home again, home again

jiggity jig.

Okay, okay . . . but I have ALL OF THOSE pictures waiting to be sized and dealt with . . . but all right already . . . here I am.

Not going to do the day by day synopsis of this trip like I did the Hawaii trip, even though I did keep a journal and could do that. ;-) I will spare you all of the details.

Arrived in Ohio to the warm embrace of my friend. R and I have known each other since 8th grade. Like all good girlfriends we have had our moments where we ceased speaking to each other . . . but always found our way back to a loving relationship. Good friends can do that, you know. It's a great thing.

We got my luggage lugged to her car and set off for her home. As we drove she laughed and said that she didn't know what to do first - feed me or let me sleep. I opted for a shower and a visit until her hubby came home from work.

Our week plus together was spent reminiscing, laughing, crying, talking, talking some more, and talking even more. They allowed me room to breathe, room to just BE, room to heal and recover as needed. If I wanted peace and quiet, it was given. If I wanted company, it was there. If I wanted to go and do, we did. How much more wonderful could a vacation be?

I was forced (forced, I tell ya) to go shopping and to try on several outfits and even to purchase some. (heh - thanks again, R)

The reunion was fun - and R even went along with me. We had a great time visiting with folks we had never met in our lives. Well, okay, yes we went to school with those folks, but that was way back yonder a hundred years or so. I have NO IDEA who these folks were at the reunion. We all did that greeting thing - hand out for a shake, eyes to eyes contact, Hi, it's good to see you, eyes slide down to name tag, OMG!! Hi ________!! You haven't changed a bit! - you know, THAT greeting thing. LOL.

However, once we got to talking, there were really several who looked just like they did in school - a few pounds here and there - a lot more gray hair, or less hair altogether - but the same looks nevertheless.

I received the "award" for traveling the furthest. Actually there was no award, but everyone kept saying I should get it. hahaha funny bunnies they were.
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Had a lovely visit with my aunt and uncle. We got lost getting there - but that is half the fun. So wonderful to catch up with them. I hope that I can do that again.
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we had a family bar-b-que - we snarfed - we saw sights - we talked even more - lovely - we ate out at many different places (have you ever had deep fried pickles? I have.)
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R treated me and herself to a fabulous afternoon at Charles Penzone Spa where we each enjoyed a salt scrub and massage. Oh my word - just pour me back into the car for the ride home. Ooooh, feel the soft, feel the smooth.

Note to family members: when you canNOT think of a thing to get me - and you want to know exACTLY what to get mom/gramma/nana/wife for ANY occasion . . . a gift card to the local spa will suit me just fine - anytime - any day - keep 'em coming. ;-) Sigh . . . . . .
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R and I had several lovely chats and some soul searching talks, too. That is what friends are for - and she is a true friend.

So, you can imagine that our parting was a bit teary for both of us. We tried so hard NOT to cry and both of us failed miserably. She knows my tendency to be early to everything, so she had taken me to the airport with plenty of time to spare.

We sat and visited for a bit and then knew that we had to just do it - we had to say good-bye. It wasn't easy. for either of us.
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Through security and on to my gate I went. To sit - and sit - and sit some more - while watching the departure board change the time over and over again. I was supposed to leave at 4:47 - then it changed to 5 p.m. - then to 5:35 p.m. - then to 6 p.m. I called the hubster and told him I had no clue if I was going to be able to make my connection in Chicago to Anchorage. Told him that if he didn't hear from me he could expect me to be on the plane - that I would call if I did not get out on time.

Went to the desk just as soon as someone got there to ask that all important question - erm, if this plane leaves at 6 p.m. will I make it to Chicago in time to catch my flight to Anc. at 7? (there is an hour's time difference, but I had a feeling it would be cutting it very short) The attendant agreed that it would be tight and then got a smile on her face.

(a different) airline is sending a flight to Chicago in just a minute - I'll see if I can get you a seat.

