No Job, No Car, No Problem!

It's Too Foggy To See Clearly

I’m going to Boregon for Christmas, already knowing that I will yet again be the only single person in the family.  I call Oregon ‘Boregon’ because to me, it is the most boring place on earth.  My parents moved to Oregon about five years ago.  It’s nice there but it’s certainly not my home, nor will it ever be.  Plus their house is in the dead center of a hundred acre parcel.  Spotting a telephone pole, much less finding a man, is virtually impossible.  Though leave it to my parents to have a young gentleman show up to church and conveniently know all about me.

The airport is packed, as usual.  It’s a mob scene squeezing in and out of disoriented travelers and guards with machine guns and dogs that sniff your luggage.  It will take me eight hours to get from San Diego to Oregon because I bought the cheapest ticket I could find with two layovers.  But it’s the holidays and I only get to see my family once or twice a year so it will be worth the wait.  In addition, my younger sister and brother in law are expecting their first baby.  She beat me to the altar and now beat me to the baby.  And wouldn’t you know this very first grandchild of the family is due on my very own birthday, three days after Christmas.  I thought my birthday used to be looked over!

My first flight is on a small plane that seats twenty four people.  I’m, of course, all the way to the back.  How do I always get the awful seats as much as I fly for work?  Too bad there isn’t an option to upgrade when the aircraft is this small.  Thankfully I’m warm inside after having a couple beers while waiting in the airport bar.  Now I’ll be able to sleep the whole way.  I find my seat and make myself comfortable, plugging my headset into my ears.  I breathe, sit back and close my eyes, trying to escape the hecticness of people and bags loading onto the plane all around me.  Eyes closed I try to concentrate on my breathing.  In through your nose, out through your mouth.  I’m really ready for that long awaited nap, if only everyone would hurry up and get on.  But within moments I sense quite a bit of commotion going on next to me.  I open my eyes and gaze at a young kid, maybe 22 or 23, cramming his entirely over packed suitcase into the overhead compartment.  He’s sweating a bit and cursing.  His suitcase is ripping at the seams and one wheel is missing.  Apparently he thinks physically beating the bag is going to help it fit in there.  Giving up he takes a seat next to me.  “Hi” he says, “I’m Rob.”

Oh no, a talker.  I cannot stay awake on planes for the life of me.  I don’t know if it’s something in the circulation or in my head but the minute the engine starts I am out.  Now this guy is going to talk?  “Hi there, I’m Jenny.  You sitting here?” as I motion to the seat next to me.

“Yup that’s my seat.  How are you doing tonight?”

“Fine, thanks” I say smiling politely.  “I don’t want to be rude so I’m going to warn you.  I have the worst time staying awake on flights.  You are likely someone that likes to chat on planes so please don’t be alarmed should my head drop and next thing you know I’m drooling on your shoulder.”

“I won’t be alarmed, I’ll be flattered.”  Rob pops in his own headphones and I fall immediately fast asleep.

One hour later we are in Los Angeles.  The LAX airport has got to be one of the most confusing landing fields on the planet.  There are terminals every which direction and never am I given enough time to get from one flight to the next.  Looking at my watch I can see I have about twenty minutes to get to my next departure…figures I’m at the back of the plane.  Quickly de-boarding and hopping on the shuttle bus, I see the young guy that was next to me, standing slightly behind me.  “Where are you heading?” he asks.

“Oh hi, it’s you again.  I’m going to Oregon to see my family.  A little pushed for time on this layover.”

“Really?  I’m heading to Oregon too.  I’m going to see my grandparents.  They are old as dirt but I want to spend a Christmas with them because you never know when it will be their last.  Are we on the same flight?”