely. I can't wait to see the picture of your grandmother in that yellow outfit!

What's this about stitches in Paris? I have to recheck your posts...

Eloise said...

What a wonderful post! I can't wait to see the picture and hear more about your trip. Have a great time.

carrie said...

There you are, in a disco!!!! Girl, get out on that dance floor and show those soccer players your old lady moves! heh. :)

Have fun, can't wait to see your multi-generational pic!

Flea said...

Awww! I'm so glad for you, OHlady! :)

Jill said...

Those multi-generation photos will be your favorite ones in the future... ever so important and cherished!

Mine is of me, my mom, my daughter, and my grandmother - taken 6 months before my g-mother died unexpectedly.

I'll never take it down!

Belle (from Life of a...) said...

Priceless is right!

Lisa said...

Please share the picture. It sounds just perfect!

Miss said...

I bet that picture is breathtaking. I'm so happy its all coming together. *hug*

Still miss you!

lattemommy said...

Where are those mouthy soccer-playing brats? I'll kick their ass. :)

Rachel said...

Hi sweet one!
Glad you got the picture you've been aiming for. Can't wait to see it! Miss your smiling face and loveliness.
Enjoy!!

CC said...

Congrats on the picture!!!!

Jo Ashline said...

hahah.

you guys need a Rental Car!!! Only way to do it with the kids. We logged over 1500 km on ours last summer and it was so much less stressful!!!!

Good luck!

Jo Ashline said...

hahah.

you guys need a Rental Car!!! Only way to do it with the kids. We logged over 1500 km on ours last summer and it was so much less stressful!!!!

Good luck!

Unknown said...

Pictures!!

Anonymous said...

I cannot wait to see the pictures. It is priceless. I have two pics of my grandmother, mother and my girls and it is priceless.

Nan Patience said...

Your grandmother lines up HER stilettos? OMG! So happy to hear everyone is together. Totally worth it, hard as it is traveling with children for three days...

Helen Wright said...

Is there such thing as a P.I.L.F.?

enthalpymama said...

You will have to post that picture. Sounds awesome!

Chris said...

Glad to hear you are having such a great time! Hope to see some pictures soon. :)

Rhea said...

Ok, you in NO WAY look like an old lady. lol You poor thing.

Awesome about the multi-generational photo. That's so worth it!!

Rhea said...

And did you say stiches in Paris? What happened to which child?

MommyTime said...

I hope you are having a wonderful time, and I can't wait to see the pictures. I was in Cleveland for the morning on Saturday, on our way driving home, and I thought of you -- what a science museum! Waterfront! Giant Ship! Looking forward to all your stories of your trip...

Mandy said...

That is so sweet!!!!

I have a pic of my Great Grandmother, Grandmother, Mother, Myself and my Oldest child. Five Generations!!! It is so special to me.

Can't wait to see your pics.

Cherish this time that you are getting to spend with your Grandmother. It is something you and your children will remember forever.

Have a great rest of your vacation! :)

Don Mills Diva said...

You had better post that picture! And I think your Polish must be rusty - surely Pani means hot young thing?!

Crystal D said...

Ohmommy, just checking in to see if you and the family were all out of the tornado's path and harm.
Oh and your grandmother sounds just adorable. I can't wait to see the pictures.

Courtney said...

How wonderful, you sound so much happier this time too, and awake! Can't wait to hear all about it and see all the pictures when you get back!

Unknown said...

no pic?? i'm just all giddy to see it!!! what a great memory for you and your girls!!!

p.s. pani doesn't mean 'old lady' - almost as bad...it means ma'am!!

buzka!
ciocia natka

Skiplovey said...

Your grandmother sounds adorable, can't wait to see the pictures.

Pani doesn't sound bad, it sounds like a hip sandwich, even if it does mean old lady ; )

Quarantine Hobby said...

Wow--that must be an amazing picture. Family really is wonderful, it's so great that you have the opportunity to visit them and bring your children! How excellent.

Glad you are enjoying yourself!

Marmarbug said...

you my dear are NOT old!! I hope that the family time is going well and glad you got to see everyone!

Anglophile Football Fanatic said...

