The second installment of a tale of a journey into the southern swamps wherein my tenses go crazy
So we land.
I have my hoodie off before we're on the tarmac. I know it's going to kick my ass out there. My body is in that wonderful transplanted state where I can't take the heat like I used to, and though I can suffer the cold better, it's still obvious that I wasn't born to New England winters. And I know what heat on asphalt is like. And Columbia humidity... it really is the arm pit of South Carolina. So, I hold my breath, step off the plane and...
It's nice out. It's oddly nice out. It's warm, but not hot. And there's a light breeze blowing. This weather would be a general theme for the trip. However, the brightness... I did forget the brightness. We grabbed our carry on and hissing like Golum I headed for the shaded glory of the airport. I remember now why I used to wear shades all the damn time.
Columbia Airport. It's small. In terms of how many people fly through it, think of Tweed. Small right? Quaint. Nice. Not crowded. Lovely, you'd think.
Stepping into that empty airport would be the first time on the trip I would miss home. Everything was clean and bright and spacious, sure. But we left the single terminal, to walk to the single baggage claim area. On the way, we passed the single row of airport shops... the middle of the concourse filled with plants and rocking chairs. All that empty space... made me feel claustrophobic. It's hard to explain... and sounds utterly bonky, I know. But for all you special geeks out there, I can say... for me, the Nothing lurks in too much open space. The Nothing lives in lack of choices.
From baggage claim, I texted Cristal to find out where she and Shane were hiding. I got back a quick note about parking the car and I felt a pang of guilt. It was awesome that were putting us up for the weekend. And it was great that they were picking us up from the airport. However, it was fairly saintly that they were doing so after Bunnie had been in a head on collision just 2 days before. So now, they were going to have to pay 6 bucks just to park their car for 5 minutes... like I said, pang of guilt. We made a note to pick up the check at the next meal and headed back out into the not so hot heat to find them.
And by find them, I mean, nearly walk into them. We stepped out onto the sidewalk. They were on the opposite sidewalk. Holding hands. Waiting to cross at the crosswalk. Oh, to have had the camera out. It's nothing new to see Cristal and Shane holding hands. It's one of their endearing traits. But something about them two of them at the crosswalk like that, her in PJs. Bunnie and her Honey can be so unbearably cute sometimes.
We hugged, exchanged pleasantries, and surveyed the most obvious of Cristal's bruises from the crash. By the way, if you're ever in the market for a truck that can take a head on collision and leave you still breathing, may I recommend the Toyota Tacoma.
We piled into Shane's car, boys in the front, girls in the back. I was reminded of a similar riding configuration, in another little sports car with a shelf for a back seat. At least I wasn't wearing a skirt this time. Though sadly, Bunnie was a bit too banged up for us to pretzel together as Robin and I had. And again, not wearing skirts... so it would hardly have been as fun.
We headed out of the parking garage and off to the first order of... wtf? The guilt of 6 dollar parking faded as John and I read the sign. Parking at CAE, under 20 minutes... free. Seriously. Free. Ada paid 10 bucks just in tolls to take us to the airport. Ah, the south. She ain't the smartest girl at the dance, but my is she cheap.
I have my hoodie off before we're on the tarmac. I know it's going to kick my ass out there. My body is in that wonderful transplanted state where I can't take the heat like I used to, and though I can suffer the cold better, it's still obvious that I wasn't born to New England winters. And I know what heat on asphalt is like. And Columbia humidity... it really is the arm pit of South Carolina. So, I hold my breath, step off the plane and...
It's nice out. It's oddly nice out. It's warm, but not hot. And there's a light breeze blowing. This weather would be a general theme for the trip. However, the brightness... I did forget the brightness. We grabbed our carry on and hissing like Golum I headed for the shaded glory of the airport. I remember now why I used to wear shades all the damn time.
Columbia Airport. It's small. In terms of how many people fly through it, think of Tweed. Small right? Quaint. Nice. Not crowded. Lovely, you'd think.
Stepping into that empty airport would be the first time on the trip I would miss home. Everything was clean and bright and spacious, sure. But we left the single terminal, to walk to the single baggage claim area. On the way, we passed the single row of airport shops... the middle of the concourse filled with plants and rocking chairs. All that empty space... made me feel claustrophobic. It's hard to explain... and sounds utterly bonky, I know. But for all you special geeks out there, I can say... for me, the Nothing lurks in too much open space. The Nothing lives in lack of choices.
From baggage claim, I texted Cristal to find out where she and Shane were hiding. I got back a quick note about parking the car and I felt a pang of guilt. It was awesome that were putting us up for the weekend. And it was great that they were picking us up from the airport. However, it was fairly saintly that they were doing so after Bunnie had been in a head on collision just 2 days before. So now, they were going to have to pay 6 bucks just to park their car for 5 minutes... like I said, pang of guilt. We made a note to pick up the check at the next meal and headed back out into the not so hot heat to find them.
And by find them, I mean, nearly walk into them. We stepped out onto the sidewalk. They were on the opposite sidewalk. Holding hands. Waiting to cross at the crosswalk. Oh, to have had the camera out. It's nothing new to see Cristal and Shane holding hands. It's one of their endearing traits. But something about them two of them at the crosswalk like that, her in PJs. Bunnie and her Honey can be so unbearably cute sometimes.
We hugged, exchanged pleasantries, and surveyed the most obvious of Cristal's bruises from the crash. By the way, if you're ever in the market for a truck that can take a head on collision and leave you still breathing, may I recommend the Toyota Tacoma.
We piled into Shane's car, boys in the front, girls in the back. I was reminded of a similar riding configuration, in another little sports car with a shelf for a back seat. At least I wasn't wearing a skirt this time. Though sadly, Bunnie was a bit too banged up for us to pretzel together as Robin and I had. And again, not wearing skirts... so it would hardly have been as fun.
We headed out of the parking garage and off to the first order of... wtf? The guilt of 6 dollar parking faded as John and I read the sign. Parking at CAE, under 20 minutes... free. Seriously. Free. Ada paid 10 bucks just in tolls to take us to the airport. Ah, the south. She ain't the smartest girl at the dance, but my is she cheap.