Hallo, Land o'Scots!

If you've been following along, Avid Reader, it should come as no surprise that I WENT TO SCOTLAND! I had long talked about having a Scottish adventure -- at least one outside of London -- and finally made it happen! I booked a flight Friday after work and flew to Aberdeen! And what an adventure it was!

You see, I have an old friend (see previous post!) who I knew was living somewhere in Scotland. With my mad online skillz, I did a quick search and discovered that Matt is the pastor at the Methlick Parish Church in Aberdeenshire. So I said to myself, "Self, why not? Methlick, here I come!"!

Though yet another flight, it was an easy one and I was quickly in the oil capital of Europe, Aberdeen. I bonded with Alex the AVIS guy and he upgraded me to a BMW 120d Diesel -- which became my new best friend. Granted, it was a friend I had to spend time getting to know as the driver's side was on the RIGHT side of the car! I definitely spend a lot of time reminding myself to drive on the left and after a while, definitely got the hang of it. Of course, forgetting to reach over my right shoulder for the seat belt was always my first reminder! And oddly, I couldn't seem to use the rear-view mirror and always wanted to look over my right shoulder to go in reverse. Needless to say, I bought the insurance, but never needed it! Definitely a success! But I digress...

With the only plan being to go to church on Sunday to see Matt preach and knowing I'd see him there, I opted for a dry run to Methlick quickly after I checked in to my hotel. It was no more than 1/2 hour to Methlick on nice, but definitely country roads... over rolling hills with lots of cows and sheep and fall colors galore. In short, it was stunning and exactly what I would have expected in the UK outside of the city. That said, getting to know the signs took some time and speed limits are rarely posted (understood to be 60mph). Before I knew it, however, I was in Methlick there was the church from the website! I made it! Dry run a success!

Pressing my luck, I parked at the church as I noticed some cars and an open door. I was warmly greeted by a dear Scottish grandma who told me that Matt & Julie were probably at home, then quickly got back to her knitting & natting. Of course she just told me they're "home". And by home, it could mean anywhere... in the SHIRE! But back to the adventure, I wandered up & down the town's road and was quickly called in to the town restaurant -- the Ythanview Hotel -- where a Scottish ale was calling my name. Jay Allen, the owner, served me an Avalanche Ale as well as his mean and "hot" curry -- both of which were delicious. Of course, after ordering and upon serving me the beer, he had to ask:

"So, what brings you here?"
"Well, I'm here to go to church, actually."
"I thought you might be a friend of Matt's."

After enjoying lunch and my delicious beer, Jay points down the road... follow that car... THERE!... turn right and he's the first house on the right. And done! All of three minutes later, I'm turning up the hill, into the sun, and a shadow passes the street in front of me. I wave.

"Hello?", the shadow responds, kindly, but unfamiliarly.
"I'm here to see you, actually," I say.
"Oh?"
"Hi Matt. It's Todd Moore."
"Todd Moo--? Todd Moore!"

It's a moment for the movies really. I can totally picture it in dramatic black & white, but instead it was in living color with the sun in my eyes and a old friend from a place and time far away in his. In all honesty, I think the moment -- and the next 15 minutes -- caught us both off-guard, even though I had quite the head start on it even happening to begin with.

Matt & I were able to catch up over tea in his kitchen for nearly an hour when his wonderful wife Julie (another friend from college) arrived home with three of their four kids: Chapman, Iona, and Amy Kate. Julie had much the same -- but even more dramatic -- realization of my presence and we fell easily into catch-up mode before their worlds became a flurry of activity around the kids and dinner plans and more.

Soon, it was time to leave them to their regular programming and I set off on Scottish adventures with my 120d, as if my mission had been accomplished. Oh, but it was only beginning...!

First stop? Cows! I pulled the "Hey Cow" trick learned from dear friends John & Amy. These ones just looked at me like I was some cuckoo American making noise. Like it's a different language... Stupid cows.

Second stop? Some crazy awesome church with an amazing cemetary in the front and behind. I can't tell you how many times I'd just be driving along and BAM! Amazing scenery or church or cemetary or animal or moment would just pop into view. It was a drive through some of the most amazing views at every turn. Amazing.

Third stop? Fyvie Castle! I'm actually convinced, Avid Reader, that somehow I need to own a castle. And have Victorian parties every weekend with merry-making and live music and masquerede masks and drama and mystery. If anyone is reading this who owns a castle and is looking to give it away to an amazingly organized, resourceful, and host-happy American, I am totally game. Let's talk! Point being, I could see myself living in and caring for a castle. From the gardening & landscaping (of course, I would outsource) to hosting and entertaining (in period costume, of course), I'd be the most amazing caretaker. I had a ball completely on my own at Fyvie taking timed photographs and making a general scene on the front lawn. In other words, I acted like I owned the joint. And just may someday!






