Day 1
04/02/04- 3:30 in the morning and I'm thinking, "Damn!, I was just about to fall asleep!" The past couple of days of wondering if all the last minute parts and pieces will show up on the doorstep, the running around for the stuff that's immediately available and the obligatory covering of the usual responsibilities is behind me as I peer out the door into the dark morning. Bags are packed, sinuses are medicated and the shorts still fit. Let the day begin.
Airports love me and here's the secret- be a nice guy. Now that's not a behavior usually ascribed to this guy :hmm but showing up early, asking the poor schmucks behind the counter how their day is going and having a couple of ready $5.00 bills to ease their breakfast pangs will almost always get me through the lines. The poor bastard at the sidewalk took one look at this smiling mug, instantly assumed I wasn't a threat by my shorts and T-shirt advertising some obvious porn site, (Deeper Blue...wha?), and was very content to leave me to load the duffle and gun bag onto his cart whilst palming the above mentioned $5ski. Ahh, humanity.
Slipping the smile/mordida/stubby to the flight gal will also do you wonders on a plane seemingly packed with single mothers of wanking kids. "Aisle seat in the back where there's leg room, current reading and relative quiet?" No prob's sir. She called me Sir. :inlove
Humping over this expanse of real estate that is the States never fails to amaze me for the ignorance of the passengers aboard seemingly intent on just getting over on the airlines by asking for more peanuts and another gin and tonic. I'm busy looking out the window at Texas, where its all BIGGER and beef. Hey is'nt that the Mississippi, the Ol' Man? And there's the Gulf... ah the big Muddy. These are the reaffirmations of a public school education- the places you read about actually exist. "No more coffe thanks, but could I trouble you for a pillow?" all smiles in the friendly skies.
Airlines are like women... expect to be somewhere on time and you're sorely disappointed. Just show up and hang out and you'll get to where you're going whenever. My rear has been in this seat for six hours, another 45 minutes and I'm going to declare homesteading.
Exit the aluminum phlying phallus smack into the humid warmth that is Florida- land of flat land, flat water and endowed women, several of which immediately take offense at my introducing myself and offering my services. Must be the airplane hair... And dere's the Cuban !! Aquiles has elected to just do laps outside rather than donate to the parking lot fund and he's as short and ear- impaired as before. It's wonderful that some things don't change. He's accompanied by a young women of no small appeal and bust and leaves me to load my bags after seenig the wheels on the cart sagging under the weight of things necessary to get to the bottom of things. Good springs.
A quick shoveling of some local fare into the grill and the promise of Sun, Surf and Sven is the last thing I remember before becoming one with the couch. See you tomorrow.