just john

I made it back to Germany Monday morning only to learn that my luggage did not. No matter, what possible value could two weeks worth of non-work clothing, most of the things I got for Christmas, all my toiletries, and a 30 day supply of the prescription that will cost me $150 once my new "benefits" kick in possibly be worth to me? $400 according to Delta. For some reason it is presumed that I will carry up to $3000 worth of possessions from GSP to ATL but only $400 to Europe. Since their estimate is per pound of luggage, I have to wonder if they have actually weighed and priced a pair of pants since the heavy polyester boom of the seventies. Fortunately, I received a call this morning alleging that said suitcases would be waiting for me at my apartment when I get there.

Riding the train and walking back to my apartment without the tokens of travel was a bit of surreality that I was not prepared for. I spent over two weeks back in my normal life, seeing my friends, sleeping in my bed at home, watching remnants of our once productive task force of writers off tivo with Bill. It wasn't so much a vacation as it was an escape of settling comfortably back into something you really missed but didn't have any more. During my last day in the US, the idea that I had an apartment and a job over here was a little hazy to me. Putting the key in the door and walking in felt kind of strange but everything was where I left it except the Roomba. He'd somehow gotten into the bathroom and drained his batteries before he could get out and the basil was still alive. Fortunately, I have a separate toothbrush and tooth paste for travel and had everything I needed to not go back out again. I took a short nap and spent the rest of my jet lag reading the last of the book I had for the plane. Managed to sleep all the way to 4:00am before sitting up and turning on the computer. Was pleasantly surprised to find that, in spite of losing my bags and coming up about 150 miles short, Delta awarded me gold medallion status. That means I get an extra wet-nap on every other flight.

I found my car this morning. It was also where I left it - sometimes I forget and leave it parked on the street over night. This time it was in the garage and managed to get me to this job I'd forgotten I had for two weeks.