Over 33 hours, four states and two continents I cried approximately nine times in public. In airports, actually, very busy and densely crowded airports. Not the mild, twinge of sadness kind of cry, but the gasp for air, slightly choking kind of pity sob that attracts attention in such places as very busy airports.
I went home for the holidays, back to America - land of the free and home of the delayed departure. The phrase 'due to weather' ravaged my brilliantly constructed itinerary and threatened to ruin perhaps the greatest surprise of my life: surprising my Mom for Christmas with a homecoming from Africa. I narrowly escaped the Detroit airport five hours before it closed and spent the night with 50 of my newest friends in the Minneapolis airport after we were thrice denied The Good Life 'due to weather.'
I suppose distance makes the heart grow fonder, but international flights just make it act irrationally. I was begging, praying and bargaining with the Gods and/or NWA officials to get me home and 13 hours after my scheduled arrival I was in Omaha, along with the freaking cold weather, ice and snow. Not quite life as I've known it on the equator, but it looked pretty good to me.
So I made it, baggage and all. And my Mom was surprised, only because we lied shamelessly to keep the secret. But it was a perfect trip home, and maybe I even appreciated it more due to the weather.
Happy New Year to Everyone!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Oh Maggie, When do i get to hear the wonderful detailed version? Specifically EXACTLY how you surprised your mom and her reaction? You've been talking about it for so long I need to know how it went!
Post a Comment