…Another Foray Into The Friendly Skies
Sort of disjointed posting this week, as I concluded one cross-country trip Friday night, and we’re embarking on another trip tonight (Tuesday) back through Detroit to Myrtle Beach, SC to meet up with my brothers and my mom, as we did last year. In the intervening hours, I’ve had a lot of work stuff to do just to get out of town without being flayed.
We’re on a redeye leaving at 10pm that’ll arrive in Detroit at 5am EDT. We’ll connect there for a flight to Myrtle Beach that arrives about 11:30 am. An issue has arisen, however, that has the potential to darken our marital bliss: my ticket, because I’m a Northwest elite flyer, has been upgraded to first class; Mrs. Perils’, however, is firmly ensconsed in coach (albeit a roomy exit row seat), because I used miles to purchase her ride. Frequent Flyer message boards unanimously say that the rule for survival in this situation is to chivalrously trade seats with your infrequently-flying spouse, and that’s the plan tonight.
Update - the Seattle gate agent put Mrs. Perils (i.e. me) on an upgrade waitlist, and she (i.e. I) got the last first class seat, so crisis averted.
On to the sunny south, where temperatures look to be in the high 70s and low 80s. I’m a little apprehensive. Let’s just say that my body is about as ready for beach action as the Iraqi army is to secure Baghdad. My camera lens will be resolutely pointed outward - you’ll never get a glimpse of my collection of festive Mama Cass mumus.
The place we’re going is actually called Pawley’s Island, about 15 miles south of Myrtle Beach. I’m not sure how this little family tradition of meeting up there got started. I think sometime in the 90s, my parents started golfing their way down there to visit my middle brother, who lives near Charleston. It’s gotten to be an annual spring event. I started joining them about 8 years ago. It’s kind of a slog to get there, but it’s a nice, relaxed way to commune with my bros and my mom, maybe because no one has to play host. The biggest point of contention will be the octane rating of the coffee, and that will be decided by whomever wakes up first.
Hope you two have a grand adventure in the sunny south. Sounds like fun. You know, when we saw you, you looked fit as a fiddle. Have someone point the camera in your direction!
As a Brit, the notion of flying around within one’s own country still seems wildly exotic. There are scheduled flights between the big cities & Scotland & that’s about it. Otherwise - God help us - we have to take the train, which will ravage the wallet & deliver you late. So enjoy, you lucky people…