I was up, showered, and finishing my blog from the day before by the time Anneliese woke up. We wanted bagels for brunch, so we went to Manhattan, to Kossar's again (lower east side). There was a huge line and they ran out of Everything bagels before we got to order--very sad. We got our bagels and tea/coffee and ate part of them outside, then someone left the little window counter/table inside and we went back in to warm up and finish. I had a poppy seed bagel--it was very good. Then we noticed that the everything bagel bins were filled again, and we were still a little hungry, so we each had another bagel! (Turns out that was a bad decision, because we were uncomfortably full the rest of the day.) But you gotta love New York bagels!
Then we went to a museum gift shop where I wanted to get a few gifts for family. By then, we didn't really have time to go somewhere else to walk and we were really full, so we found a bench in a park to sit at and talk. We eventually moved our conversation inside a Starbucks to warm up and find a bathroom.
Then back to Anneliese's apartment for me to pack and prepare for my 9:15 flight. I had to leave around 6:15 to allow enough time to get to the airport on the Air Train and get through security.
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| A slightly blurry pic of Anneliese at the subway station on our way back to her apartment. |
When I got to the subway station to head to the airport, the train I needed was just sitting there! So I hopped on and was soon on my way to Howard Beach where I catch the Air Train. I got there and the wait for the Air Train wasn't bad either. Short line to check in to Sun Country, then to security. The signs said 30 minutes, so I checked my watch to see if that was true. We stood in one spot for a full 15 minutes, the line continuing to get longer. I couldn't see anyone actually going through the security lines. Then people appeared to open them up and we started moving. There were many staff, telling people to keep moving and the line kept moving! There was a dog sniffing, so we didn't have to take out anything from our bags and we got to keep our shoes on. So the security went rather quickly (yes, about 30 minutes total) and I got to my gate at 8:00. Boarding wasn't supposed to start until 8:15 and they always load first class and people with children and needing extra assistance first, so I knew I had awhile. I was finally hungry again after the morning's bagels, so I went to the only food place I saw and ate McDonald's. I saw someone else filling up their water bottle with water at the drink fountain and followed suit (the water tasted very good--probably filtered). Then I went to my gate--8:20 and no sign of a plane. It said that we were leaving at 9:00, but that didn't seem likely without a plane.
Finally around 9:00, the plane arrived and we started boarding. I was in row 5, seat D so I was near the end to board. I hoped that the airplane had three seats on each side so that I was on the aisle. I ended up having the whole row to myself! Seats D, E and F! The reason the plane was so late was because it had been delayed in Minneapolis from poor visibility due to snow. :( Well, we sat there a long time, rolled on to the tarmac, waited a long time. Then to another spot, and waited some more. We finally left around 10:00, eastern. As soon as the seat belt sign went off, I laid down and fell soundly asleep with my sweatshirt for my pillow. I woke up just before the captain announced that this was the time to use the bathroom or get up to stretch, so I used the bathroom before the seat belt sign went back on. I read until we landed at just after midnight, central time. Pulled out my bags, walked out and texted Randy. My text didn't go through, so I called and he came to pick me up. Arrived home to hug Joshua and give them gifts. Then, of course, I was still hyped up and rested from my nap, so I was up talking to Joshua and Randy and putting things away until about 2:00. Then I went to bed and set my alarm to wake up at 6:15. (Ugh)
It is always the same near the end, or at the end, of traveling, that you are filled with a mixture of looking forward to being in your familiar home with your things and comforts, but knowing that you will miss the freedom of your trip to create your own timetable and itinerary each day. I was filled with that feeling this entire day. As I drifted off, I was glad to be home, but missed the thought of sleeping in the next day without having an alarm and deciding how to best spend my day. I would miss talking to my daughter. She was wonderful to give up two of her weekends to spend time with me. Ah well, back to work tomorrow. I will continue my blog in June when we go to Romania.
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