Thursday. Florida. Humidity. Guess what? I typed “Wednesday” first. The coffee is ok, but it’s coffee in my own living room and I’m typing this up on my Chromebook instead of my phone. I guess this means it’s a normal morning.
Translation: I am baked AF.
Our trip north is done. It was nice to see the family, even if it was for an unhappy occasion. I feel like I exist in a sort of “separate but equal” status on that side of the family. I was brought into it by marriage rather than born into it, and my parents split up a few years later. As a result, I stopped seeing my dad’s extended family as often, and even less so I entered high school.
I got hugs, Mom got hugs, we both hugged Dad, and we made the rounds to say goodbye after the luncheon. Regardless about how often we might interact, we still give a shit and care about each other.
Except my step-mom. Allegedly, when Mom said went to say goodbye and told her we were leaving, she was almost gleeful as she said “yes you are!”
Also, I’m pretty sure one of my uncles peed in the cemetery woods.
After the funeral and the luncheon, we went to my sister’s house so we could see the kids. That visit was one of the major things I wanted to achieve, and not just for Mom’s sake. It was also my sister’s birthday. Last week sucked for her, and we brought her an ice cream cake. She needed a little good.
I made it out of Rhode Island easier than I made the trip up. There was no reason for nerves on the way back here, so I was a much more pleasant traveler to be with. In a fortunate turn of events, the first leg of the flight was delayed by two hours, which ate up more than half of our layover in Atlanta. Our happiness was short-lived, because Georgia and Florida were getting hit with thunderstorms. We landed an hour late.
I got the extra pat down treatment on the way up and back. Every single time I go through that SUPERSCANNER 9000 machine, without fail. I walk through, they show me the screen with the red indicators showing some irregularity or another in the crotchal region, and I get a public fingerblasting from TSA.
Mom’s carry-on was opened up for a full examination as well. I completely expected this. You can’t expect to bring leftover Chinese food, a pack of hotdogs, and a fancy shower head in your carry-on bag and go through unscathed.
In the meantime, I’m in the other line with illegal vape carts in my makeup bag and no one bats an eye.
Oblig: Defund the TSA