NOT DRIVING MISS DAISY

Miss Mimi will leave on August 8 to fly across the ocean to join her favorite adopted niece, Miss Cathy, to travel by car in the West and Northwest of Scotland. Miss Cathy smokes cheroots, swears like a modern girl, and makes a habit of furtively concealing small silver flasks of strong liquor about the car when she thinks no one is looking. In truth, she is exactly what a favorite niece should be, what, in the olden days, was called "fast". As to Miss Mimi, you already know all you need to know about her - no description necessary.


Miss Cathy on the left

Their first choice for a driver was Hoke, Miss Daisy's driver, but he could not make the trip. To their great surprise, MadChauffeur stepped in and volunteered to drive them. For a split second, Miss Mimi considered that having MadChauffeur drive them might be quite mad, but the moment passed, and, after a brief discussion with Miss Cathy, they concluded that having MadChauffeur drive them was an excellent idea. Since MadChauffeur knows Scotland like the back of his hand, they'll be getting a twofer, a driver and a tour guide. They know that MadChauffeur possesses all the proper skills, because he once drove for a living, hauling far heavier loads than Miss Cathy and Miss Mimi. For a spell, MadChauffeur will be back in the professional driver's seat once again.

Miss Mimi on the right below (I am not kidding!)


Places where they'll stay include the following:

Oban

Mull

Mallaig

Skye

They'll take day trips from those locations, including one visit that Miss Mimi insists upon, to Iona. Miss Cathy checked out staying at the Abbey, but the folks there like guests to stay for a week, and neither Miss M nor Miss C thought they had enough time to spend a week.

MadChauffeur must leave Miss C and Miss M on the last leg of their trip, at which time Miss C and Miss M will wave a sad and teary good-bye. Once their grief eases, they'll hire a car, and Miss C will assume the role of driver. Be assured that Miss M will not risk getting behind the wheel to drive on the wrong side of the road, just as surely as Miss C would not get in the car with her, if she did. Miss M insists that there will be no smoking of cheroots inside the car and no furtive nips from the flask while driving, because Miss M will be watching closely. As to the swearing - Miss M is not entirely innocent herself, so how can she demand abstinence of Miss C?

Miss Mimi thanks Miss Cathy for her hard work in making arrangements for lodgings, car hire, train tickets, etc., and Miss C and Miss M both thank MadChauffer for undertaking the chore of driving and for his expert travel advice on what to do and what to see in Scotland. However, after following his advice, if they're not pleased with what they find, they'll complain long and loud.

Miss Mimi credits Miss Cathy for her description of her own character, and she gives MadChauffeur full credit for his own pseudonym and half-credit for the "Driving Miss Daisy" angle, because he insists upon it, but she's not sure he quite deserves it. However, being the generous person that she is, Miss M allows the credit.

Miss Mimi will return home on August 26.



Photo of Mallaig from blackcountrystalker at YouTube.

UPDATE: How could she? Miss Mimi forgot to mention that the travelers will number four, rather than three. The group will include the canine companion of MadChauffeur. If Miss M told you the name of the dog, she would give away the identity of MadChauffeur, so she'll just say the dog is a border collie.

UPDATE 2: Miss Mimi regrets to inform you that their canine companion will not, after all, accompany the travelers to Scotland.