Ripe & Pungent. Blog Worthy, Indeed.

I saved a spot on my first blog entry for my sister's email she sent of her adventures back "home" to Qatar.  I asked for her permission to post and she sent me an edited version which included an unedited preface which I also included.  I have been encouraging Cyd to start her on blog because of the intriguing experiences she has on a daily basis living in Qatar.  Bonus: She is an entertaining, talented person which comes out in her writing.  If you think her email is blog worthy, chime in.  All six of you.

Preface.

All this hoopla over something that sounds dumb now!  Here you go.  No pressure to re-print.  It's not that funny anymore.  In fact I had a flashback whilst writing this.  On the shuttle during my dry heaves I spotted it.  Vomit.  Vomit on the floor of the shuttle bus.  Near the exit.  I'm once again proud to say it was not Woolley vomit.  But I was so overcome with my own sensory overload, and need to protect my own, that I did not warn fellow passengers as they draped their abaya's through it as they exited the shuttle.  Carry on wheels ran over it.  Men stepped in it.  Women draped their drapeys in it.  I could only tell my crew to exit through the other door, close my eyes, plug my nose and breathe deeply.  "Don't ask why just exit the other way!"  Anyway, that's pretty sad and funny at the same time.  Thanks for enjoying my writing.  It makes me smile.  But seriously, it doesn't seem that worthy of a blog!  If you do reprint, please feel free to edit as you wish.  I am seriously scared of marginalizing the already marginalized.  BLAH!  Cydney

Ripe and Pungent

We are happy to announce the safe arrival to Doha 6th year in a row.  All 416 pounds of luggage accounted for.  Once aboard our flight in Houston, we were immediately welcomed by the ripe and pungent body odors of our international fellow travelers.  Indians, Africans, Arabians, Asians, Spaniards, yes Americans, Canadians, and others, oh and Garett's flatulence added to the spicy mix of stifling body odor smells.  Luckily Jenica brought her aromatherapy sprays.  I also retreated to the toilet areas where I found alcohol wipes.  I swathed my arms, neck and chest multiple times in an attempt to camouflage the assault on my nostrils.  The flight was overbooked and toasty  warm for 15 hours.  I think I'll email this suggestion to Qatar Airways:  Please deep clean all upholstered seats after each transatlantic flight.  Fabreeze just won't do.

Now, imagine pungent smells coupled with 95 degrees and 70% humidity once we exited the plane in Qatar at 8:00 p.m..  It was a sensory smorgasbord that welcomed us home. With my new retainers in place, sweat clinging to my underlings and sweat dripping down my face, yes, I did dry heave a few times.  And no, I did not try to conceal the dry heaves in public.  In fact, I plugged my nose with my index finger and thumb as we rode the shuttle to the arrival area.  After traveling  24 hours and making it thus far without vomit, the Mother drops all social skills for survival skills.  Success.  

Even though I was resistant to returning to Doha this year, and even had a last minute plan to put the kids on the Houston flight while I returned to SLC for two more weeks of play (I am not exaggerating, I really almost did do this, ask Jenica), it did feel like we had returned to our "real home" once we hit the streets in the taxis and were left to our own Woolley family odors.

Of course I completely recognize that I may have offended every member of the human race next to me by all the heaving and plugging said nose in public.  I am sorry.  Will probably feel more sorry later on this week after jet lag has subsided.  But hopefully, those I offended with my uppity survival techniques, are emailing their families tonight - sharing stories of their safe arrival and the ripe American family that smelled like sour milk, 8 year old boy farts, sweet bath and body lotions, peanut butter pretzel breath mixed with coconut M&M's . . .shall we just call it sweet and sour Americans?

Love you all!  Thanks for the great summer!  XOXO