Another one?

Our plan this morning was to wake up early, throw on the closest walking-around clothes, and dash out to see the Great Mall. This is my first time in DC, right? Surely the Great Mall is worth spending a couple hours touring. Having spent some time yesterday walking down to the Lincoln Memorial, I wasn't overly motivated to wake up and GO GO GO!

So, when my phone rang around nine am this morning, I was a little confused at the ringing wake up call, since we hadn't called for one.

Imagine my surprise when Kris said hello. Kris. Kris, who was supposed to be on a plane flying towards me, I thought, as I looked at my watch and saw it was after 9 and his flight left at 8. "What are you doing? You're supposed to be on a plane right now!" I asked quickly.

"Time difference, it's only 6 here."

"Oh."

"But Chookie isn't here and I can't get through to him. When do I just drive?"

"Umm...." I really need to practice becoming instantly alert when I wake up. Soldiers can do it, go from sleep to instant awake. It a trait you pretty much have to learn in order to survive. That, and being able to fall asleep instantly when you have the chance.

I offered to call Chookie and Martha, since Kris didn't have Martha's number, and call him back. Five minutes later, I called him back. "Go. Now."

"Damn, I need to get gas, too."

Yeah, I wasn't in much of a mood to go walk the Great Mall any longer, in case this didn't work out. The only thing I could think of was, "Aw, crap. Another one?" Our last flight out of Dulles to Europe five years ago started our honeymoon at Kris' parents' house (which was nice to visit them, but not how I wanted to spend the first day of our honeymoon).

Kris managed to make his flight, purchasing gas, driving like the wind, taking the first long-term parking spot he could find, grabbing the first available bus to the terminal, and dashing through security.

Jessica and I had a leisurely breakfast and a slow packing morning and an easy drive to the airport. As we were eating and packing up, I watched Jessica change from the fun, relaxed, entertaining woman I spent the last few evenings with, to a tense, stressed, unhappy woman. She seemed to just implode with weight of the environment she was returning to. Maybe I'm projecting. *shrug* I could be. It was painful to watch.

The ride to the airport was uneventful. After seeing Jessica off at the gate, I wandered down to the baggage claim for United, found a power outlet, signed up for wireless and settled in for the four hour wait for Kris. Honestly, though, power, wireless and a working laptop? I'm good to go.