"I WILL SEE YOU IN FAR OFF PLACES"

Tomorrow, my father is traveling to a location on the State Department's travel advisory list. And he'll be there for ten days. And he may or may not have access to phone and internet while he's there. And, I worry about his health. And, he's my dad. And, in light of other little earthquakes this week that reminded me that sometimes terrible things do happen, I'd rather he didn't go.


But, he and I both know the apple didn't fall far and I'd do the same thing, and that a life tiptoed around things that might go horribly wrong isn't much of a life. Still.

"STRETCH OUT AND WAIT"

Delayed at the airport. I'm at one of those charge your laptop and cellphone kiosks where I made friends with an attorney and am now surrounded by tiny, adorable English children. One of the English children and I just had the sweetest conversation about, of all things, fog and Las Vegas.

My flight is delayed a bit. That's okay. As long as I arrive with my luggage, I'm going to be happy. I actually enjoy airports quite a bit. Look at all of the people, all focused on doing their thing.

Anyone want to prank call me? Anyone? Bueller? Hello?

"STRANGEWAYS, HERE WE COME"

So, my neighbor is getting laid, if any of you are interested in that little factoid. Maybe you can hear it from where you are, too.

So, I'm about to leave for the airport in a bit. Just tying up a few ends first. I fly often enough, but, oy vey, do I stress a litle before every flight. Every flight number can sound like a disaster, like a tv-movie-of-the-week if you think about it enough. Anyway, so I'm not thinking about it. Nor am I thinking about the foggy weather that has descended upon Chicago today. Nor am I thinking about the books that did not arrive at the festival and so I have a bulk of them in my suitcase with my good suit. No, because if I thought about it, I might worry that my luggage would get lost, my plane would crash, etc.

So, I'm not going to do that.

I will, however, be thinking about a fun trip, a fun lit fest, making new friends and having a swank hotel room all to myself. Yes. That's what I'm thinking about this morning.

"I DON'T MIND"

To get the family of the Jewish Superhero (Z"L), of previous post fame together, an airport needed to be battled today.

Let me back up. I am a big fan of the chevre kadisha, particularly, the part about supporting the family members during loss.

I have a friend who lost his partner quite suddenly and I was so impressed with how his local chevre kadisha handled things for him durng that time. Everything, and I mean everything, was dealt with. No questions of what to do, it was just done. His cleaning, his laundry, his utility bills were paid, groceries and casseroles appeared, scheduled oil changes were handled, appointments were rescheduled, even, in a moment when a lightbulb burned out, it was replaced silently by a chevre kadisha member without a word. Since then, I have had so much more respect for these groups and have thought that I can only hope to be so useful to the people around me when the situation (g-d forbid) arises.

So, no flights were really happening yesterday. A flight was to be taken very early this morning, which was cancelled. So, just hours ago, maybe just before 10pm, the flight was made and soon the family will all be together for the funeral tomorrow and I am glad. I did what I could. I am, after all, only one person, not a whole group of people.

On my way back from the airport tonight, I saw cars swerving in front of me. Once they cleared, I saw a woman in a wheelchair fooling around in traffic, flipping her arms around and yelling. A car blew past and nearly hit her, so I called the cops so she wouldn't get squashed. Holy shit. I put my window down while I was on hold with the police dispatch to ask her if I could help her and she swung at my car and screamed somethng about "fuck you" and "devil" so, eh, homegirl was having a tough night. I hope she's okay, however that all ended up.

Maybe I will go to bed now. I got an invite to go for waffles and coffee from Super Premium Spark-Spark, but I've just put on my jammies, flopped into bed and my cat has flopped down at my feet.