Hop on a plane to Frankfurt...that was the easy part.

SATURDAY, July 9
The fun is about to end...here is one final look at the vineyard last night. Melissa(NY), Canada(IA), Nicole (PA), Regina(NY), Karen(MI) and me(VA)
Thank you Mr. Goethe...we had a wonderful, historical adventure.

We all were on board the S-Bahn (commuter train) about 7 am on our way to depart from Frankfurt on a flight via Munich to Washington. That is the plan. So, we arrive at the Frankfurt airport and with relative ease, checked our luggage and herded through security. Once past security, we all made a mad dash to the Duty Free stores to get rid of any Euros that we had left. I, honestly, couldn't find anything and my goal was to exchange my 20 paper Euro into American dollars and try desperately to get rid of the 4.21 Euros that I had in change. The logical buy? Chocolate. Done.

As I am passed by the newsstand, I thought I would like a People magazine or something like it. I had purchased one for the long flight from Washington to Munich, but had such a good time talking with Pam(CO) that I never opened it and left it in the pocket in front of my seat. There was a German magazine that I thought would be a good souvenir and so I bought two...one for my husband and one for my dad. All set...10 Euro left for emergencies.

We change gates and finally board the plane for Munich. It is about an hour flight, but by the time we arrived, our flight to the US was boarding in another part of the terminal far, far, far away. We were slightly panicked, yet had talked amongst ourselves and figured we would be happy to spend the day in Munich. We even started planning what we would do. As we disembarked the plan, a Luftansa (they are an awesome long distance carrier) agent was waiting for us. He was holding up a sign and we began to quickly follow him. He was moving very fast. We arrived at the passport checkpoint and the first five are quickly passed through. Then, flight crews and some "carted people...probably sports icons" (they didn't even get off the cart-the driver took care of getting their passports checked---Lazy? or Rich?) went through. Anyway, next up is Karen(MI) she was asked why she was in Germany. I thought, uh-oh, I started thinking "don't go all 'KAT' on them or we aren't getting out of here." She just said she was here for the "same reason as the rest of them." I guess the agent believed her, because he let her through. The rest of us followed at a full out run...I take that back because GQ must have caught the eye of one of the lovely cart ladies as he and the rest arrived "refreshed" and ready to board the plane.

The plane was waiting on us and off we went. Everyone knows that I am cold natured, but everyone on this plane must have been cold. They had their blankets up to their necks. It was C O L D! I'm surprised I couldn't see my breath. Nicole(PA), who was sitting a couple of seats over, and I made an arrangement to nudge each other if food came by and the other was asleep. Done deal.

Yea! Finally 8+ hours later, we arrived in DC. We got through immigration quickly and then we waited, waited, waited, waited for our luggage to arrive. Normally, that wouldn't be a problem, but we had to recheck the luggage with our next carrier. For me, going through Customs, getting to US AIR, through security and to the plane in the next 57 minutes wasn't looking good. And still no luggage. Finally, the carousel started to move. With the help of my many new friends, of whom we had already hugged and said our good-byes, we watched for my giant orange suitcase to arrive so I could hit the pavement. It was one of the first ones off, so I took off to get in the clog of people trying to get to the customs paper takers. Done. Off to US AIR. No line. Great. Am I too late to make the flight? No, they didn't think so. However, I could not check the big orange suitcase and would have to check the 50 pound "orange" at the gate. I responded that I had liquids in the bag and the attendant said "they will make you throw them away."

Okay....RUN. Off I ran to security with the Big Orange. Of course, I get in the slowest ID check line. She is thorough and explains to me that my hair is cut shorter and I look younger in my passport photo. Lovely. Have a nice day. I get in the next long line and the attendant says "that is too big for a carry-on." I explained and moved on. I took a chance and plopped Big Orange on the conveyor belt. I waited for them to tell me to unpack it. I was prepared to do it...but they let me go. Victory. I had to sprint to the gate and they were making their final boarding call to Charlotte, NC. I tagged Big Orange and I huffed and puffed to my seat. BREATHE. We arrived late into Charlotte and my next flight was already boarding. However, since I checked Big Orange at the gate, I had to wait in the plane walker-downer-thingee for my suitcase. It was a slow process as many people no longer check luggage to avoid the $25 charge. It is so slow and the people are starting to panic. One nicely dressed man starts a TOP 3 type luggage toss. It is working, but one of the bags falls over and it belongs to a member of a flight crew. The flight crew guy gets really angry. Well dressed man says that there are people that need to leave and he is trying to help. Flight crew guy, in my opinion, picks a fight and they move to the back of the crowd and have words. I'm on a mission. I appreciate well dressed guy, get Big Orange and head off to the next gate. I have to check Big Orange at the gate again and explain why I have Big Orange again. I got on the plane and decide to call home to tell Fun Doug that I'm am going to be on time. I have not an ounce of battery. I asked the nice lady sitting next to me if I could use her phone and she said as long yes as I wasn't calling Germany.

Home...well, off the airplane anyway. Doug is waiting. I liked seeing him, but I missed those days when my little tow-headed boy and mixed-matched "I choose my own clothes" baby girl met me at the gate. They are all grown up now...and have moved out on their own.

"I could eat." Standard answer for Fun Doug and we headed to Taco Bell. All I really wanted was a full cup of ICE with a little water. It was delicious.

Tatem, the dog, and I enjoyed our reunion and she and I both became covered in her loose hair. It is good to be home. However, I must leave again in 11 hours for CT for a study of Duke Ellington. So it is laundry, repacking...and paying bills.

Thank you again TOP Goethe...I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Good times.