Day 41 - August 8th
Miami,
Florida,
United States
Friday, August 8, 2008
At the glorious hour of 7 am, my alarm clock went off and I knew it was "time"...time to go back to my home...time to go back to Western culture. Although I didn't want to get up at that time, I got up, got in the shower (which had no warm water, by the way) and got on the train (Cercancias) to Nuevos Ministerios and then the metro from Nuevos Ministerios to Aeropuerto Terminal 2.
I decided to go to Terminal 2 just to give Alitalia one more chance on possibly locating my bag. After passing through all of the security to make it in there, I talked to the people...no bag. Shoot. Then, with about an hour and a half remaining, I took the bus to Terminal 4 where I had left my big bag in lockers. I tell you, leaving my bag was the smartest thing I ever did...the smartest 19 euros I paid in Europe. I didn't have to lug it around and it didn't get lost on the airlines. It was great.
Since my flight departed from Terminal 4, I just walked straight to the counter to check-in....there was no line...yay! ...or so I thought. I walk up to the counter and the sign says "Cerrado"...wtf....huh? I have a little over an hour... I talked to the security and they said, "why are you so late?" I was confused...I didn't understand. Here I was getting ready to make a fuss because I was getting on that flight, no matter what they told me and the guy felt bad for me (I guess he saw the look in my eyes) and he got me a person to check my luggage. Phew!
I know why they let me on - the plane was delayed! Not by much... But, who would have thought that over an hour wasn't enough time? Here I was taking my jolly time walking through the airport...don't do it, peeps...you may be stranded!
So right before I got on the plane, I bought one last Fanta Naranja from the machine and popped my Benadryl so I would have one long rest on the plane. No can do... I was too excited. I slept for maybe 30 minutes but other than that I was bright and awake the entire ride...the entire 9 hour journey in MIA.
So once I arrived in MIA, got my luggage and cleared customs, I went on a search for my familia. Through all of the people staring in the window at the arriving passengers, I knew that all I had to do was look "up" for my Dad's tall head - and that's how I found him. I saw him and I didn't even notice the welcome that I was about to get...
I ran around the glass to where I could hug them and I saw that they had made this huge "Welcome Home, Kelli" sign...I ran into my Momma's arms, and then Traci's, and then my Dad's. We were all weeping disasters...I was happy to be home!
If the welcome wasn't enough, as soon as I got to the car, my Dad's car at that, I realized that there was a tray, yes, in Dad's car (Dad doesn't allow food in his car) with my name on it...it had ox-tail, Grandma's mac and cheese, Momma's ribs, Cuban bread, and some of Grandpa's Pink Drink...it was all of my favorites...on a tray for me. I nearly passed out! Well, no, I didn't pass out...why pass out when you know that food's for you? Traci told me I looked "hungry"...I don't know if that's a complement or not, but that problem was about to be fixed...
I couldn't believe Dad allowed me to eat in his car...but he knew that I enjoyed it...he knew I was desperate it!
We got home to Gramps and Grams for another wonderful welcome...I ate some more...celebrated Grandpa's 85th Birthday at Uncle Geoff's house...had some more wonderful food and time with my familia and then we headed back to Grams and Gramps' house...it was great to be home!
