We were up at six for a quick shower and the short walk to the airport where we checked in by 7:00.  The Delta employees didn’t show up until 7:30.  We processed through customs AGAIN having to declare all over again everything we just declared yesterday.  I declare!

And what’s with me and metal detectors?  I have to strip down to my underwear before they let me go through.  (Later I learned that it was the metal in-step supports in my shoes that kept triggering the alarm.)  I have all my film in a separate bag to assure that it doesn’t get zapped by their x-rays, but that means the attendants have to open every single canister of film.  Takes forever!

We made it on the 9:25 flight, and we are both seated in first class!  Andy LIKES first class.  Shoot.  Two our of the three times he has ever flown, he has been on first class.  But it was my first time, so he explained it all to me:  how we get our headphones for the movie free of charge, how the table unfolds out of the armrest, how we will have a choice of meals, how they cover your tray table with cloth tablecloths and give you cloth napkins, and how they feed you so many drinks that you have to go to the bathroom three times during the flight.

It was a beautiful clear day for flying.  We got a good view of Puerto Rico and the Bahamas.  Andy even spotted a nuclear submarine cruising on the top of the water.

The in-flight movie from St. Thomas was “Michael.”  You know, the one where John Travolta plays an unlikely angel.  Chick movie.  I think all they are allowed to show on these flights are chick movies.   Well, the movie was worth watching for one line:

John Travolta, the angel, says, “Remember what John and Paul said.”
William Hurt replies, “The Apostles?”
“No, the Beatles:  All you need is love.”

As we walked down the jetway from the plane, Andy exclaimed, “There’s Mom and Will!” which didn’t make any sense at all to me, but there they were.  They had already missed two flights, the one at 11:15 last night and one at noon today.  They had to find a hotel at 1:00 a.m.  This is turning out to be the Atlanta airport vacation after all!  Better on the way back and miss work than on the way there and miss the boat.  Next flight is 3:50 for Little Rock.

The Atlanta airport seems to be full of people.  They are asking for volunteers on all the flights.  We may be here for a while.

Well, Sarah and Will have left us again!  Andy is really discouraged, says he hates flying stand-by.  Next flight is 7:15.  I think we will have a good chance on this one and probably a for-sure at 11:15.  Andy has read 148 pages of his new book since last night.  These flight delays are good for his education!
I was sure glad Sarah and Will made it.  Even Will was getting tired of waiting in airports.

Well, we were left standing again at 11:15 p.m.  We were too surprised since they were begging for volunteers pretty quickly.  Airports are pretty depressing places at midnight after you have missed your third flight of the day.  I stopped by the main ticket desk where the agent suggested we try Dallas in the morning.  Her logic was that there’s a flight that leaves every hour for Dallas increasing our chances.  Then the afternoon flight from Dallas to Little Rock has seats available.

Waiting outside for the shuttle Andy and I noticed the eclipse of the moon.  Quite a sight!  The nearly full moon was nearly completely eclipsed by the earth shadow.   We arrived at the Holiday Inn North about 12:15 and got settled in for another night away from home.

End - Day Twelve - Motherofallvacations Vacation