Busy Time

Well, we are home..busy 12 days, but enjoyed them all. I will not speak of all of them today as they are too precious to cram into one blog. Instead I will say that Bill and I probably suffered less than anyone with out marathon trip home. It wasn't as bad as it could have been. I now know to turn on my phone before I leave the last bed I slept in. If I had checked my messages we would not have left Amy's house and the first frustration would have been eleminated. When we decided to fly into Lawton instead of OKC, that made me feel better because at least Doug wouldn't have so far to go after a long night umpiring behind the plate. We spent some extra time with Amy and Rachel and then I got really antsey and just wanted to be at the airport before the rains began again and they could drive home in sunshine.
We spent a long afternoon at the Philly airport because Dallas had such bad storms the planes couldn't leave there. When we finally were boarded onto an overfull plane we knew there would be no chance of catching the Lawton connection, but we just wanted to get as close as we could. Arriving at DFW at nearly midnight and one of the last planes to land for the night, the kind people offered cots and a blanket. There were hundreds stranded, but as it is such a big airport, it seemed almost deserted. They were doing construction on the restrooms near us, which caused two problems. One was that it was a long way to walk to find one and the other is the construction guys that are doing demolition were taking it away in giant rubbermaid buckets they rolled over the tiles down the corridor. Why didn't we move? Couldn't tell you...herd instinct I guess. Don't want to move from the last place you felt safe. AND, there was a Starbucks just next to us that was to open at 4:30 am...no food or drink or water to be found. Like being on a desert with a fence around the only oasis to be seen. Starbucks don't open until 5:30am.
Oh, well. People were all nice and we all helped each other out.
They posted the wrong terminal and gate for the Lawton departure, but we figured it out soon enough that everyone waiting for that flight finally found their way to the right gate. No luggage when we arrived home, but it was brought to us by afternoon and that was nice. So it all turned out well and restored my faith in humanity.
Next time it will be direct to Newark if possible so I can take the train and not have anyone making that long trip to the airport in Philly.
Thank one and all for a great trip. The girls at the shop for holding down the fort, for Doug for transporting and helping at the shop, Amy for the many trips to Philly, Tim for his great hospitality, the girls for their presence, Amy, Tim, Rachel and Joey for just loving us enough to let us intrude on their lives. It was a wonderful trip and much enjoyed. More on the details later.