June 20, 2013
(June 21, 2013)
Strictly speaking, the date happens to be June 21, but I wouldn't want to leave out the first day of our fantastic journey across the European continent. We will be touching down in London soon at the Gatwick airport after a typical flight of movies on minuscule, dated screens (seriously, the only "tube" TV I've seen in the past few years is the crummy one I have in my bedroom to play Gamecube and Sega Genesis on) half hidden by passenger's heads, at least three screaming or crying children and the occasional bout of turbulence. On my right is Rachel, who is currently watching a movie about some guy in India collection old people (?) and to my left is a quiet man, whom I have decided is French, or at least of a French-speaking country (plus he chose the French option for his movie...I'm not creepy...). I liked his iPad cover.
The day began with me not wanting to get up as it would likely be my last comfortable sleep in five weeks (I will be happy to be proven wrong). I was convinced to get up, however, by an irritating song on the radio (which is usually how I start most mornings). That, and I needed to finish packing. And I swear I mean finish this time. I was too stressed and nervous to leave it to the last possible minute as usual. The morning was mostly uneventful aside from a trip to my grandparent's house for coffee and cookies. Because what my nerves really needed was caffeine and sugar. Of course this was later helped by my last taste of Timmies, an iced cappechino I enjoyed with Hazen, Kyle, Rachel's mother and Rachel's mother's boyfriend.
We had our coffee and good-byes punctuated with the irritation of lines, papers and grumpy uniformed airport security at the scanners. Because the smell of a thousand feet is supposed to make me feel secure on my flight (I'm always a little bitter about security at airports). Regardless, I removed my footwear (the only city I actually HAD to going through security...which was odd), bag, phone, laptop, jacket like the rest.
Upon passing an arcade outside security, we came across an old favourite of ours from Jr. High math class: Bubble Bobble. We decided we had time for a game. As my friend's lives dwindled, I still had two lives and limited minutes to get the high score. Triumph I did, though we barely made the last call for our gate as a consequence. Heh.
So here I sit, old people movie now complete (strange Indian theme on this flight with the showing of "Life of Pi" first), breathing recycled air as Rachel digs around in her pack for something eluding her reach. I will probably return to reading "The Hound of the Baskervilles" and actually finish this time after trying at least three times in the past to read it. It has actually piqued my interest, probably because I'm a fan of the episode based on the book in the BBC Sherlock.
...
So thus begins our journey. On a cramped, stuffy, sleepy, dated aircraft.
(Which I will appreciate before this trip is over)
