Flying boat ports.

Captain’s Log: 03 June 2010


I woke up this morning feeling sick. After yesterdays fiasco my stomach was uneasy. I forced myself to eat, because I knew it would be my last American meal for weeks. Of course I chose the schwan’s man chicken patties. A meal fit for a king was wasted on a vagabond such as myself. A man who can’t even read doesn’t deserve such a delicacy. I digress.

The morning crawled forward second by second. Eventually it became time to make the familiar drive to the airport. I was stuck in a state of déjà vu. I arrived at the airport this time accompanied by my whole family except my dad. We walked into the airport and huzzah! I was on the flight out of Lubbock! Victory. It tastes sweet. Though… problems did arise. My flight was delayed by 2 hours. This was a problem seeing as I only had an hour layover at the Houston airport. My high spirits were dashed to bits. I went to the counter to talk to the gate manager. He told me he would try and book me a seat on the flight to London that left at 6pm. His face looked grim for half a second then he told me, “Lucky you, there is one seat left on that flight.” Boo yeah! Thank you, Jesus! Hallelujah! I was pretty stoked. It looked like I could finally lay back and chill.

Chilling at the Lubbock airport was not very fun. I sat there reading M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman. There was a quote in there that I enjoyed. “M is for magic. All the letters are, if you put them together properly. You can make magic with them, and dreams, and, I hope, even a few surprises”. I much like it.

On the flight to Houston I sat next to a very nice gentleman. He was heading to go fishing with his son near Corpus Christi. He told me that he and his son have gone out there the past 13 years with his son’s clients. I lied and told him I liked to fish. I don’t know why. For some reason or another I always lie to strangers about my hobbies. It’s not like he is going to hate me because I am not a fisherman. Either way it moved our little conversation along. After an awkward pause he asked me where I was going and I told him I was heading to Rome. Up to this point it was small talk, but when I mentioned Rome his face drew a half smile. It was somber. He said in a half-whisper that he always wanted to go to Rome. He said he had been to Europe, but never Rome. I felt guilty for some reason. After that, the conversation drifted to an end. My mood fell into an introverted stupor. Oh the blessings I have.

I made it to Houston and miraculously made it to my gate in hardly anytime at all. I found a nice spot next to a semi-attractive woman. Her husband or fiancé sat next to her within minutes of my arrival. I find it funny that any woman traveling with her significant other is always guarded like a precious jewel. I always giggle at how ridiculous it seems to an outsider how a man protects his woman. I understand his delusion though. She means the world to him and certainly he thinks he has nabbed the perfect woman. Why shouldn’t he protect it like a jewel? For to him she is. Anyhow, after pondering this man’s behavior I journaled a bit then waited for my flight to depart.

My day is now ending. I am on a plain heading towards London. I will arrive at 9 o’clock in the morning there time which is about 3 LBK time. I am in for a rough day. It is 11pm LBK time. I just finished watching Shutter Island and Book of Eli. Both were rather good, though not conducive for peaceful sleep. I fear I won’t sleep at all in the following hours but I ought to give it the old college try. I am glad that I am on my way to Heathrow. It seemed to me yesterday that I would never make it there, but now I am fairly certain I will. Goodbye America, I’ll see you in a few weeks.

End Transmission.