I cannot, I CANNOT understand how I continue to do this with flights. It was right to get up at 4, but I should have had EVERYONE get up at 4. It wasn’t til we were leaving that Ethan or Mags said, “shouldn’t we be there by now?” That’s when it hit me and I pulled over to call Southwest Airlines. We headed back home where I saw I’d left some important items and saw there was a horrible accident on the street we would have been on. Maybe it was a good thing???
And then…at the airport. Get on the bus only to release…left the backpack in the car. <massive amounts of expletives> This is my life now. Kids willingly came back with me (we did the sight seeing tour on the bus) and di experience so much laughter. Maggie “ ‘Stanggang”… Me: ”what is that??” She is now the new family videographer of me…sends clips to her friends. These kids will ave SO much ammo when it comes to committing me.
The flight to San Diego was Mostly Filled, so kids and I had to sit apart on the flight. I don’t like that, so when we got o SD, I bought an upgrade and we were first ones on. $120 well spent – we were (after special needs) first one and got the first row. Leg room was glorious. Ethan had stayed up til 3 the night before so he could 
sleep on the planes, and sleep he did. Mags did her thing (watched downloaded seasons of ‘13 Reasons Why’ and I read Neil Gaiman’s “The Ocean at the End of the Road.” WHY am I not a writer?? I could DO this! I’m not saying I’m Gaiman, or anything remotely close, yet I know I’m a writer.
Our taxi driver was amazing. I couldn’t even understand her accent and knew it had been too long since Id lived in the South. Turns out she was from Ethiopia, which opened up a whole conversation on what it was like there. I‘d like to travel there…. The hotel is magnificent. Way different than what I was aiming for, and actually, I’m sad we didn’t stay in a little NOLA style place, but my sister wanted her hotel points. Bleh. Still, no Gideon Bible – FIRST place I’ve ever stayed in that didn’t have one – win/win. A little voodoo magic.
We walked around – apparently this hotel is in the center of everything (I fo
und out later). Homeless, impoverished people – it reminded me a great deal of the Tenderloin, and other parts of San Francisco. I felt at home. We dined at a restaurant in our hotel – Johnny was our waiter (from New Zealand), the food was DIVINE. Mags put it like this: her meal (the breading for the burger) was like a slice from the face of God). Then up to our room for some Farkle. The kids mentioned that if my friends saw me, they’d think I was on drugs. I responded – that’s why I love High Sierra Music festival – for 4 days I can be myself.” The next 5 minutes was silent as we were all caught up in that silent laughter where you can barely breathe. These are the moments I live for.
Pictures: Complimentary bus ride to the airport from economy parking; Southwest Airlines- They go to the Caribbean now!; Maggie; Dessert.
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