January 8, 2004
Dear Everyone:
Greetings upon the New Year.
Christmas at Mother’s up in
We left my place and drove to the off-airport parking lot and got to Terminal 2 in plenty of time. Good thing, too, because the line to check our bags was (literally) out the door. In fact, we had to check our bags before we could get inside to check ourselves in.
Once we were checked in and had our boarding passes, we had to go outside again to get into another line to go through security. (Terminal 2 was designed for a less-security-conscious time. Terminal 1 has the luxury of a long gallery to accommodate the new security measures. It was originally intended to display artwork and designer cars.)
Once through security, and after putting shoes back
on and so forth, we looked for a gift shop to buy the morning paper.
While I was looking for the paper, I spotted a tote bag for sale.
It was large and yellow with a “heart”
So I dug out my wallet and got out my credit card and bought the bag and the paper. Then we got out of the shop because it was very crowded with people. Once out of the shop, I stopped to put the credit card back in my wallet. As long as I was doing that, I decided to replace my driver’s license at the same time.
I have one of those vinyl pouches that hang around your neck, with a clear pocket to show your photo ID, and a slot to hold your boarding pass. Only problem is, I hate having things hanging around my neck, so I want to take it off as soon as possible. So, after the gift shop, I took my license out of the holder and put it back in my wallet.
So far, so good. While we had to check in at Terminal 2, our flight actually left from Terminal 1, so we loped along the tunnel that connects the two terminals and found our gate. It was conveniently close to a pizza stand which, at the hour, was selling bagels and other breakfast stuff. I took out my wallet to get money to pay for breakfast, and that’s when I noticed that my license wasn’t in the clear slot where it should have been.
We checked the new bag, checked my purse, shook out the jacket and checked all possible pockets. No license. So we headed back to Terminal 2, scanning the carpet all along the way, until we were once again outside the gift shop. I asked if anyone had turned in a driver’s license. The shopkeeper said no and suggested I try the information booth directly across the way.
While we were standing in line at the information booth, I decided to check everything again. It wasn’t in the purse pocket where the wallet goes. I opened the wallet again to prove that the clear slot was, indeed, empty. That’s when I noticed that I couldn’t see the credit card I had used either. It should have been in the last slot.
The last slot was deeper than the others. The top of the credit card didn’t show above the edge. When I looked deeper in the last slot, there were the credit card and the driver’s license, nestled together. I had slid the license in along with the credit card without thinking.
Crisis averted.
We walked the long tunnel back to Terminal 1 again and finally
sat down and got some breakfast.
Our plane was on time.
The flight was fine, just a little bit bumpy as we approached
Once inside the airport, we had a spot of lunch, knowing that “Marshall’s” flight wouldn’t arrive for a bit. Then down to baggage claim to wait for “Marshall” and my dear old friend from high school who had agreed to ferry us from and to the airport.
That’s as exciting as it got. Christmas was nice and comfortable. Evening Mass was very convenient, since we only had to walk down the hall from Mother’s apartment to the chapel balcony. “Jeannie” and “Marshall” arranged for “Christmas Dinner in a Box”, so fixing dinner was a breeze.
We even had the traditional Christmas Eve Dinner at a Chinese Restaurant, with a couple of Mother’s friends along for the fun of it. And, apparently, our tradition has caught on. We were surprised to find the restaurant quite full.
The day after Christmas we all went for a wee bit of shopping. And the day after that my friend took us back to the airport. And for the first time, I actually wore my jacket. Not because it was cold, but because it had finally started to rain.
Except for our flights being slightly delayed, the return trip was uneventful. I was beginning to think we might have gotten all the way through Christmas without something disastrous happening. Something always happens at Christmas time; but this year it looked like we dodged the bullet.
Until I woke up Sunday morning with the beginnings of a nasty cold. “Jeannie”, too. So my vacation week after Christmas was spent coughing and sneezing and not doing any of the things I’d planned to do.
When I called Mother to wish her a Happy New Year, she didn’t recognize my voice. “It’s me!” I wheezed. “Your little flower!”
Nevertheless, we survived another Holiday Season. My cold is much better. Things are starting to pick up at work, after a slow start. “Jeannie’s” new computer arrived, although she doesn’t plan on getting a formal introduction until the weekend after this.
So, Happy New Year, Everyone!
Love, as always,
Pete
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