Travel Day...

As I was hauling my enormous suitcase down the stairs at the Chicago Blue Line Stop I came to the realization that I very well could be over the 50 lb weight limit.  On the train I decided that I would have better luck avoiding the overage fee if I used a skycap.  I walked outside to see no skycaps anywhere (do we not have skycaps?) this is when I accepted that I was totally screwed.

I walked inside & saw no line to check in & hoped that maybe they'd go easy on me.   That thought went away when they nailed the guy next to me for 4 lbs.   The ticket agent walked away & I put my monster of a suitcase on the scale and it read 50.5...way better than I expected but I still moved my suitcase around on the scale trying to lose that half a lb but it didn't work.  Gina/Crasian when we went to Mexico for Jenny's wedding & we were slightly over didn't they tell us there was a little leeway in the overage?   Anyway, I got lucky because all the sudden a bunch of people got in line & at the same time a couple of their printers went out.   By the time they got to me they were trying to get everyone out of there that they didn't even look at the scale.

Now I'm hanging out at the Charlotte airport relaxing with a Carolina Strawberry Beer (it's actually pretty good & not near as sweet as it sounds) & thank you to cute bald brother dog-loving bartender, Mark, for forgetting to ring up my beer.   I was able to catch up with Lindsey, my parents & am now getting ready to call my nephews to tell them bye.  I got to hang out with them over the weekend as we were celebrating my Grandma Nelson's 90th birthday & I'm amazed every day at the little men they have turned in to.   Colton got me good though he was kind enough to offer to drive & I asked if he could touch the peddles and he said if you & mom can then I can & sadly he was right.   What's scary is that since I was home in July Gabe has started to make his height move on Colton so I know soon I will regain the title of the shortest Crouch.

Anyway, I'm excited that this is my first trip on my own.   That it's the first time I've left on one day & arrived on the next.   That it's the first time the people in the row behind me talked the whole way from Chicago to Charlotte & I didn't want to stab something in my ears or put tape over their mouths.  Could I be acquiring patience?  And for all of the adventures, experiences and memories to come.   And I'm proud that my number of break downs leaving my little Ollie & Gloria can still at this point be counted on one hand but I know they are in good loving hands.

I'm Madrid bound in a couple of hours so I'm signing off for now.   Next time I write I'll be in Spain!!!  And thank you O'Hare for actually getting me out on time!