Just when I thought I was through to the next level,
After making it to the DCI Airport safely with all of my luggage,
After successfully navigating through security,
After finding the correct terminal and gate a couple of hours early,
After making it to the DCI Airport safely with all of my luggage,
After successfully navigating through security,
After finding the correct terminal and gate a couple of hours early,
After taking some time to take pictures of the Washington and Jefferson Monuments,
and Capitol Building and Library of Congress through the airport windows,
After sitting to relax and read,
Suddenly, I received a phone alert that my flight would depart a different gate in a different terminal.
After looking at the latest information on the electronic board,
After discovering the message I received was old and had already been changed again,
After rushing to catch a bus to the new gate,
After watching the door to the airplane close,
I discovered I had missed my first flight.
and Capitol Building and Library of Congress through the airport windows,
After sitting to relax and read,
Suddenly, I received a phone alert that my flight would depart a different gate in a different terminal.
After looking at the latest information on the electronic board,
After discovering the message I received was old and had already been changed again,
After rushing to catch a bus to the new gate,
After watching the door to the airplane close,
I discovered I had missed my first flight.
But then, after being number 16 on a list of almost 40 standby passengers,
An hour later, my name was called.
Finally, I was on my way to Dallas...
Where I would arrive after my connecting flight took off.
An hour later, my name was called.
Finally, I was on my way to Dallas...
Where I would arrive after my connecting flight took off.
After arriving late and collecting my luggage (that I was forced to check),
I found myself outside of TSA after hours,
Stuck outside of security, in a cold, international ticketing area until the next morning,
With a view of the parking garage,
With a scarce amount of multicultural passengers,
All awaiting the opening of TSA at 4am,
I refused to sleep.
After charging my dead phone in an out-of-the-way outlet,
Pacing the floor to finish a book about George Washington,
And then pacing the length of the lobby,
Finally following a new "buddy" from Puerto Rico outside to find warmth,
Listening to his stories about the aftermath of a hurricane, an emergency landing in Miami, and a popped tire,
The clock finally approached four.
I found myself outside of TSA after hours,
Stuck outside of security, in a cold, international ticketing area until the next morning,
With a view of the parking garage,
With a scarce amount of multicultural passengers,
All awaiting the opening of TSA at 4am,
I refused to sleep.
After charging my dead phone in an out-of-the-way outlet,
Pacing the floor to finish a book about George Washington,
And then pacing the length of the lobby,
Finally following a new "buddy" from Puerto Rico outside to find warmth,
Listening to his stories about the aftermath of a hurricane, an emergency landing in Miami, and a popped tire,
The clock finally approached four.
| After TSA agents started arriving for business, After finally getting in line to be scanned back into the airport, After finally locating my terminal for another standby flight, After seeing my waiting area taped off for carpet cleaning, After stumbling around from a lack of sleep, After waiting for McDonald's to open for breakfast, After eating a McMuffin and scarfing down a hash brown, My name was called for the flight, I was finally on my way to Oklahoma City. | |
After landing early in the morning in OKC,
After being picked up and taken to my parents' house,
After a much needed and deserved shower,
I finally slept for two hours before driving four more hours to home.
The entire Mount Vernon experience officially came to a close,
With memories quite fresh and ideas flooding my mind,
With so much to talk about and so many photographs to look at,
With four professional development sessions to present, twice, over the next two days,
And just a few days before the beginning of a new school year,
Where Mount Vernon would play a central role.
What a return adventure!
After being picked up and taken to my parents' house,
After a much needed and deserved shower,
I finally slept for two hours before driving four more hours to home.
The entire Mount Vernon experience officially came to a close,
With memories quite fresh and ideas flooding my mind,
With so much to talk about and so many photographs to look at,
With four professional development sessions to present, twice, over the next two days,
And just a few days before the beginning of a new school year,
Where Mount Vernon would play a central role.
What a return adventure!
