Big Trip

Bags are (mostly) packed. Online check in completed. Coffee ingested. Cigarettes smoked.

I feel like everything is ready. I feel like I am ready.

I'm heading out to see my family out in Portland. See, when we first found out my mom was sick, Dad and I tried to figure out a way I could visit. You know, raise the spirits and give hugs and all that. But then he died so suddenly. He was arranging places we could sleep, things we could do.

Before he died, one of the greatest guys in the world offered to fly my family over there for free. He takes tons of business flights and has amassed more points than Kim Khardashian. I really don't think it's possible for me to repay this act of kindness and compassion, but I'm gonna try to find one (or more).

This past week has been really hectic at work, so I haven't been able to get into the travel groove at all. Haven't been a help to the wife, haven't been able to give advice to the kids, haven't been able to plan anything... Even now, I'm sitting here at work waiting for them to give me the go-ahead so I can race home and check bags and print out maps and all that.

I feel like I'm going to forget something.

I talked with my sister briefly last night, just to get a lay of the land and determine what I had to do immediately getting off the plane. She said I'll have to rent a car. Okay, no problem. But where am I driving?

I'll get off the plane, hopefully safe and secure, walk to the car rental place, get the keys, and then realize I have no idea where I am or where I should be. There is talk from the crazy guy about the world ending today, maybe I'm worrying over nothing, and in a deep slumber everything will be over as I'm hovering more than thirty thousand feet in the air.

I feel like I'm never going to be ready.