Hello & Goodbye Minneapolis (Maybe)

Leg 2 – Minneapolis to JFK

            We arrived safely on the ground but getting off the plane was another story. It took much longer than normal. The time on my I Phone said 2:30 PM. Yikes! The connecting flight to JFK leaves at 3. Rushing off the plane and stopping in front of the Delta monitor to get gate information for flight 3426, I find it is C 22. The good news is we landed in C concourse, no problem. Wrong! The sign for gates C 1-28 points to a Tram. Seriously? It is now 2:47. At last the train arrives, I jump on and eventually the doors close. First stop is C 1-21 that means it’s the second stop – not the first. The clock is ticking!

Breathe deeply, get centered and know that there are no worries.  “Everything is as it should be at this moment, everything that happens to me is for my benefit” – my mantra for remaining calm. I arrive at the gate with one minute to spare, they scan my ticket and I rush on board to find my seat waiting. Who needs to eat anyhow? 

We are ready to depart for JFK when we slow down and return to the gate for a mechanical malfunction. Another tight connection awaits me in New York. If this problem cannot be quickly fixed can I possibly get off the plane and wait for the next flight to Heathrow from here? I know there is one in a few hours. The pilot said if it’s not repaired within five minutes he will let me off.  Now that’s amazing that he agreed to my frantic request.

The problem is fixed within a matter of minutes and we are airborne for the Big Apple, with a tail wind putting us there approximately 30 minutes ahead of schedule. Whooooope! I don’t have to worry about making my connection. No Food Again – Blimey! Can I survive on peanuts and water until dinner on the International Flight? The 1-1/2 year old baby next to me is called Blake – my maiden name. Now that makes me smile. J

Observations:

Specific esthetics for flight attendants no longer exists. They come in all shapes, sizes and ages.

Here, There and Where? London, Amsterdam, Aix en Provence – and all places in between

Leg 1 – Homer to Minneapolis

And thus, the European 2011 adventure began. The 6 AM flight to Minneapolis meant driving to Anchorage the day before and dropping off my #2 beloved VW (Meems) at the dealership. For months now the electrical unpredictability of the car starting or not starting has resulted in a multitude of battery jumps from people near and far. It’s always a mystery when turning the key if she will fire up or not. Meems needs a mechanical expert to clean out wiring installed by a novice former owner in hopes of having a remote starter in Phoenix.  Really? Alaska, maybe? But, seriously - Arizona? Regardless, the issue needs to be resolved so that all the extras such as electric windows, seats, door locks and cruise control (not to mention a reliable ride) once again function, as they should.

The trip originated in Homer with the 220-mile drive north arriving in Alaska’s largest city around 4:00 PM - the onset of rush hour traffic. Two stops were necessary along the way – one to purchase an over done, dried out beef hot dog with mustard (two bites max, no bun), a diet coke and a $2.75 naval orange, apparently from the Garden of Eden at that price. This was just enough to ward off any hunger pangs that might otherwise cause an eating frenzy of all things junk, if the urge was not satisfied early on. The second stop was for more petrol – at $4.24/gallon, $30 should have done it. Realizing my calculations are based on the $3.79/gallon price from a few months back, obviously more was required.

In Anchorage I arrive at the dealership to find them waiting for me. Time to call my friend Judy to see if staying over at her place tonight was an option, but she is not answering. The courtesy van driver is knocking off work in a few minutes so a ride anywhere means right now. Fifteen minutes later Judy pulled into her driveway to find a large blue bag, a yellow backpack and yours truly on the porch. No problem, the guest room is ready. With a 6 AM departure flight the taxi to Anchorage International will be around 4:45 AM tomorrow morning with my internal alarm clock activating no later than 4:00.

The road trip to Anchorage provided insight into the days to come. Stepping out of my comfort zone will hopefully clear the winter cobwebs from my head, allowing space for renewed inspiration and creativity.  The journey will first take me to London where the English language will be welcomed and the signs are readable. The routing is a 5.5 hour flight to Minneapolis connecting to another Delta flight for 3 hours to JFK, a short stay there and then 7 more hours across the Atlantic. The arrival in the UK means clearing customs, changing money and following email directions to the Blue Piccadilly tube that will eventually lead me to Amy’s Holloway neighborhood (my friend from NYC currently living in London) and a bed for the night. Of course it will be early morning so a day exploring will probably override any idea of napping. The ability to sleep on a plane is definitely an advantage in minimizing otherwise serious jet lag.

Saturday evening we will go to Gatwick Airport for an Easy Jet flight to Amsterdam, follow more directions from the airport leading us to what looks like a lovely B&B located on the only working canal in the City, with a huge park across the street and a local pub next door. Both excitement and confusion will distract me for the next few weeks. The challenge to stretch myself into the void of the unknown is, in a strange way intoxicating.  I imagine myself growing in this process of discovery.  Let the mind be free to wander and explore the new, embracing all things fully with the sensory orifices of taste, touch, see, smell & hear.

Grabbing a USA Today newspaper for the flight, I read about the death of a childhood icon and my mother’s favorite movie star, Elizabeth Taylor – a life well lived, indeed. Reading about her I was struck with the similarities of my own approach to life - love hard and passionately, take life as it comes, do what you want, and don’t worry about what anyone else thinks in the process. Our major difference is that I’m not a famous star (really?), my eyes are blue not violet and I am not voluptuous.

I am writing this on our approach to Minneapolis where I will board the next flight of my journey. Stay tuned for the tales of Europe 2011 as told by a forever wanderlust. The only thing missing are five cocker spaniels and a hound dog named Zippy. To be continued. . .

Observations:

Boarding passes are no longer in envelopes with the written gate number

There is no gate information – you’re on your own to seek out the monitor

There is no baggage fee for my one checked bag

Security is easy – I wasn’t violated in any way

Snow on the ground in Minneapolis