Well I have arrived safe and sound. Strangely enough, my airport experience was reversed. PDX was a police state. There were troupers watching us and eyeing baggage. People were randomly selected for searches that happened behind secret panels. They selected one lady with a small child, maybe two or so. The security lady had the mom set her son down and preceded to pat search him. He handled that ok but when she pulled out the black wand, he decided he’d had enough and took off running and screaming bloody murder. After a little chase, they rounded him up and the mom held this screaming little boy in place while the security lady scanned him for metal objects. Those PDX security guards are tough.

So it was with a little trepidation that I exited the plan at LAX. I guess after my Portland experience, I expected to be strip searched and x-rayed in LA. But on my arrival, it was, well deserted. My usual Hell-A airport experience runs something along the lines of people everywhere, crowds, loud speakers blaring announcements. This time, however, I was greeted with an eerie silence. No one is allowed to meet you at the gate or wait with you so the hordes of relatives and family that normally gather are suddenly gone. I wandered down to baggage claim with a few other stragglers where Elmo was waiting. Yes, believe it or not, my luggage was unloaded and waiting for me! Even stranger still, the short term parking was E-M-P-T-Y.

So with little ado, I find myself home again. I checked in with Kevin and he had ordered a pizza and was watching movies that I refused to rent. He claims he misses me but I don’t believe him. Actually, this will be the first time we’ve been apart since our marriage. We’ll see what sort of mischief he gets himself into.