transatlanticism
Oy. I went to the States for a week, and now I'm back. I took no pictures, but if I had, I could show you that my littlest sister is officially taller than I am now. Where was I when that happened? (Oh yeah, playing songs on my guitar.) (I mean, oh yeah, in Germany.)
(If you don't get it, I'm not explaining it. The only explanation is the 23 hours of traveling I just did. Which I'll explain below.)
So yeah. Grace graduated, and I went back to see her senior ballet recital, which is more important than high school graduation. The recital was a terrific show, largely due to the combined talents of the younger two Peterson sisters. And I spent some quality time with my family and some old friends, and also eating some good food. And I drove for the first time (first few times, actually) in 2007. (Also the first time since last September, but the former sounds more dramatic.)
Anyway. The week went quickly, and then I got back on the plane in South Dakota and we took off at 11:00 am Central Time. I got to Minneapolis, waited around a while, got on the plane, everything's beautiful. We were delayed starting because of water. Never really caught how or where, but water and the plane and a problem. But only like half an hour delayed.
The guy next to me was nice, but became less pleasant over the following 20-odd hours because he 1) couldn't keep his elbow off my side of the armrest, even though I ceded him the entire armrest due to his larger size, 2) sniffled and wheezed, and 3) made comments like, "Well, looks like we got some clouds." Strangers who make comments like that are not people I like to travel with. Unfortunately, my seatmate apparently decided that, based on the fact that we were both Americans headed to Berlin, we are buddies. My new buddy sought me out everywhere--upon landing, takeoff, transfer, baggage claim--to make more comments on the order of the above meteorological statement. I think he is lonely. But I still didn't want to be buddies with him. I was too tired.
I was tired because the trip took six hours longer than it should have, because somewhere over Canada the pilot told us that an engine was vibrating, and not good vibes, and we were going to stop in Detroit and switch planes. It took about an hour and a half to get down to Detroit, and then a while to switch people and luggage to the other plane, and then we took off around 10:00 pm Eastern Time.
But when we got to Amsterdam, they had new connecting flights all sorted out for us, so I just had to sleepwalk myself to the right gate and then off the plane in Berlin and then onto the bus and then onto the U-bahn. And then to my apartment. But the weather is wonderfully summery and hot here, and I took a shower that rates high on the list of Best Showers of My Life, and I ate some food, and life is good again.
I miss the family now, but am looking forward to the last month or so I have here before heading back to see what else I can think of to do with my life. At the moment, I will settle for doing laundry.
(If you don't get it, I'm not explaining it. The only explanation is the 23 hours of traveling I just did. Which I'll explain below.)
So yeah. Grace graduated, and I went back to see her senior ballet recital, which is more important than high school graduation. The recital was a terrific show, largely due to the combined talents of the younger two Peterson sisters. And I spent some quality time with my family and some old friends, and also eating some good food. And I drove for the first time (first few times, actually) in 2007. (Also the first time since last September, but the former sounds more dramatic.)
Anyway. The week went quickly, and then I got back on the plane in South Dakota and we took off at 11:00 am Central Time. I got to Minneapolis, waited around a while, got on the plane, everything's beautiful. We were delayed starting because of water. Never really caught how or where, but water and the plane and a problem. But only like half an hour delayed.
The guy next to me was nice, but became less pleasant over the following 20-odd hours because he 1) couldn't keep his elbow off my side of the armrest, even though I ceded him the entire armrest due to his larger size, 2) sniffled and wheezed, and 3) made comments like, "Well, looks like we got some clouds." Strangers who make comments like that are not people I like to travel with. Unfortunately, my seatmate apparently decided that, based on the fact that we were both Americans headed to Berlin, we are buddies. My new buddy sought me out everywhere--upon landing, takeoff, transfer, baggage claim--to make more comments on the order of the above meteorological statement. I think he is lonely. But I still didn't want to be buddies with him. I was too tired.
I was tired because the trip took six hours longer than it should have, because somewhere over Canada the pilot told us that an engine was vibrating, and not good vibes, and we were going to stop in Detroit and switch planes. It took about an hour and a half to get down to Detroit, and then a while to switch people and luggage to the other plane, and then we took off around 10:00 pm Eastern Time.
But when we got to Amsterdam, they had new connecting flights all sorted out for us, so I just had to sleepwalk myself to the right gate and then off the plane in Berlin and then onto the bus and then onto the U-bahn. And then to my apartment. But the weather is wonderfully summery and hot here, and I took a shower that rates high on the list of Best Showers of My Life, and I ate some food, and life is good again.
I miss the family now, but am looking forward to the last month or so I have here before heading back to see what else I can think of to do with my life. At the moment, I will settle for doing laundry.
Labels: travels
ha, i love your stories Lo! "Best Showers of your life", hehe, i know that feeling.
I wanna hear more, talk to you soon
Posted by
Mary Horning |
6:35 PM