Air Travel Nuances

I have no idea how business folks and rock stars do it.

I got up early to make my 6:45AM flight to do the wedding (which was both beautiful and fun...I'm a sucker for weddings anyway, but Liz was beautiful and Matt was excited and funny). I got at the security gate 45 minutes in front of the flight, which is usually plenty of time...but, in a cosmic payoff of sorts, I got in line behind...

...a church youth group.

They were traveling to New Mexico to work with World Changers (they do work in low-income housing areas making basic home repairs and such). Somehow they got in a special line and got priority. All of a sudden I've become highly sensitive to making sure my teens have their shoes off and all sorts of security-clearing "tricks" that speed up the process. This youth minister had no clue. Made the flight with ease nonetheless.

Landed and had to do yardwork...been gone for a week and some things just gotta be done.

Got to the wedding which was longer than most...loaded with worship songs and such...and I didn't get to stay long at the reception.

The Juarez mission team got back in there and I got to see a few of the vans (buses didn't get back in time) unload. Mission accomplished. I'll post photos when folks send them to me.

I was about two hours in front of my flight. 15 minutes after I got to the gate the departure gate changed. From A-35 to C-39. If you know anything about DFW, that's about a mile long haul. I decided to walk it about halfway and grab a bite to eat, and instead of waiting for the little travel carts (all of which seemed full of people that actually needed to ride them--elderly, injured and the like) I just walked the rest of the way.

Once there...you got it...another gate change. This time to D-23. Again, if you're familiar with DFW, this will involve a quarter-mile walk to get catch the little skyway tram which let us out directly at the gate so it wasn't too bad.

Then the unloading and re-loading of the plane. Thanks to Bonnie I was in the exit aisle and had the door opening responsibility if things go haywire. The flight attendant asked me if I was up to the challenge--I assured her I had it covered--but she asked me to read the instructions in my safety manual. I pulled it out of the pocket with her watching me and I gave that the exact same level I give the seat-belt/emergency-exit schpiel they give. My seat cushion can be used as a flotation device even though they'd have to make a special effort to water-land in the Mississippi river to apply that little bit of information. My friend Bonnie also made sure the only empty seat on the plane was right next to me. Beautiful.

Read my pre-season football magazines brought along especially for that purpose. Sporting News picked Auburn 3rd. Athlon picked Auburn 9th. Athlon's looks more reasonable if you're asking me.

Uneventful flight into Birmingham. Car drive back to mom's house.

Got up this morning and made a Krispy Kreme run. It's nice to be back in a land where such shops are within a 15 minute drive of wherever you happen to be. Flipped through the Sunday paper over coffee...and Mom woke up in a good mood and was chatty so I visited with her a while.

But, I'm exhausted. Again, I don't know how business-minded folk and rock stars do this...and I don't even have anything really to do today.

And, to top it all off, my good friend & co-worker Dave's dad passed away quietly this morning in Missouri so he's up there now working with the family to make arrangements.

So, I'm exhausted and kinda bummed. I miss MY family. I'll try to recover and be more chipper tomorrow. I'm not a business-minded person or a rock star, nor do I have a desire to be either right now.