An apology for yesterday’s typos; I was traveling while writing.
It is Boxing Day (26Dec) while I write this, and any typos are blamed on the time change. It is 8:30, but it feels like 5:30; ugh!
Returning to my memories of Christmas Day. I was happy to wake with my alarm in my comfy bed and rise. Despite being a travel day, everything was packed, cleaned, and organized, and my flight was neither early nor late: Noon to Detroit. I found the coffee waiting for me, along with the last banana. I started the blog, but as Joan S was picking me up at 9, I could only write for a while.
After showering and all of that, I soon dressed in a sweater with a dress shirt with a Santa tie. I packed the last items, forgetting one red sweater vest (when I changed my mind on sweaters) and one gift (I will send it by mail next year). But that cannot be undone, and also makes Christmas last into January.
I turned the hot water and heating to the vacation settings, and soon Joan S met me, and we wished each other a Merry Christmas. Joan S then headed to PDX, and we chatted about work things and some travel details while she drove to the Airport. Traffic was lighter (though more cars than I expected), and soon I was at PDX. Thanks, Joan!
First Class today, so I went to those Delta machines and soon dropped off my old red bag (with duct tape on one corner) and my new Delta Silver Medallion status name tag. I then headed to TSA security and saw everyone was happy and friendly, and the rush and crowd were gone.
My glasses did not confuse anyone, as I was trying to wear them all the time to get used to them. But TSA found my instant coffee in my bag interesting. They tested it, and it was not found to be a threat. My suspenders also caused me to be inspected more. It is hit-or-miss, I have discovered with the suspenders.
I continue to enjoy TSA and their checks.
Safe and TSA-acceptable, I headed to Grasso for breakfast/lunch (I would lose three hours due to time changes). I had not done their avocado and smoked salmon toast. The toast was a slice of croissant bread, which I love when I can find it. While lovely to look at, soon salmon and avocado were falling off the bread, from its precarious stack. Still, it was excellent, if messy.
I wrote for a while, but a gal and I chatted about our travels, holiday plans, and AI. She is an RN and headed to Minnesota for the holiday. She enjoyed being an RN and the freedom of working in a field that is in demand. We got onto AI as I explained a bit about the scanning in TSA, where they identified coffee as a potential threat (here in the Pacific Northwest, of all places).
With a “Merry Christmas,” we headed out in separate ways, and I soon was at my gate, stopping to use the facilities before getting on a plane and giving a buck to a musician playing Christmas songs on an electric guitar (so Portland!). I rushed to finish the blog and get it posted. I sent out the email and added it to Facebook as my section was called for boarding.
I enjoyed an aisle seat in First Class, 3B. My seatmate at the window soon put on noise-canceling headphones and a mask. We exchanged only a few words. I respected her wishes and watched a movie, the original Casablanca, but my screen was having stop-and-start issues that had me change to reading, but I did finish the film and laughed at all the jokes; it always feels modern to me, though the exploitation of women is hard to forgive (Though Rick foils the attempt as a victory for love).
(That is not wine in a sippy cup but a coffee lid on the glass to prevent spills)
Christmas Dinner was good, though my entree was not hot, but it was cooked. I did not send it back as this is a plane and Christmas. It was good too. The wine was excellent too. I enjoyed Christmas Dinner in Amsterdam with Susie and Corwin in 2019. Packed up one and took it over to a friend when her husband was ill and in the hospital on Christmas. I liked flying on Christmas, and dinner at 20,000+ feet will likely happen again.
Deborah waited outside baggage claim as I retrieved my bag. And while it survived well. The metal tag was now bent, and I had to fix it. How it got caught in something and crushed is a mystery I will not solve. I was amazed that my largest suitcase is still small compared to the others. Folks use huge roller bags.
Deborah got me to my usual IHG hotel. They remembered me. I have a room with a jet tub.
I did not sleep until 2 with Deborah returning on Boxing Day for a Tea at the Royal Park Hotel. Our holiday party together.
Thank you for reading!
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