Things for Granted

Woke up this morning in the Wingate by Wyndham to the sounds of people chiseling large sheets of ice off of their cars. Wandered over to the coffee machine for a delicious cup of Wolfgang Puck single shot drip coffee. I think they must have packaged that stuff in Germany in 1989. But, when it's free, I mean what can you say? The morning off to a good start I turned on the free Wi-Fi to check on the status of the airport and my flights. The hard part is that the XNA airport is about as small as the Pullman airport and thus is not particularly up to date with any sort of organized and well managed information. I looked at the United site and realized that I wouldn't be able to definitively know if my flight would be leaving until it actually left the Denver airport. Upon closer examination, this wouldn't be happening until I would need to be checked out of my room. So downstairs to check in with the locals. As my dad says, sometimes lo-tech is best.

Tom- the Manager- was downstairs fixing up his own personalized Belgian waffle at the Continental Breakfast Bar. He smiled and told me that several planes had landed during the course of the morning; one had even taken off within the last 30 minutes. Sweet. So I made a contingency plan with the gal at the front desk to make sure I'd have a room in the case my flight be cancelled again. All set. I packed up all my now completely disgusting clothes and hopped in the airport shuttle. 

The drive was remarkable. What I found out was the worst ice storm in recorded Arkansas history had left a two-inch glaze on all trees and grass as far as the eye could see. The sun decided to come out just as we pulled onto the road to the airport as if to proclaim some sort of divine predetermination. Being dropped off I just hoped that seeing the light ment just that and not that, as the orange terrorist threat thermometer had indicated, a sign that I was about to witness a terrorist attack on rural Arkansas. Seriously Homeland Security- get a damned life. 

Anyhow, I checked in with the same very kind and very large woman I'd checked in with the night before. She set me up with my new itinerary and assured me that things were looking very hopeful. Hopeful huh? Well, I went and sat down to call folks and let them know that things were at least hopeful. And after 45 minutes of waiting, watching the electronic screens, and commiserating with some fellow applicants who had actually slept in the airport the night before- the news came that everything was on schedule.

So I'm writing from the Denver airport; sitting at Gate 37, enjoying the smells of fast food, the sounds of small children, and the sights of people who don't look a whole lot better than I do. I feel better. Though I don't smell any better. 

I'll be in Spokane by 7:30 pm at which point my good friend Joel Edward Soden will pick me up. I'm just looking forward to sharing in person some of these hilarious misadventures as well as to finally be somewhere that I can do laundry. Really I'm craving a nice, crisp, winter run too. Sitting around feeling anxious in a smoker's, cat-infested apartment for three days- followed by a full day laying on a hotel bed eating pizza and watching Sportscenter isn't my idea of physical release. What a gift to have a body that allows me to run. What a gift to have a mind crazy enough to love to run. Truly, watching people get all stressed out these last few days- whether it be over grad school, flight plans, or the morons on the Arkansas local news in hysterics over the ice storm- has been a good reminder of how easy it truly is to take the basic things that make my life work. I think if nothing else, this trip has shown me how blessed I am to be able to pursue my dreams, supported by both friends and family. And with all that said, it's a lot easier to deal with the stress that life throws at me knowing that I've always got people around who'll be there. 

I'm leaving Denver feeling grateful and more glad than I may have ever been or will be about getting to Spokane, WA.

Gotta pee before we board.