Where to? I ask.
Maui, he says.
I don't even need to think about it.
Every trip has its own unique challenges and this one required the Asset's formidable skills in booking complicated flights. His flight needs to be on the current government contract carrier. Mine needs to be on the one with which he has most of his frequent flier miles. It took the two big P's, persistence and patience, to arrange flights that would both leave San Diego and arrive at our destination within a reasonably close time frame. And somehow he did it.
So the day arrives. We get up at zero-dark-thirty, after a night of clock watching on my part. The Asset has trained himself to sleep anytime, anywhere as part of his basic survival skills. He can simply fold his arms, nod his head, close his eyes, and sleep-breathing ensues.
But, try as I might, sleep eludes me the night before early travel, and this is no exception. As I finally get up and prepare to leave I remind myself that I have survived nights like this before and a trip to Hawaii in January is totally worth it. Domino, our black and white kitty, senses what's up and immediately hides under the bed. He absolutely hates traveling and is darn good at reading the signs. I get on my knees, cheek to carpet, and try to convince him he isn't coming on this trip and has nothing to fear. But it's no good. He remains an arm length away so I can't pet him goodbye.
We gather our pre-packed bags and wait in the dark at the curb for our Uber driver. He arrives quickly and is eager to help load our luggage. He makes small talk with an accent I can't place and we are soon on our way.
As we approach the airport the driver asks what terminal?
Well, both, actually, the Asset responds. Drop me at terminal one, and her at terminal two.
Two different terminals, this is a first for me, the driver states with some wonder.
For us, too, I mutter from the back seat.
The Asset hops out at his terminal and Uber Driver continues on with me. I can just go straight? he keeps asking, gesturing with his right hand.
Yes, I keep replying until I finally just say you can drop me here. He keeps asking are you sure?? and I keep answering yes until the car slows to a stop. He pulls my luggage out of the trunk, I thank him and I'm off. Why is it adventures so often begin in the dark of night when I am tired?
There are other firsts for me on this trip. This is the first time I have a laptop of my own that needs to go in a separate tray at security. (I figure this out by watching the woman ahead of me.) It is the first time I had my tummy patted down because I wasn't completely alert yet and picked the line with the radiation chamber and a yellow box appeared on my belly on the scan. It was just a little tummy rub, done by a female officer. Piece of cake compared with the full pat down/wand scan I was subjected to on another trip.
And (drum roll) I now have a smart phone. I grin as I show my boarding pass to the gate attendant by simply holding it up. Yup. I'm cool.
I wait at the gate until it comes time to board. I whip out my iphone, but I can't find my boarding pass. I search and search and it's just not there. So I get in line and when I get to the gate I practically whisper I can't find my boarding pass in here (holding up my phone) but it was just there a little while ago...
What is your name? he calmly asks. Thankfully I can remember my name and he finds me on his monitor and all is well. I mouth thank you! to him and board for the short leg of my journey, to the City of Angels.
I find my seat. We take off. And in a few short minutes we slip up to heaven. All of my harried-ness evaporates and I just can't turn my eyes away from the window. Above me, a fleet of cumulous clouds float gently, tall silver and alabaster ships sailing towards an unseen harbor. Below lies a thick, white blanket of soft, clean quilt batting, giving the illusion that the world below still sleeps.
And there, poised on tiptoe so their heads can rise above the shroud, stand the San Gabriel peaks, the mountains of my childhood, modestly draped in snow-white lace mantillas. All this beauty. So few eyes privileged to witness it. I feel blessed to be one. It becomes mesmerizing, and I am wistfull as we descend through the batting to land below.
While I wait at the gate at LAX, I manage to find my boarding pass - in the trash (how did that happen?) on my iphone. I simply leave it there, worried I might send it somewhere in the ether before I need it once more. When it is finally time to board, I do so with the calm demeanor of one who knows exactly how to manage her new electronic device.
I find my seat, heave my carryon into the bin above and slide my backpack under the seat ahead of me. The Asset booked me a window seat in Economy Plus and I smile. My knees don't touch the seat in front of me.
The plane is not full and the flight attendant offers upgrades for people in the back, for a price of course. The man sitting in the aisle seat and I simultaneously try to cover the empty seat between us. We smile like conspirators when no one claims it and we begin taxiing to the runway.
So we're out on the taxiway when suddenly the plane stops. We wait, and finally the pilate announces that someone in the tower noticed that the panel to one of our engines is hanging open and we have to wait to have it checked. We wait, and wait...A service truck drives over. What's happening? my seatmate asks.
There's a guy coming over...it looks like he has a screwdriver in his hand, I say as the man disappears behind the giant engine below my window.
Again we wait. Another truck pulls up, another man walks over.
Suddenly a panel covering a third of the giant engine slides open, revealing all these monkeys running on treadmills inside!
Okay, I couldn't resist. No monkeys. Pretty soon the panel closes and the pilot says we're good to go. Next stop, Maui.
