Gate F79, Tampa Bay Airport

I was waiting in line in security, thinking whether to take out my laptop first, or my ziploc of cosmetics. The kind of troubles you face when you travel, and you never get used to. Or maybe it's just me. I think to myself whether, 30 years from now, I'll remember this feeling of routine as I go through the motion. Take out my shoes, my coat. Get my driver's license out, but remember to put it back in. Check out the gate I'm departing from before wandering off. Hearing the plane's engine as it pulls into the gate. Looking at people - blank stares, chatting on the phone, reading a book, sleeping.

Attention please, this is your final boarding call...

I travel a lot. Maybe not as much as some people at work, but definitely more than most people I know - family and friends included. Sometimes I ask myself, do I like to travel? And always the answer is yes. But sometimes, the yes is followed immediately by I'd like it better if I travel with family.

When I travel for work, I seldom get the chance to bring my family along. I actually kid myself. Only once did it happen that my family was with me, while I happen to be traveling for work, and that was when we traveled to Phoenix. I'd like for that to happen again, but it's not common and not inexpensive. And there's Gabriel's schedule to consider as well. So no, it doesn't happen often.

My plane just arrived and I look at the people getting out. Anxious, smiley, serious faces. Jeans, coat and tie, flip-flops and high heels. Strollers, wheelchair, elderly, teenagers. The business man, a family going home (or vacationing, I don't know really). People on the phone.

I'm so used to it now. It's common. But I wonder, will it be something I will miss when I travel no more?

Time to board. I'll see you soon.

Hanging at the FSD airport

Today of all days - I decided to go to the airport early to perhaps try my luck in getting an early flight out. Instead I was informed that the flight to Chicago was cancelled and that I have been re-routed through to Denver to my final destination, Dallas. I tried to disagree, but really, there was no other choice and she couldn't route me anywhere else. Like I said before, Sioux Falls is quite rural. If you miss the flight, then you stay the night. I wasn't up to staying another night here. No thank you.

Whoa! What was that? I have to check.

4 fighter planes (don't ask me to describe the body of the plane, but remember Top Gun? The rear of them planes looked exactly like those in the movie. Yeah, flames and all. And that's why I deduced those were fighter planes.) just flew out one after the other right outside terminal 5 of FSD. Definitely not commercial planes... the loud noise reverberated through the small airport.

Cool... I just saw a few birds flying in the direction that the planes took. And immediately the thoughts start whirring and I imagined if they could ever catch up. Nah.

Oh, by the way, I have confirmed trips for Philadelphia on the 25th of this month, and then tentatively flying to Tampa on Apr 3rd.

Gate 4, Flight 1342

I'm at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport waiting at the gate for my 6pm flight back home. I got here early in the off-chance that I may be able to catch an earlier flight, but none was available. So there's nothing else to do now but wait.

I have 40 minutes of waiting to do.

I just checked my work email, and it seems I have a million items to answer, so I'll attend to them and I'll blog back when I get to Dallas. Ciao.