Old lady? Seriously? I'm glad the kids are adjusting so well and that you got THE one.

Wendi said...

Glad you are having so much fun with your family.
Your grandmother sounds fabulous....color coordinated stilettos and all.
Can't wait to see pictures of the four generations.
And you are right: Priceless!

Cecily R said...

My 92 year old grandma wears color coordinated heels too. She is FAR groovier than yours truly.

LOve that you are having such a wonderful time!

And if you're a Pani, well then Mickey Mouse is an elephant.

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

Sounds like you are having a wonderful time....I could just imagine you pushing Fifi down the street at 3am.....you paint a good picture!!!

Looks like you got your stilleto addicition from Grandma.....enjoy the rest of your trip!

And how dare they call you old lady!

Lisa

Unknown said...

That picture of all of you girls together sounds wonderful.

I hope to go to Prague someday, where I have family and to the area near there where my family first began.

Hope you continue to have a wonderful trip and p.s.... you are NOT old!

Anonymous said...

Fantastic! Can't wait to see the photo.

Your grandmother sounds like my gran in bonnie Scotland who is in her 80's and still wears her heels, pencil skirt, blouse and cardy with her pearls every day no matter the occassion.

Yes, and do tell more about the stitches in Paris!

Blessings From Above said...

Can't wait to see THE picture. And, did I understand you right...someone received stitches in Paris???

BTW, I think you misunderstood the soccer players. I believe PANI actually translates to MILF. It has to if they were talking about you! :)

Colleen - Mommy Always Wins said...

Aw...now you've gone and made me miss MY Grandma. Hope you're having a wonderful time - I'm sure your kids will never forget it!

Ali said...

you are so lucky to have that picture!!! my mother's mother died way before my kids were born.

Jaina said...

Can't wait to see the pictures! And don't listen to them, they just can't handle the amazingness of OHmommy. ;)

Anti-Supermom said...

Sound like the shoe does fall far from the 'shoe' tree. OK, so lame. Happy that you are having fun, old lady.

The Gerster Family said...

I am so excited to see that precious picture! My grandmother is traveling to see us soon, and I get to take that 4 generation picture with my daughter as well. :)

Angie @ KEEP BELIEVING said...

Funny, In my Polish ignorance, i would have assumed Pani was some sort of sandwich. It sounds like one.

KEEP BELIEVING

Karen MEG said...

You, an OLD LADY? GET OUT!

Your grandmother does sound so stinking adorable though. Stilettos run in the family do they ;)?

Cannot wait to see the picture.

just jamie said...

Oh I'm sure "Old Lady" is NEVER used to described my favorite classy, Polish, blog friend (okay, the only one, but never mind). For sure it means "HAWT Lady."
Sounds like you're having a fantastic time navigating this place rich in family and memories. Enjoy! Looking forward to pics when you return.

Carrie and Jim said...

Just found you from following in my shoes blog. I live in the corn fields of OH as well.Nice to see there is someone else out. Nice to stop by!

Kellan said...

Sounds like you are having an amazing trip - I'm so glad. Everytime I hear about Poland athletes on the Olympics (which we are watching a lot of these days) - I think of you. Be safe and hurry home - we miss you - Kellan

Anonymous said...

Your trip sounds wonderful. Waiting patiently for photos!

Miss Lisa said...

Jocks can be well a little dim sometimes ;)

can't wait to see THE picture :)

the mama bird diaries said...

Sounds wonderful.

We just got back from traveling in Italy with the kids. It's grueling but so worth it.

Laski said...

So now we know where all the shoe love comes from. Can I call a stiletto a shoe or is that an insult???

Regardless. I'm with the rest . . . eager to see pics.

Happy you all arrived save and sound.

Grandy said...

How wonderful that you have this moment together. Can't wait to hear about the rest. I'm sure you will have quite the stories. :)

Crystal D said...

OHmommy when are you do back? I am missing your posts! I can't wait to hear the stories.

tiarastantrums said...

old lady - braww ha ha ha - no way !!!

Clare said...

It sounds like you are having a great trip:0 love the stories, and so glad that you got THE picture!!!

 

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