Dreich but with a sunny heart

Hello all, I apologize that 2023 has been a pretty spotty year for the blog. I’m going to attempt to get a couple of more posts in before the year ends.

I recently marked my third anniversary of moving to Scotland. As is often the case, in some ways it feels like longer and in other ways, I still feel quite newly planted. I recently found the notebook where I was keeping track of all the things I had to do leading up to my departure. It makes me dizzy just recalling it all.

I was applying for a visa to be able to move here legally and, since it was the pandemic, the place where I had to go to be fingerprinted and photographed was closed for months.

The visa had to be approved by a certain date for me to travel and we obtained approval only about two weeks before I ultimately left and within a month of the final cut-off of when I could legally arrive to the UK. Amid saying farewells to my nearest and dearest, I was packing and handling all the final logistics.

On the morning of my departure date, I woke up with an infected big toe. No idea where it came from, but it threw a monkey wrench into the day’s plans so that I had to fit in a visit to a CVS Minute Clinic amid everything else.

When I arrived to Glasgow, I was required to quarantine for ten days, with not even walks outside allowed. D. and I had spent nearly a year apart and to go from that to 24/7 togetherness in a tiny apartment was a shock for both of our systems, I’m sure. I recall that I exited my quarantine and then there was one day, I’m thinking Christmas Eve, that felt somewhat normal. We went out, people were shopping and things seemed festive. However, on the 26th, the country shut down again for literally months.

It’s funny that as I read through all of that I can’t imagine how I got through all of that. I imagine you too can look back on trials in your life – whether health, grief and loss, or other and wonder the same too. There certainly have been low moments in these three years – mostly when I’m missing family and friends.

I have to say though that I’ve come to realize that Glasgow is quite a lucky place to land. Though the weather is, as the Scots would say ‘dreich’, (meaning ‘dreary’ – here’s the pronunciation if you’re curious), Glaswegians are warm, friendly, and fun. It’s not uncommon for a stranger at the bus stop to ‘have a natter’ (chat) with you or for a taxi driver to have a good long chat on your ride. Many Scots like to tell you about family or friends they have in the U.S. or Canada and the places they’ve visited. They also kindly ask about my experience living in Scotland.

I find it quite homey how they refer to you with endearments even though you don’t know them. For example in the U.S., when I’m in a grocery line with a real checkout person (yes, I know a thing of the past), I always felt so rushed since you know the person behind you as well as the checkout person is giving you a death stare to get you to move on.

Once, here in Glasgow, I was checking out and having some difficulty finding my debit card. I reflexively apologized to the checkout attendant who I thought would be inwardly rolling her eyes at me by then. She said to me, “Love, don’t you worry, I’m here all day.”

At another shopping trip, there was a woman collecting for a charity near the store exit. As I put something in her can, she said, “Thanks a lot, Pet, I appreciate you taking the time to stop.” My heart leapt being called “pet”. I think it was from having watched the British mystery series called “Vera” and hearing the main character (from Northern England, though not Scotland) calling everyone ‘pet’. I somehow felt as though I have arrived.

Thanks to all of you for joining me on what’s been an incredible adventure – for listening when I’ve been low, laughing with me as I discover the unknown with some misadventures along the way, and celebrating my milestones. Thanks also to Scots who showed everyday kindnesses that made (and still make) all the difference.

I know this wasn’t a conventional blog with lots of pictures. I’ll reward those of you who have read to the end with a few pictures showing how Glasgow can dazzle even amid the dreich.

George Square in Glasgow fitted out with lights for the holiday

I’m wishing you warmth amid whatever challenges you’re facing. Take good care, Pet.