Up in the Air

Thursday, November 4th, MDW to TPA -   Take off in beautiful sunrise in Chicago.  Cold at Fort De Soto and at Sailport - warmer in Chicago. Loud screeching music at Whiskey Joe's - stay out of there after 8 and on Saturday.  Good annual meeting. Good to see Jill - too many Cosmos (not the best). Met awesome new people from Georgia and Illinois at the pool. SWA and Tampa airport are great.  Love spending time with my sister.  Brother in law with extra drink coupons: priceless.

Monday, November 8th, TPA to MDW - Sad news in A.M..  A favorite aunt has passed away at 93.  Tampa finally warms up to bid me goodbye. Aisle seat - my favorite.  Great views from the Orange Line on my way home.  157 bus to my door.  Great bus driver - actually waited for me to unload my bag.  Two hour rest before the opera.  That was an opera ? Bad music, not much singing, just talking and a big headed lady in front of me.  At intermission the big haired lady and half the audience left the building.  Second act not quite as bad - glad we stayed.

Thursday, November 11, ORD to EWR - AAdvantage air miles, first class - great trip (seatmate who didn't want to talk).  Beautiful color in New Jersey - shuttle ride to Chatham a breeze.  Stayed with old friends -50+ years - we can take up as though no time has passed.  Wake for my aunt.  Hundreds of people - what a tribute to a life well lived.  Many cousins not seen in years, daughter and family, nieces from Cape Cod.  At least 6 "you look JUST like your mother" comments from old friends and neighbors.  One hour wait for a burger at Charley's Aunt - bah.  15 year old grandson nails friends' golf ball balancing globe in about 15 minutes.  Glass of wine with good friends and "good night".  The funeral on Friday was dignified, moving and perfectly fitting for the gentle woman who was my aunt.  Typical after funeral party for our family.  Celebrate life, not death.

Saturday, November 13, EWR to ORD.  Beautiful sunshine, just as the previous two days, smooth ride to EWR.  Damn  AA baggage fees.  Too tired to carry on the big one - so suck it up. flight on time - a whole row to myself.  $7.00 for a Bloody Mary - are you kidding?  Arrived on time, bag waiting, train waiting, bus waiting.  Made it home in record time with no glitches.  At home - foggy, cold and damp. Husband with  bad stomach flu symptoms - really bad- wish I had been here. Glad I was at the funeral.

 And now.........................

We have three days to pay our taxes, do our banking business, make dish for faux Thanksgiving with family, enjoy family on Sunday, pack bags, go to the opera on Monday ( this will be a REAL opera). Batten down the hatches here on Tuesday for a month away.

Wednesday, November 16th, MDW to TUS.  I will need my month in the sun to recover from the last 9 days of travel. 

George Clooney - you can have it.

P.S.  I know why the SWA flights were all full and the AA flights half empty - but that's another story for another day after I recover.