5:00 AM - Head to the airport (I think...I gained consciousness at the airport so I'm not entirely sure how I got there).
5:something AM - Check in, security, boarding. Check, check, check.
6:something AM - Try to load carry on into overhead compartment: *thunk* "Oh crap. Please God, let this go in." *cram* *shove* grunt* *stuff* *sweat* Success! After the entire plane has now watched the obsessive over packer who apparently needs to take all of her luggage with her ON the plane, I take me seat. Ahhhh...
7:30 AM(ish) - Arrive at DFW airport, or a space station...still not sure. Figured out you have to go upstairs and take a shuttle to the other side of the airport to get to my gate. Very interesting, I was quite entertaining figuring that out I must say. Thank God for a long layover. Found my flight on the monitor and which gate I was supposed to leave from. Then sleepily ordered some coffee and oatmeal and parked myself in a lounge chair to
9:35 AM(ish) - So, boarding time is 9:45 AM and I figured with my luck I'd better wait right there (after about THREE more potty breaks, that is - can anyone say air plane bathroom? AKA port-a-potty in the air, no thank you).
9:50 AM - They've not started calling groups for boarding...hrm, that's weird.
9:55 AM - Still nothing...there's not a lot of people over here...hrm...I better go ask what's up. Waited in line behind one guy for what felt like FOREVER...forget it, let me go check the monitor one more time even though I've checked it twice and I know I'm supposed to be at gate A28.
10:00 AM - HOLY CRAP!! MY GATE'S A20, NOT A28 - AND MY FLIGHT LEAVES IN 15 MINUTES! I calmly raced to my gate Home Alone style leaving a trail of trampled old women, children, and international travellers in my wake. As I approach my gate I hear "Final boarding call for Amanda Eisermann". THAT'S ME!!! I barely made it, sweating and breathing heavy. I don't know why everyone was staring...
1:30 PM(ish) - Arrive in Jacksonville and head to the rental car counter. Need a copy of my itinerary...oops. Go to the ticket office, get a copy (check). Find Brenda and squeal and hug and gab like I haven't seen her in years. Go back to rental counter. "Uh, miss. Do you have your new license?" "My what??" "Your license expired on the 30th" "S#!%" (that last one was just in my head) Thankfully, B was already there - let's roll!
Time is now irrelevant o'clock - We gabbed about how much we miss Mom and wish she could have come with me, news, and all kinds of mess. We had a light nosh, then a superb (and swanky) dinner. We strolled along the beach after wading through a festival full of drunken, brawling youth - I wanted to stay, but B wouldn't let me. After about 30 seconds I decided we need to move here, but trying to be a good Christian child, instead of instantly posting my resume and sending notice to my landlord, I prayed (repeatedly...aloud) that if God's will were for me to live near the ocean, I'm totally on board with that. :D
~xoxo Mandy
