Sandy's trip to Oxford & Paris

The last time my mom flew on an airplane was 20 years ago. Her worst nightmare would be defined by anything having to do with heights and turbulance. She has had a terrible fear of flying...up until just recently.

My mom called me last November and asked if I would join her in a trip to England to visit my sister jackie. I was floored of course, and immediately took her up on the offer. We planned for a surprise visit to Oxford, England. We communicated through her husband Clint and ended up showing up on her doorstep Easter morning. Jackie woke up Easter morning to a video camera in her face, as Clint told her he had a scavenger hunt for her. He handed her a light blue plastic egg. "Open the egg, and read the phrase out loud" he told her. She doddled through the house until she reached egg number 5. This egg had a poem on it that led her to the back door. This is where I was hiding. She slowly opened the door and before I could see her entire face, she had doubled over in disbelief. We cried, hugged and then I handed her the last egg of her scavenger hunt. This one led her to the front door. My mom was behind this one....

What a brave little lady she was!

Clint & Jackie are residential directors in a house for American students studying in Oxford. In the 1800's this was a home for a family of four. On the right hand side is what appears to be the servants quarters. Their room is to the left of the door. It is a large bay window that you can barely see.

This is the back of their house (it holds 40 students plus Clint & Jackie)

In England, they don't have number addresses, instead the homes are named...their's is called "the vines" on Pullens Lane. This was the name from the original owners.

The backyard is almost an acre of open green smooth grass.

For the next seven days....bike riding, walking & the metro was our transportation

This is Regents at Oxford where Clint is studying

Home cooked meals by mom!

Jackie teaches math at an all girls school located 28 steps from her house! The school is pictured below. Last year she taught at a school that took at least one hour of biking + metro each way. She thinks the location of this school is quite nice...especially on rainy days...

Tasty food in Paris, fun shops and beautiful art!

The fashion in Paris was...black boots, black scarves, black gloves, black petty coats, black hats, black sweaters, and black pants...

Dinner, cards & cream puffs...wait...someone forgot to put the cream in the puff!

Yes. We think she's wierd too.