The fights to Africa

Well, this will be dull. Imagine over twenty hours of flying time, three flights and the necessary two transfers, two checked bags and a carry on, and then imagine that it went without any problems at all. I will admit to being teary when I waved goodbye to my daughter at LAX. She offered good advice and good humor on the early morning drive north, and stood by and helped me repack in the hubbub of the airport check-in counters, using a second suitcase to save the overweight charges. It was her idea to bring an extra bag, just in case. I had good books and aisle seats all along the way. Detroit was snow covered, and de-icing was required. Next snow I see, I thought, would be on the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro! We took off at sunset, and when we landed at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, the brilliant full moon was still shining. After a stop at a ATM and a cup of tea, it was time to board the KLM flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). As I drank the tea, I watched one of the most spectacular sunrises spreading up from the horizon. Sunrises, sunsets. On my last KLM flight to Africa, the flight turned back over Barcelona, and headed back to Amsterdam to repair an "hydraulic" problem. But this time we had no difficulties, landing around 9 pm, unfortunately in the dark. I finished the last page of the book I was reading as we taxied up to right in front of the terminal. I was sitting in one of the back rows, and anticipated that I would be forever in line at the visa window, but my luck held and the back door was opened, and I was third or fourth in line for my visa. After collecting both my bags, taking a deep breath I walked out into the arrivals lounge. And, yes, there was someone standing there with a sign that said "Susan!" The brief walk from the plane to the terminal was noisy with the plane's engines powering down, and stinky with the smell of jet fuel. But, leaving the terminal with Tara and heading to the waiting St. Jude's bus, the dark African sky overhead and the distintive dusky smell in the air assured me that I had arrived!