Another Grand Adventure

I have been a little spacey the last week and packing was a challenge. So I decided to check everything two or three times, made lists, checked lists, checked pack. Last night I had some lovely women over for a potluck and lots of warm hugs. Then I checked everything one more time. I still wasn't excited about my trip when I woke up this morning. I talked with my husband John, this morning as he drove me to the airport. I was wondering if maybe some intuition was telling me not to go. 

Well we got to the airport, said our good byes, hugged, and kissed. You all know the deal. So I went in, checked my pack and went to the United Club room to have some breakfast. Shortly after I sit down with my yogurt and coffee, I plug in my phone so I will have a full charge for the flight. YIKES!! I have the wrong charger cord. For those of you who know me, you know I read on my phone, write on my phone, get directions on my phone, etc. I have a second charger cord but it is in my backpack, which I have checked. I sit there imagining me running out through security, down to check on and begging them to retrieve my checked bag so I can get my other phone charger. I dismiss this idea, believing that even if I don't end up in interrogation as a suspect traveler or a person needing psychiatric care, I would certainly lose my TSA Pre Pass. 

So my thoughts turn to conserving the charge. Which would involve reading every line of the In Flight magazine and chewing my fingers to tiny nubs. My next thought is that there must be other travelers who forget their charger cords or bring the wrong one. So I go to the desk and ask if there is any place in this rather small airport. Why yes there is one, a Brookstone store, and it is right downstairs. Minutes later I am back in the club clutching my little phone charger cord as if it were A precious item. 

Strangely enough, I became suddenly excited about my Camino. How does that happen? I have no idea. So I sit and happily read, secure in the knowledge that my phone is fully charged. 

When it's time, I go to the gate and stand waiting to board my flight. A woman comes up and asks me, in very broken English, if this is the place for the flight to Dallas. I say yes, pleased to be able to be helpful as I remember some of the countless times people were helpful to me when I didn't speak the language well of whatever country I was in at the time. Then a woman, an airport employee, came up and started asking me about the Camino and the movie, The Way.. We chatted about for a few minutes and she went back to work. I thought to myself, "How did she know I was a pilgrim?" I'm just on the first leg of my flight going from Orange County to Dallas. I don't have my backpack, it is checked. I have no patches or other identifying items, other than my small necklace, a gift from a sweet friend, that says, "Not all who wander are lost." I still don't know how she knew, but am comfortable with the idea that I must look like a Pilgrim. 

I'm in the air, on the way to Dallas, and excited to be on a grand adventure!