The Friendly Skies (2008)

12/16/08

With my whole life packed in two suitcases and a backpack, I wrapped up my time in Arizona and took a flight back to California, my most favorite place among all that I've stayed at in the States. There was nothing new about the journey though. I went through the exact same rotuine I do every time I fly. As usual, I had left everything till the last minute, including laundry that I'd taken out from the dryer 15 minutes before I had to leave, and hence was packing and shoving things in my suitcases until the shuttle to the airport was standing outside my door. The driver actually took pity on me after seeing me shoving clothes with my feet in the suitcase and helped me with it. God bless him.

The routine continued.

I checked in both my bags, both being overweight - Usual.
I took out stuff from one and shifted it to the other so I had to pay extra for only one (smart me!), doing it right there at the pavement in front of the airline counter - Usual.
I reached the security and set off the alarm (this time forgetting to take out my cellphone from my jeans pocket) - Usual.
Took a good 5 minutes to shove everything back in my backpack, wear my shoes and collect myself - Usual.
Reached the gate way before departure time (this time by 2 hours) - Usual.
Burned a lot of blood cursing the bad wi-fi - Usual.
Got something to eat 10 minutes before boarding so had to throw half of it away (This time an iceream) - Usual.

The only thing which was a first this time was that I slept through the whole two hour flight. I have never done that, not even in eight hour long flights. I guess the three hour sleep the night before caught up with me.

My cousin was there to pick me up with her husband and two young kindergarten going boys. I gave my brother-in-law an ulcer by making him pick my ultra-heavy suitcase and putting it in the trunk. The drive to their home was quiet, understandably.

We got to their home, which is beautiful. Been a while since I've been in a two-storey proper family house. Not to mention, proper home-cooked Pakistani food. She'd made me nihari and chicken karhai with naan! :O

The room I was to stay in was upstairs. Which meant my bro-in-law had to take my luggage up the stairs. Dreading him throwing me out of his house and giving me some money to get a room in some motel, I volunteered beforehand to take some heavy stuff out of my large suitcase before he carried it up. He happily agreed before I'd even finished my sentence.

After dinner, I asked them the question the answer to which I wanted to know really bad but dreaded at the same time, fearing to hear the negative. But lo and behold! They not only had internet, but had wireless in this beautiful room they'd given me for my stay with them! Though I might have to share it a couple days later as they are expecting more relatives to visit them for vacation. But whatever. I'm the queen of the room for now.

I am sharing the kids' bathroom with them. It's a typical kiddie bathroom. Has action figures on everything from the soap dispenser to the toilet seat cover. My shower was interesting. Been a while since I last took a shower in front of Spiderman. It was almost... naughty.

Tomorrow, I start looking for a job and an apartment. But for now, I'm going to lie back and enjoy these very fat and squishy bedspreads from which, as I'm finding right now, it is very difficult to get up.

California has always been good to me.

PS: Oh and I had to move my clock back one hour. So I gained an extra hour. One more point to California.