She called the other airline - they had an available seat - she called the ramp guy to come and get a new baggage ticket so he could hump my bag to the other airline - and cut me a new ticket for the other airline - and sent me running to catch the flight - which was in its final boarding calls as I arrived - but had to wait to be checked in and get a boarding pass - sigh!

Down the ramp I ran - okay, I walked quickly - and fell into a seat for a very quick hop to Chicago . . . .

This airline lands at a totally different terminal than the one I was supposed to be flying on - and the one that I would be boarding in Chicago. AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT TERMINAL friends. I had to make my way across TWO terminals to get to the right boarding area. I landed at B and had to get to G. Yeah, yeah, that is only five letters. Have you EVER been to Chicago O'Hare????????

It took me half an hour to get there - walking as fast as my fat little legs could carry me. Huff, puff, excuse me, excuse me, huff, puff, ;-) I checked the pedometer when I got there and I had walked a bit over a mile and a half!!!!

Found the gate - sat down in a chair and then heard the attendant at that gate announce - those of you here waiting for flight # ____ to Anchorage - please stay here. We are pretty sure that you will be boarding from a different gate, but please stay here until we find out which gate that will be.

And, the Moose began to pray, Oh, Lord, don't make me walk back across all of those terminals again, please, Lord . . . . oh, okay it is only three gates away. Phew!!!

Where we all trooped like the good little sheep that we were - and tried to find seating for all of us among all of the folks that were already crammed in a single sized waiting room serving THREE gates. ;-/

The flight FROM Anchorage finally arrived and the folks disembarked while the cleaning crew frantically made the plane ready for us and the fuel was pumped and the foodstuffs loaded . . . those are very good things. We waited a bit longer and then were allowed to board for the 6 hour (give or take) ride to Anchorage. We landed about 15 minutes early even - and my luggage even made it - although as soon as I saw it hit the carousel I knew that it had been searched way back in Columbus!!! (how lucky was that TSA person - dirty clothes, including the sweaty clothes from my early morning walk before leaving lol)

Then I had to wait all night - trying to catch some sleep if possible - while keeping an eye on my luggage - while the cleaning crews shampooed the carpets of the ticketing area where several of us waited all night - trying to catch some sleep - keeping our eyes on our luggage . . .

because I arrived after the last plane left for Kenai - and because the next flight, my pre-arranged flight - would not leave until 8 a.m. Erm, yes, you read that right. I arrived back in Alaska at 10:15 p.m. Friday night, but would not be able to leave for Kenai until 8 a.m. Saturday morning. Yay, me. ;-))

So, I snuck some sleep in between potty trips (carting along the luggage cart is so much fun - thank goodness for handicap accessible bathroom stalls) until about 6 a.m. when I figured the ticket stand would open.

Only it didn't. I finally (after all night) noticed a note on the front of their counter - go downstairs to the gate, dummy, it read. And, so I did. Nobody was there, either. Well, no that is not entirely true. There was a man sleeping on the floor rattling the windows with his snores, behind the next ticket counter over.

I freshened up while waiting - I always carry a change of shirt and undies in my carry-on luggage - and even shampooed my hair in the basin. Felt MUCH better afterwards.

The trip to Kenai was great - but C.O.L.D - I had not taken a jacket because I knew it would be hot in Ohio (it was). Silly me. The temps were in the mid 50's here and the plane never really warmed up - it's a 9 seater plane - so I just sat hugging my arms and shivering.

Hubster met me at the airport, took me out to breakfast where three of hs friends were waiting for me (because he thought I arrived at 8 instead of leaving Anc. at 8) - then he took me home where I grabbed a shower, did some laundry and collapsed into bed for an hour nap. Well, it would have been a longer nap, but someone called and I got up.

Okay, there you have it - quick and dirty - no pics yet, because I am still getting them sorted out. I had fodder enough for several photo entries.

gotta keep you waiting.

keep you guessing.

that's my job

and I do it well.

LOL

G'night, friends.

Posted by Purplemoose at September 5, 2004 10:04 PM