‘P’ is for ‘Packing Up.’
Today we are packing up and heading home. We are leaving Boston with a pocketful of memories. Thankfully, everything fits back into our carry-ons…including purchases for our Grandchildren. I wonder if they will be able to tell where we’ve been? 🙂 Here are some highlights of our adventures the day after the marathon. Although it was still quite cold, it was much drier…phew!!
Special thanks to Shelley, from Destination Now, who recommended packing plastic bags and elastic bands to keep our feet and socks dry in the rain. It worked perfectly…and helped me to survive yesterday’s downpour. I just may have started a new fashion trend!
This wraps up our Massachusetts adventures. It was a phenomenal trip filled with much pleasure, purpose, perseverance and pride. We found Boston to be a very welcoming city and its people to be great ambassadors. Thank you to Rena and Howard for being outstanding hosts. It was wonderful spending time with them, and with our son. Richard and I are incredibly grateful.
Retirement Reflections 
Sounds like a perfect time was had by all!! Well done on setting a new trend too 😂
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Thanks, Debbie – We had an awesome time. Good luck on your upcoming trip. Please keep us posted!
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I’ve done the plastic bags in welleys/Not shoes but it looks like yours can be a trend. Safe travels home.
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Hi, Antoinette – Thank you for your warm wishes. We had a great time here. We are now looking forward to being home…and trying to remember our typical routines!
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Perfect post for P, Donna! Safe travels home.
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Thanks, Jill – The ‘P’ words were a ‘piece of cake.’ I actually edited a few of them out so as not to pummel readers and distract them from the content!
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Your boy is SO tall! Glad you had a fabulous time – love the plastic bag socks!
Leanne | http://www.crestingthehill.com.au
P for Practice makes Perfect
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Thanks, Leanne- Creighton is by far the tallest in our family. I used to be considered tall. Standing beside Creighton, I feel extremely short!
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You were so close to us. 😦 Glad your adventure was good. Now I have to check to see how Creighton did
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Hi, Joanne – Creighton completed this race in 3 hours, 28 minutes and 11 seconds. Definitely not his best time, but fantastic considering the conditions. I look forward to seeing you and Bill again sometime soon!
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The plastic bags were a brilliant idea! I’ve used large garbage bags at race starts to keep dry/warm, but never thought about my feet. That’s a tip I’ll have to remember.
Happy travels back home. It looks you are returning with great memories of time spent with your son. That’s the best 💕
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Hi, Joanne – I thought that it was a brilliant tip as well. My shoes were soaked and took two days to return to normal. But my socks and feet were perfectly dry and comfortable!
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Great Pppost! 😊
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Hi, Sam – Now on to “Q” tomorrow. That may be a bit more challenging!
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And you could frequent stores that put your purchases in different colours of plastic bags. I have some hot pink ones in my cupboard right now, and also some lime green. Colour-coordinated plastic bags to outfits and footwear. That really would start a trend, and an online business for you, Donna 🙂
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What a fantastic idea, Karen. I do like colour coordination!
I need to give all credit to Shelley from Destination Now for the original idea. I will need to check with her for more travel tips.
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A wonderful trip despite the weather! Safe travels home.
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Thanks, Kate – We loved this trip, and are also looking forward to being back home. It is the travel in between the two places that we hope speeds by quickly! 🙂
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That is such a brilliant idea! Wet and cold feet = miserable! Safe travels home!
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Hi, Janis – You are right about the cold and wet having the power to make us miserable. Although it was an exciting race….Richard and I each took extra long, extra hot showers once we returned to our friends’ home.
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I have waterproof running shoes that I wear from November to April. I spray them with silicon spray. I love Merrels and they have great support for walking.
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Waterproof running shoes are a great idea, Ann. My Sketchers had been sprayed with silicone before I left home…but as they are quite open, I would have been totally hooped without the plastic bags. Lots for me to consider before packing for my next adventure!
