Tuesday, July 17, 2007

The trip, the airport, the security, the flight...

(Part IV)

After being passed through security, the next endurance feat was to find my gate. I know from the statistical data I accumulated that day, in the comments of fellow travelers, that it is a known travel fact that from whatever point you start, you are irrationally distant from your needed destination in an inversely proportional degree based on the factors of the discomfort of your shoes, the number of things to lug, and the numbers of people between you and said destination. It's a known and well exercised fact by airports.

For example, I had concluded security check through at point A. My gate was at point F. There were, according to the signs, 5000 ft between myself at point A and destination at point F. The easy solution was the train, but apparently the 268,421 people who had arrived with me at curbside also wanted to ride the train. Ergo, I estimated that my smart and oh so appropriately comfortable sandals would do me in good stead for those 5000 ft between points A and F.

Second known travel fact is that your most comfortable shoes in the world cannot possibly retain their comfortability once passing the 3,416 ft mark while dodging luggage, strollers, bystanders, and bearing up under your own carry on weight. And have I mentioned yet the still appalling lack of caffeine duress that my body was under? Apparently the Starbucks was also somewhere near point F.

The trek began and though sans the sled dogs, I did envision myself somewhat like an adventurer of the Iditarod. I set before myself the green and brown vision of a Mocha Frappucino and proceeded to make tracks. Four train stops necessitated key self defensive moves, rivaled only by Neo in the Matrix, to keep from being trampled by the riders who seemed to launch out of the doors--although it was probably the release of pressurization that simulated this effect when the doors opened, as a consequence of being packed in like kippered herrings. Eight sets of moving walkways successfully negotiated without falling flat on my face--lean forward, lean forward--and two escalators finally brought me to point F.

Third known travel fact is that even after you have arrived at the first point of your destination, the gate numbers around the letter ARE important and must be considered before getting on an actual plane. These numbers are also mitigated in distance from where you currently are according to previously stated variables. For example, if your gate is 42, you will have to follow the sign that says, "Gates 31 through 45". And so I did.

Dear readers, this is where the wave of known travel facts turned pleasantly in my direction. Guess what was right next to, lo, even across from the blessed and beloved gate 42?

Starbucks!

I have goosebumps in the retelling. There was never anywhere in the world a Mocha Frappucino that tasted quite so cold, so frothy, so coffee-y, so chocolatey, soooooo good. I've had the best, and all others from here on out will pale in comparison.

To speed things up in this neverending saga (I only fly every two years or so, therefore I must wring out the details), my flight was delayed almost two hours. I missed my connecting flight and repeated the above trek through a bigger than Texas airport trying to make my rebooked connection. I did ultimately arrive at the Bible conference.

From there, things could only get better and they did. I'll share some of those jewels later in the week.

14 comments:

  1. What a lovely gift you were provided with a Starbucks at your gate!!!

    You are cracking me up!

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  2. Like an oasis in a desert, huh? Mmmmm, Starbucks.

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  3. Thanks ladies, and apologies because when I checked the site tonight I realized that I had skipped ahead to Part IV. Part III is now up. I need a nap.

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  4. Thanks ladies, and apologies because when I checked the site tonight I realized that I had skipped ahead to Part IV. Part III is now up. I need a nap.

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  5. Ohhh, I'm so relieved there was a happy ending! Blessings on you and I can't wait for the jewels later this week.

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  6. Ohhh, I'm so relieved there was a happy ending! Blessings on you and I can't wait for the jewels later this week.

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  7. Forgive me for laughing, but these were just so funny! At least you are able to laugh rather than cry over it all. I have not had opportunity to fly since that fateful 9-11, and I'm not too upset by that fact. But my husband has often, and he has some stories to tell, as well!

    I'm glad the conference was well worth all the effort of getting there, and I'm looking forward to what you will share.

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  8. Forgive me for laughing, but these were just so funny! At least you are able to laugh rather than cry over it all. I have not had opportunity to fly since that fateful 9-11, and I'm not too upset by that fact. But my husband has often, and he has some stories to tell, as well!

    I'm glad the conference was well worth all the effort of getting there, and I'm looking forward to what you will share.

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  9. Catching up after being at VBS all last week...and loving this saga! I'll just say I'm feeling mighty thankful that my city's airport is just a little two-concourse thing where "Gate 6" is at the faraway end!

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  10. Catching up after being at VBS all last week...and loving this saga! I'll just say I'm feeling mighty thankful that my city's airport is just a little two-concourse thing where "Gate 6" is at the faraway end!

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  11. I just read the events prior to your trip, I'm so sorry, but it was so funny. I have not been to the airport in many years. I can see that is can be an experience. I have to catch up on reading your blog. Hope you had a wonderful trip.

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  12. I just read the events prior to your trip, I'm so sorry, but it was so funny. I have not been to the airport in many years. I can see that is can be an experience. I have to catch up on reading your blog. Hope you had a wonderful trip.

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