Personal Escort

for Lynn's daughter Camden as we breezed through custom and security lines of the checkpoint. Her check in at the ticket counter was uneventful and the agent seemed to like her travel outfit for Business First. Lynn and I exchanged some money for British pounds which didn't amount to much. $222.00 and some change only got us $100.00 British! Our dollar is worthless in the free world and I'm hoping it will have a better outlook soon. I could sense the stress in Lynn's voice when she called me in the morning to get a reality check and a shoulder to lean on. You can't comfort a worried mom about her daughter going away for six months. No matter what age, all moms worry! When I arrived at the airport, I could see the worried look and fatigue on Camden's parents face. I had that same look when ever my own children would step out the door and had to trust that they would be fine.
With Camden anxious to be at the gate, she said her goodbye's, kisses and hugs to her parents and we were on our way to the gate. Since I was in uniform blue, I was a direct target for the unending questions that usually come with my job. "Where is gate 93?" "How do I get to A17?" Looking at Camden, I joked with her, "It comes with the territory!" She laughed under her nervousness worrying about being on standby as she has never been in this situation of not having a seat before boarding. Lynn called me on my cell phone from outside of security to make sure everything was ok. Just then an unexpected gate change announcement was made and everyone in the boarding area literally picked up and trampled their way to the escalator. Luckily for us, we were right at the escalator entrance and quickly got there before everyone else. Lynn was hearing the commotion wondering "what the heck is going on?" I told of her a gate change and we were making our way to the new gate area and said that I would call her back. Once at the other gate, Camden checked in with an agent to let her know that she was there. While we waited, we chatted about my daughter Nani, my son, her sister missing her, her worried parents, her excitement to be in London for the next five months, the start of College less than a month when she comes back and her blog. I thought, "what a well rounded daughter she is". She will go far in life and make a difference. Hearing here last name announced, she approached the counter with me following on the heels of her white shoes. The boarding pass was given to Camden with 13E on it. I thought middle seat and asked if Camden could have an aisle seat. The agent quickly retorted, "In economy!" I took another look at her boarding pass and sure enough, it stated that she was sitting in "Business Class"! I became excited for Camden and told her that she had hit the jackpot. We quietly held our contained excitement to our final hug and well wishes as she boarded through the Business Class line. Camden's smile was as wide as the grand canyon, priceless. As she disappeared through the door, I waited a few minutes taking a look at the 777 airplane she was travelling on, thinking, she is going to have a wonderful time. I did not call Lynn back and told Camden to call her mother letting her know that she got a seat on the flight and made my way back to where Lynn would be waiting. As we sat down in the restaurant area to a cappuccino and pastry, Lynn couldn't contain herself any longer as she started to cry. She knew this day would come to let go of her daughter. We as mothers all have to do this at some point in our lives. Hers was today. I held her hand as we sat in our quietness while the flurry of airport activity and noise swirled around us. I offered to drive her home and we talked more. Feeling less worried, Lynn was comforted in her thoughts of letting go, a little at a time.

Mid afternoon

I finally got out of the house and went to my place of employment where I am currently on sick leave because of my Rheumatoid Arthritis. My job has a "welfare" system for it's employees, if we fall victims to illness, financial burden, destruction that diminishes our capacity to work, they help us out with monies donated by employees into a fund where we never have to pay it back. It's a donation deposited by employees and it's there for who ever has need. And right now, I have need because I am falling behind on my monthly mortgage and other necessary utility bills. There is paperwork to fill out, printouts from my payroll and my doctors verification that I need to submit in order to be approved for this "donation". I'm crossing my fingers for it. In the meantime, I'm getting my documentation for my loan and what I qualify for since I am no longer making the money I used to make when I was gainfully employed. I'll be submitting that tomorrow. It was nice to see everyone at work. The airport is really slow right now and flights are not as full. It's a good time to travel. Unfortunately my flight benefits are restricted because of my illness, which means, I'm not able to travel for "free". I was at the airport for quite awhile and got invited to our "beer breakfast" which happens when everyone is off from work at 1:00am. We frequent an establishment called "Peter's cafe" and it's open 24 hours except for Mondays. It's true that some of us do have a beer or two and it has to be off the table by 1:45am because of the liquor laws. It's usually our time to get together and talk about the evening and how it went.
Nani came home tonight rather early from her job. She usually doesn't get home until after 11:00pm. She did go to work today and received her check which she was not too happy about because they missed a few of her sales and did not show up on this check. I feel her pain, because she is a hard worker and really wants to make it in this job of selling vacuums but to get a check for $152 dollars after two weeks working 10 hour days? C'mon now, give these kids a break. This isn't the slave days....pay them! She was gracious enough to give me $90 dollars of it which will go towards gas and a ticket she recently got parked on the wrong side of the road. I can taste that beer right now.