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Gotta love the plastic bags. I’ll remember that for any winter travels I may have. Actually, since I just recently read your packing list. I put my shoes in plastic bags in my suitcase. So, one less thing for me to remember to pack. Good thing, cause my memory is shot.
Looking forward to “Q”
Laura
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Hi, Laura – I am so glad that my packing list was helpful. I love how much we can learn from each other. What would we do in retirement without this supportive network?
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That’s been a terrific quest Donna! I love the pic (all of them) of well behaved women seldom make history! Great tip re elastic bags and rubber bands ..
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Hi, Susan – That is true about ‘well-behaved women.’ Gives us much to think about!
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Sounds like a great time away. I also loved the pic (all of them) of well behaved women seldom make history and also the plastic bags in the shoes. I must keep that in mind, although it’s been very dry here and I’m just North of Sydney so we don’t get snow and so forth. I think it would be very useful for young school kids who get their feet wet on the way to school and would otherwise spend hours with wet feet.
I am making my way through the challoenge. It was Picasso today, and I’m planning to get to the Art Gallery in Sydney tomorrow if I’m not a walking zombie.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Hi, Rowena – I know what you mean about the ‘walking zombie’ part! I have become WAY behind on my blog reading since we have been in Boston. I look forward to catching up on your posts as soon as I am back home. I love Picasso and am interested in reading your letters to each other!
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A perfect wrap up of your adventures in Boston, Donna. Thanks for sharing them and your photos with us. Safe travels home!
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Hi, Natalie – We were able to sneak in a few more highlights on the leisurely drive to the airport. I will now need to find the best remaining letter for me to highlight them. Thanks for following!
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Wet feet are truly miserably, so that’s a great idea. Do you rustle when you walk?!
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Hi, Anabel – If my feet did rustle… I did not notice. Perhaps it was because the plastic bags used were quite smooth, and securely wrapped around my feet. Whatever the reason, this system worked brilliantly — I was very impressed!
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so glad it was a good trip! I have to ask – the plastic bags went on your feet inside your shoes? I don’t believe I’ve ever seen that before!!
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Hi, Lisa – On another blogger’s advice, I put the plastic bags inside of my shoes.It did mean that my shoes were soaking wet…but my socks and feet stayed completely dry. I hadn’t heard of that before either, but it did work!
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Hi Donna, Popped into your blog via the A to Z for the first time today. Boy am I inspired! having retired about a year ago my hubby & I are doing more travel, although we have always done adventurous trips, so others tell me. Love you picture montages. Where is the Grant Wood cut out??? The plastic bag idea is one to remember. We did a guided walk in Portland 2 years ago in the POURING rain. Waterproof jackets, but our pants were so wet they were falling off. Glad you are part of the challenge!
Pulp Paper & Pigment-My Fiber Art Blog
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Hi, Linda – Thank you so much for stopping by, and for your kind words. Although the ‘A to Z Challenge’ has been hectic (especially trying to blog daily while traveling), it has been exhilarating. I have also met some awesome (new to me) bloggers. I am off to visit your site now!
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We used to use bread bags on our feet to keep them dry and warm when we went to football games. Your plastic bags are every bit as stylish, and I trust added a certain rustling sound to your walking.
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Bread bags would have been an even more perfect fit! For some reason, the plastic shopping bags didn’t seem to rustle. They must have been frozen in place!
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“Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History” — now there’s a T-shirt that would make a great addition to one’s wardrobe.
Jude
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I love that line too. I didn’t buy the t-shirt, but I did buy the fridge magnet for my collection!
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I am finally getting around to reading all the posts I missed while I was away. I have to say, this one cracked me up. Who would have thought – plastic bags on your feet! Love it. Film it and you might be the next Youtube sensation.
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Hi, Suzanne – Thanks so much for reading and commenting. The “plastic bag rain boots” were actually a suggestion from another blogger — Victoria from “Chitter Chatter.” It was a brilliant idea and ended up saving my feet that day!
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