Got up early this morning to shower and do my final packing to leave for home me today. It has been a wonderful three weeks and, it is terribly sad to leave, and, very exciting to go home!
Dan and I left about 3:30 a.m. Cherstin had gotten up to say, "good-bye" and I woke up Enzo just as we were leaving too (by accident)...I'm afraid there was probably no going back to sleep easily for both of them!
The roads weren't too bad, even considering the snow and ice. I hope that Dan made it back safe and sound...and I bet he did.
I got bag checked, through security, and down to the gate in record time...duh! It was 4 in the morning! We boarded soon after (a completely full plane) and then we sat on the Tarmac for probably 45-60 minutes due to needing to de-ice the plane. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they de-iced it - but did they need to do that with us on board? Or could they have done it while we were boarding? Perhaps not. I don't know. But we were late getting out and I felt anxious about people on board that had connecting flights in Seattle.
Each leg of the trip was fraught with extreme and longs periods of turbulence. I've flown in the winter before and never experienced anything like this! They had been so bad flying into Minneapolis that when we left there, a new route was charted for Nashville to avoid them as much as possible, according to the pilot. Anyway, the flight from Anchorage to Seattle was no different, except that we'd been sitting on the Tarmac all that time, it was early morning, and I was sitting behind three children (ages 5-8 maybe). As the turbulence stretched on and got rougher, I felt nauseous! But the kids behind me were having a very difficult time and finally one of them just erupted - all over the cabin, seats, and the passengers in front of them...me! And as luck would have it, I packed all my clothes in the bag I checked. We all just cleaned up the best we could and I hoped that I wouldn't smell too bad for the rest of the day and all the other passengers I would be onboard with!
On my Seattle-Minneapolis leg I was able to select a movie to watch. I chose "Still Alice". I had read the book while Dad was struggling through Alzheimer's and I had enjoyed it and learned and thought a lot about what it must have been like for him. I had wanted to see the movie when it came out, but it didn't come here...so I enjoyed it on the plane. I found myself moved to tears at the struggle and wishing that we'd had an earlier diagnosis for Dad, and that Mom could have been there in those early stages so that he could have expressed the range of emotions to someone on that deep, intimate level when you're in such need. I tried to talk to him about it but I think there is always this parent/child relationship, that you want to protect your child, when you're functioning lucidly. Dad would share sometimes, often really, but I'm under no illusions about how much he must have missed Mom...and needed her.
On each leg of the trip delta thanked the veterans of our country, and especially any on our flights. They also handed out pieces of wrapped chocolate and led those of us on the aircraft in a round of applause. I am grateful for all who've served too. Thanks!
I also learned today that Mike, my brother, is having 7.5 hrs of surgery, with two surgeons, on his back. He's going to need lots of prayers!
I arrived home (Nashville) at almost 10 p.m. CST. It is wonderful to see my sweetheart again. He had brought Julio with him too and it was nice to have the company and catch up on the doings here and share what's happening with our little family in Alaska. But, we definitely had to stop and get a bite to eat at "Jack" before heading out of town. We were back home by 2:30 a.m. EST and finally dropped into bed by about 4...it's nice to be home!
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