jakorte's blog

The beginning started a long time ago. At the end of one life there was another waiting. Not precluding the previous, just building from one step to another: rising and following to an escalator’s rhythm. Unaware, there comes a moment when you’ve risen to the top – unsure and glancing backwards to see where you’ve come up from, while still forced to keep moving.

Despite my list and preparations, I didn’t put myself to bed until 1:00 am. Up at 7:30 am to finish a short list of items: preparations for Miss Fred and Harley Blu, take out the garbage, retrieve the car charger for the phone because I heard I might be able to use it on the plane and as long as I’m in the car I go for a drive-thru breakfast. I munch through preparing the newsletter for launch, pack away my last minute toiletries, and get down to the one remaining task. Send out the Midweek Encouragement Newsletter, Volume 4, Issue 38… or not.

On departure day, about an hour before I leave home, Yahoo experiences a rare slow down/processing stall. Having left the easiest task for last, I start to panic just a little. Then the taxi driver is calling to say he is downstairs waiting to whisk me away. Thank goodness my sister-in-law and I hatched a back-up plan last night, just in case I couldn’t send Vol. 4, Issue 39 next week from Ireland. I call from the cab and enlist her gracious aid. In between the net stall and the confirmation of the send for Vol. 4, Issue 38, I arrived at DTW.

Self check-in is fine, if you’ve done it before. If not, it’s hard to get assistance from the blank looking counter clerks. With persistence and enough yahoo questions to alert them that I was clueless, I did get some attention, seat assignments, boarding passes and was informed that my luggage weight was surprisingly well below the limit.

Accomplished, I set out for currency exchange. Easy enough to locate, a sign announces the kiosk is only open during peak hours: 7:30 am – 10:30 am and then again from 3:30 pm – 7:30 pm. I ask at Information and am told there is no other kiosk, unless I want to “drive over to McNamara.” I decide against that and then decide that there will be a small upside to being routed through Newark. I’ll be able to secure Euros there, for sure.