All in all, it was a pretty awesome adventure as I headed back in to Aberdeen from Methlick. I found the town. I enjoyed a draught Scottish ale, some home-cooked curry from the hotel proprietor, a chance run-in with an old friend who I hadn't seen since 1996 nor talked to since 1998, met some judgmental cows, took some amazing photos, and pretended to own a castle. Point being, I crashed at my hotel within 5mins of keying in.

And given, Avid Reader, that I was O.U.T. out by 8PM (no joke!), I was wide awake at 4AM wondering what the day was going to bring. Futile attempts to fall back to sleep and realizing that my time in Scotland was limited, I opted to check out and hit the road with my trusted new BFF, the 120d. We drove into Aberdeen proper to check out the Brig o'Balgownie, as well as one of the oldest medieval churches in Scotland, the Cathedral Chuch of St. Machar.

Turns out, daylight savings had gone into effect while I was sleeping, so my 6AM arrival at the unlit bridge was actually only 5AM and it was PITCH BLACK. No bridge could be seen in the dark of night, so off to St. Machar I went. Word to the wise? Don't go to a medieval church in Scotland surrounded by a 6' stone wall filled in with tombstones and graves in the middle of the night. I kid you not, I was scared out of my wits!! However, being totally man-style, I thought to myself, "Self, the sun will come up soon enough and I'm sure will make for lovely photos". Another word to the wise... the sun doesn't come up in Scotland after daylight savings time has hit until well past half seven (7:30, UK style).

Thankful for a GPS, I tourned around Aberdeen for quite a while longer, learned that coffee shops -- there were two Starbucks' -- didn't open until 10AM, but McDonald's also made its global presence and its McCafe felt in a big way. I watched the sun come up over all kinds of spires and church towers and enjoyed a quiet morning in an amazing city. It felt like it was just me (& Ronald McDonald) and the street cleaners out, everyone trying to recover from a most amazing night before Halloween. Yes, in other words, the streets were litter central! :)

Back to daylight savings time and me still not actually knowing however, I hopped back in my trusted BMW and made my way out of the city and towards Methlick knowing that church was to begin at 11AM and there were most castles for me to discover.

First, I checked out Haddo House, a most stately manor with an incredible garden. Again, I thought of all of the awesome fetes I could host and biscuits I could serve in the stunning gardens. Sadly, I must tell you that these are places I could not bring my dad. Avid Reader, the grounds are literally spotted with pheasant and quail and all kinds of other hunter's treasure. Yes, dear Mike would THRIVE in Scotland, but I wouldn't with all of the gun shot clatter!

Next, I was able to check out Tolquhon Castle -- ruins really, but amazing nonetheless. There were a couple of more serious impressions here:

1. Were people really so short? Seriously, I had to duck to go through any door.
2. I couldn't believe I got to walk all over this place! How awesome is that?!
3. What happened? I mean, I get that the place has been around for hundreds of years, but seriously, what happened?
4. How in the world did one stay warm in places like this? There were chimneys & drain holes everywhere and we're talking stone walls. Talk to me about insulation.
5. What was life like? I mean, seriously, what was life like in Scotland in 1322? I've seen it captured on film, but seriously. Have you ever wondered?

And of course, in all my wonderment, I quickly realized that even though I had discovered an additional hour, I was going to be late for church! No! Fortunately, my BFF, the 120d, raced me quickly through back roads and I entered the Methlick Parish Church a full two minutes before things got started!

Matt was amazing -- he always was an awesome orator. And I found myself chuckling at how easily this man, this preacher, became the same person I knew in college. All this time had passed, yet none at all relative to watching him engage and hearing his voice. It was pretty incredible. There's a saying that one can't judge one's own age, but only can do in the age of one's children. This has to be true since I don't have kids, since I haven't aged a day (save the follical challenges) and since I saw Matt as my college roommate all over again.

After church, I was invited to lunch at the Manse (the parsonage, we might call it) and got to spend more time with Matt in his study, then with his kids, playing games in the backyard. I also helped in the mayhem of getting them ready for trick-or-treating while also helping Matt with a welcoming bonfire and over more conversation. The day felt like it could have been at any time and at any place in its normalcy. But the weekend itself started from a place of pure adventure and ended in a place where I know I just might not ever see my friend again.

But having gotten the snapshot, having had a much-needed conversation, having met and played with his kids -- the ones he now has, but didn't when he told me on a Seattle Metro bus he would be excited for them to meet Uncle Todd -- and to having gone on the adventure when it probably cost a little too much, made me a little too tired, and seemed a little crazy, I feel whole and complete and touched.

And thankful you made it this far. Thank you, Avid Reader, for helping me make any of these adventures real just by me getting to share them with you. Your readership is a gift to me, you have no idea.