Was it that I had had enough holiday excess? That I needed an escape, because me, resting under one roof for more than ten days in a row is inconceivable? [Nina, I could not believe it when you told me that you like to go away at least once a month… No wonder you’re so (fill in the blank)]
Or, is it guilt: I have gone to distant places, sure, but I know little of the cities north of where I live. In fact, I have never set foot in Minneapolis. Now is the time!
Or maybe it’s out of friendship: one of my very closest friends lives in St. Paul. She had a birthday this week. I’m into birthdays. Off I go to celebrate!
So true, yet so off the right track.
It’s the crazy game of miles and flight segments logged in for 2006. It’s airline games and, what’s the American phrase – manning the system.
It's a cost–benefit analysis: I needed one more flight in 2006 to keep those elite bonus miles and perks flowing in the year 2007. A flight to Minneapolis late tonight was the cheapest, easiest way to handle it.
The other suggested reasons for being here, up north, are good, but they do not quite a trip make. Oh, and just erase the first one. I am not in need of an escape. I am in need of a descape. Or, is that not proper English?
9 hours ago
I'm talking up a storm here tonight ;-) A few years ago, I was busy making plans for a similar trip to keep my elite status when I discovered that I had flown out of New York a week or so before, landing in Dallas. I must not have liked Dallas much, because 2 days later I was winging my way south to Guatelmala City. This was all terrific fun and highly fascinating, because I was also home and very much alone in Portland, Oregon at the same time.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know, I have yet to return from Guatemala. I like to think it is because I am far too busy climbing up and down remote mountains in search of the perfect bean to make the perfect cup of Guatemalan coffee, and that I shall not return until I do.
In any event, I am glad that I saved myself a quick trip to nowhere. I'd like to thank myself, if ever I do return, but I'm not sure I'd recognize me.
Then again, meeting myself might not be a very good idea. I can't help but wonder about the passport I carried as I flew first class all the way. That means a lot of people addressed me by name at the airport counters and lounges. And on the plane. At that time, a top level elite member flying first class was neither ignored nor referred to as "Hey you!" And my tickets must have had had my name as they were matched to my passport by all and sundry along my merry way.