A Moveable Feast in September

September 12, 2010

20/20 Hindsight

Kaya, my seven-month old granddaughter, was still asleep when we left our son Mark's house for the airport. The day before was the last time I held her and tried to make her laugh by tickling her. Her slant “Chinesey” eyes sparkled as she gave a toothless laugh. I should have gone to her bedroom before leaving and kissed her goodbye—I recalled with regret. I wished to have taken a last look at her, to behold her face, serene in her sleep, because by the time I got back from this trip, she would be gone to another part of the world and then in a couple of weeks, to another part of the country. The next time I would see her would be years away and she may not remember me as the grandmother who tickled her to laughter.

            I also thought of Marisa and Gabriel, my two other grandchildren. I saw them lately and felt sure and content that I would see them again when I came back.

Oh well, some 20/20 hindsight.

September 12, 2010  

Day 1

The fifteen-day tour was actually only for thirteen days. The flight to the destination was Day 1 and the return flight was Day 15.

I was intent on arriving at the airport on time—two to three hours before departure. Security checks usually take a good amount of time. Carry-ons, purses, jackets, shoes, keys, anything metal, liquids, and gels that should not exceed three and a half ounces in each bottle, must pass through the X-ray machine. Security personnel could possibly pat you down. These checks are cumbersome, annoying, and yet these measures are for the passenger's own good and safety.

Our son Andy drove Ron and me to the airport and we got there at six thirty in the morning for our eight thirty flight to Philadelphia, where we'd catch our connecting flight to Lisbon. Only a few passengers were checking in at the time, so the process was short and smooth. We then proceeded to the departure gate and relaxed while waiting to board.

            Philadelphia was a five-hour flight from Seattle, with a two-hour wait for our connecting flight to Lisbon. My thoughts went to two different directions, figuratively going east and west. I thought of home while I mentally reviewed the checklist I had left with the children: check on the house, get the mail, things to do in case we lose our lives inflight. Then my thoughts shifted to the upcoming tour. How lovely it would be to see Portugal and Spain! But then, the "what ifs" came back to my mind.

We boarded on time and settled well in our seats. The flight attendants walked the aisles inspecting if everything was in place, carry-ons stowed, cellphones turned off, and seat belts fastened. I was also ready to fall back to sleep considering that I woke up at four in the morning, an unusual time for me to be up. Before I succumbed to a relaxed mode, I again recalled all the last instructions to my children. Did my list cover everything? Contact numbers, bank account numbers, what to do in case of emergency, books that I wanted to leave my children in case I don't make it back home, files of important papers, flash drives of my written stories, and other important information, watering the indoor plants, picking up mail, and so on. I had sat with them on what to do if in case we lose our lives in-flight or in any other place away from home. At my age, these things become a concern and I think about them—all the time. Sometimes I'd wished I was like the turtle, carrying his house on his back. As all these thoughts went through my mind, I heard the thunderous rumble of the plane's engine as it tried to gain speed in its ascent. Then the rumble changed to a drone as the plane steadily flew. I placed the pillow against the window, and covered myself with the fleece blanket and tried to catch sleep because I knew that in a couple of hours, the flight attendants would wake us up for snacks and drinks. Economy accommodation was not too bad, although the sitting position was a bit uncomfortable because there was not enough legroom for short people like me. I encouraged myself to relax and finally dozed off. Sleep would make the nine-hour flight seem short and it would drive away all the apprehensions I had, the what ifs. What if the we'd get lost at the Lisbon airport, what if the weather would not be good, what if we'd lose our luggage and we'd not have anything to wear or use, what if we our tour director won't be there, what if the other tour members were not friendly, what if, what if, and more what if.

We landed at Aeroporto do Lisboa, safely. What a relief!