Home Sweet Home, Part Three of Three
October 3rd, 2006.
Previously…
3 months ago, I left home in search of a job. The job search didn’t go the way that I planned. The adventure that I had instead was something that couldn’t be imagined. Aside from all of the wonderful people that Keary and I met along the way, it was also the amazing things that I had seen. Seoul, South Korea was a city with a flavor all its own, unlike anything city that I visited before.
So, this was the end. The last day, before I headed back to the United States of America. Back to Orlando, Florida, where I had left behind a whole lot. Home was home. I missed it. I had been gone far too long perhaps. Or perhaps not long enough. I’d find out sooner or later. But, as always, there were the goodbyes that hurt, and the welcomes that made everything feel slightly better.
And now…
Keary and I were in Itaewon, waiting for the bus that would take me to Incheon International Airport, to LAX, and finally to OIA. Lots of time in the air. Earlier in the day I gave my goodbyes to Mary, who ended up being a really cool friend. I was going to miss her. Keary and I talked about what the future had in store for us. He probably half expected me to be extra sentimental.
I wasn’t thinking too much, really. Not about what could have been. Always focused on the moment. Well, the impending flight. Or I wasn’t listening. The Parinis Brothers, going in different directions again. Story of our lives. He was the married one, as hard as that was to believe. Settled down, one kid, and another on the way, a veritable family man. I was the wanderer, the bohemian stranger who was there one moment and gone the next. And once again, I was in that familiar role.
The bus showed up, and I could tell that he was slightly upset that I was leaving. I found a seat, and just sat there, thinking about what could have been, if I had stayed. And what could have been? Maybe we’d never know. Maybe I’d return. Never knew where I’d be next, and that was both exciting and somber all at once. Especially this time, more than ever.
A quick nap later, and I was at the airport, running back and forth, trying to handle a fun situation with Customs. A little charm, and a smile, and the young lady at the customs desk let me go. Let’s just say that if it had been 10 minutes longer, I’d be postponing that flight.
The flight was what I expected it to be. Boring. Very boring. Well, not so boring, as every now and then the old Chinese man sitting next to me would nudge me and talk about how ridiculously beautiful the flight attendants were. Nothing beats a dirty old man. He was hilarious. A 60 year old frat boy. Nice. I slept the rest of the way, although the turbulence over the Pacific was pretty annoying sometimes.
I don’t remember what time I got to Los Angeles, and even lost a day in the process. In fact, my watch was completely off, and I had to find a schedule displayed on the big screen to see the proper time. It was 3 or so, and I would have a 7 hour long layover before the last leg of the flight. It was going to be a long 7 hours. But not so long, as I popped a Tylenol PM. 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep. My kind of happy pill. There was a nice comfortable spot on the wall at the terminal, so I stretched out and passed out peacefully.
Sleep didn’t last too long, as it was once again time to board the red eye to Orlando. The ticket agent at Delta Airlines hooked me up with a row of seats to myself. With all of that room, I could sleep and be comfortable all at once.
October 4th, 2006. Sleep on the flight wasn’t all that. There was a group of kids behind me who were rather unruly. By the time they passed out, there was more turbulence while we were over the Gulf of Mexico. Fortunately it wasn’t too long of a flight.
Orlando looked different. The sun was up, and I got a look at America again. It had been a long while. It felt fine being home again. English being all around. But it was all so alien. Like stepping out of time and back in again. I missed the road in the back of my mind. I missed my brother. Then it hit me. This was a welcome to the big bad real world. This was my reality check.
Hov, my cousin, came to pick me up. We traded stories of what had gone on, what was missed, and everything else in between. There was a lot of work to be done. I had a lot to do. But that could wait till tomorrow. And there was plenty of time.
Next: A recap of the past month, as getting used to Orlando isn’t all that I thought it would be. Plus, more fun with Super Jenn, Red, Pom Pom, and a whole lot of old friends, plus a few new ones too.