Seattle: I Have Arrived

I was awake at 2:30 am and waited for the coffee maker to click on before I got out of bed. I was on the way to the airport by 3:30, which seemed unnecessarily early until I saw the line at airport security suddenly get long as I was going through the screening. A TSA official said that the later than usual start meant that people would be rushing to catch their planes, and he was right. While I sat waiting for my flight to board I heard a half dozen names called over the intercom as doors to planes were being closed for departure. Shortly after each announcement I watched people appear at one end of the terminal to make a run for the designated gate. It was worth losing a few minutes sleep to not have to endure the stress of running late. I had a three-hour layover in NY. Then it was back in the air for six hours before a safe landing in Seattle. A thirteen-hour day of travel: long and tiring. A visit to a city I've never seen: exhilarating. A hug from my youngest son: priceless.