Flights Home

Jan 25, 2009 08:15

I suppose I should write a post about coming home. I don't suppose it will be very exciting, but here it is:

I flew home on Wednesday. I managed to get all 6 bags checked with a little assistance from strangers (the guy from the rental car shuttle who was heading back to Texas, and the Sky Cap guy). The flight to Kansas City was smooth, and there was a spare seat between me and a nice lady who I think would have liked to talk more than we actually did. Kansas City was the most ho-hum airport I've been in. There wasn't much to do, and it was definitely designed pre-security days. The terminal was shaped like a big semi-circle, and the gates were sectioned off from the rest of the terminal with glass partitions, and once you went through security there was nothing to do. No food, no news stands. I waited outside security til the last minute.

I went up to the food court area and took a seat overlooking the tarmac and beyond. There wasn't much going on on the tarmac, or beyond, and I found it all rather bleak and depressing to look at, so I switched seats to look at the Burger King. The scene of people waiting for french fries was a little more interesting, but also a little depressing. Eventually I found a seat, still outside of the secure area, but near my gate. The view was a wall that was plastered with a blown up photo of a fountain, probably one you would see in Kansas City. I didn't really look at it, but instead checked their "free" wi-fi (I never got it to work), wrote in my paper journal, and talked to my mom for a little bit.

The flight to Baltimore was packed, but I had a window seat, and the lady next to me was ok. It went pretty quickly since I drew the whole time.

I called my mom when I got to the baggage claim. She said she was only in Lisbon which meant she had about a half-hour still to drive. She apologized that she's lost track of the time. I told her not to worry. I enlisted the assistance of Bennie who had a big cart. He kept laughing at me and my 6 bags. I told him that if he wanted he could just immediately take me out to the curb and leave me there with my stuff, but he suggested that I sit down inside for a while. He went to get a cup of coffee, then he joined me. We chatted for a while. He said that after lifting those 6 bags, he could use the break.

He asked me how long I'd been living in Portland and was surprised when I said, "only 6 months." He remarked that the way I spoke was so proper and he wasn't used to that. He thought maybe it was a Portland thing. I laughed and told him that I guessed it was my own thing. We talked a bit more about "Balmer" and "Meralyn" for a while, until finally my mom called. We met her out front and I tipped Bennie a $20 for being so nice about waiting with me inside. I guess I was just really happy to be home.

As we approached closer and closer to home, waves of excitement whooshed through me about seeing my wiener dogs again. All I could do was let them pass and focus on something else, they were almost overwhelming. Might sound silly, but I've always missed my pets more than anything else when I'm away.

They were just as excited to see me, and then peed all over the garage floor (though thankfully none got on me!).

My mom and I ate some cheese fondue with apples and bread, then we went to bed. The dogs remembered "the drill" and made a bee-line for my room when I went upstairs. I thought they might be so used to sleeping with my mom after so much time, but I guess they still love me after all. :)

change, wiener dogs, moving, travel, flights

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