I was having an out-of-body experience on Wednesday morning. I watched as I packed my toothbrush and my musical banana in my backpack (which has still not been on my back yet... what a snob I am ). I observed the view of the McDonalds "drive-thru" where we purchased a couple of coffees and some breakfast.... and with horror I watched myself consume those two number 10's. Antelope Valley passed by the windows and I noticed LA seemed to sweep by in a blur. I bid Donald farewell from the curb outside Terminal 5 at LAX and casually watched the Dodge disappear into the morning traffic. I was strangely detached. And yet, there I was... alone again.
I was closer to tears than I had been when dad waved me off through the security at London Heathrow back in May... although admittedly the combination of no sleep and a caffeine tsunami had incapacitated most of my bodily functions on the morn of my travels. I will not bore you any further, but I will miss Donald and Mark and I am just so grateful to have met them and shared such great times. My home from home in the USA. America has been good to me....
God Bless America!
Just as the tears began to well my feet swung around and marched me off confidently to the Delta desk. Mind over matter. The show must go on. The next phase of my travels would be the most challenging yet and thankfully my grasp of the Spanish language would do me well. Oh. The Spanish language. Yes. Never mind, I am sure that the age-old English technique of speaking slowly and in a raised tone will get me by.... isn't that right ma?!
Two of the "Golden Girls" were sitting next to me! (Granny) Annie from Oregan sat to my left on the flight to Houston, her curled grey hair lifted high on her head to reveal gold ear studs and a gold chain necklace, a strong set of cheekbones and twinkly green eyes somehow giving away her ease and humour. Her rather more preened and cautious sister Glenda sat next to her with a similar haircut bathed in a warm red hue. And why were these two old ladies jetting off to Houston? Oh to go to an 800 person strong family reunion!! 800! I would love to see them try to talk to every one of their relatives there in one afternoon. And Annie leaned over with a cheeky grin on her face and confided in me...
"Oh dearrr.... I have to tell yah... (heh-heeee!).... ah'm no good at th' name thang!"
What a great granny. I just suspect that she was on good behaviour though. If her sister Glenda was not there she would have joined me for a G&T ("Oh that there is such a Briddish drink if ever I saw one!")... have no doubt!
SuDoku nearly cost me my next flight. Imagine that. Sitting at the bar slurping my Hoegaarden... a string of sixes going through my head as I check the boxes... "6 here... 6 there... 6 time... oh the time.... AHHH!!!". The darned book should have been left behind as punishment. I just made it to the plane by the whiskers on the stewardess' chin! So close.
I settled into my chair. Thankfully there was an empty seat between me and the rather large Austrian with thick grey-blond locks. Black trousers ( I didn't look but in retrospect I am convinced they would have been slightly too short for him), black waistcoat stretched over the belly and a vivid red shirt... how does that man sleep at night?! I managed to settle down and acted as though I was oblivious to anything in my peripheral vision for fear of a conversation striking up. It worked. I was alone with my (forgiven) SuDoku. I would emerge in the morning from a sea of pointless numbers and boxes to find myself in Buenos Aires. Perfect.
But why did the captain seem to be repeatedly pressurising the cabin?! I kept on hearing the same repeated 'whooshing' sound. I lifted my head as though seeking an explanation... and I got it. The 'whoosh!' seemed to be the sound that accompanied the darting motion of Benni's (the new name for my Auatrian travelling companion) tissue-laden hand to his nose. Oh help.
And then the sneeze....
"TssssssssssssssssssssssssT! TssssssssssssssssssssssssT!"
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