JOURNAL ENTRY 33--Nov. 16, 2014--The Trip Home
It's my blog, and I won't cry if I don't want to, won't cry if I don't want to, won't cry if I don't want to; you would not cry, too, if it happened to you.
On an earlier Facebook blog introduction, I started a post by saying, "It's my blog post, and I'll overdo it if I want to, etc.," and Patty Nelson Merrifield sent a wonderful reply with a video of Leslie Gore singing her famous hit song. Has anyone ever noticed that Leslie smiles the whole way through? She's not about to cry. She probably just came back from the bank.
Anyway, as I start this final entry by referring to that introduction, I've come to the realization that the last day is something I do not wish to elaborate on. Some unpleasant events happened at that time, and I choose not to relive them. I know I did a favorable entry about the trip to France, which was nice, but symmetry does not always occur.
Earlier, I had planned to do a complete rendition of Nov. 16, but I awoke this morning with a clear thought in mind--"It is my blog, and I don't have to end it that way." I returned safely home, and that's what's important. Sunday, Nov. 16, was an overall positive, and what negatives there were need no emphasis.
We met here for one last time on Nov. 16.
On Sunday morning, the Robinsons and I met as planned in the hallway of the Patio St. Antoine and waited for our van. Ours finally did come, and we made it to Charles de Gaulle Airport early enough. Then we said our goody-byes and went our separate ways. I experienced some problems at the airport and did not enjoy my stay there, but I finally made it out of the terminal and onto my scheduled flight which took me east across the Atlantic. Almost ten hours later, we were in Atlanta.
Charles de Gaulle Airport--Terminal 2E
Going through security was pure hell!
This is where I waited for my flight to board.
Air France's Boeing 777
My window seat was directly over the wing, so I couldn't see anything below us.
The Robinsons caught their direct flight to Houston and headed back to Texas. All three of us arrived home safely, and that is the main story. My time in Atlanta was okay, I did get to my Delta flight on time, and the crowded plane flew us east to DFW.
We landed at Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson Airport, and I went through security here, too, which was no picnic. Then I went upstairs and found my Delta flight to Dallas.
As darkness fell, we took off for DFW.
Our Delta flight home was packed, and stewards had to help passengers find room in the overheads for their carry-ons, but it went well enough. Two and a half hours later, we were there.
At DFW, Andy and Valery met me at luggage claim, and after an anxious wait, my large check-in bag finally did come through the carousel. Once again, the bar-coding worked. Then Andy bade me a fond farewell and headed home to Arlington.
When Valery and I exited the terminal and headed to the parking garage, a cold wind hit us! I was wearing a hat and jacket, but it was in the low 20's in North Texas, and I suddenly felt the coldest temperatures I had experienced all month! When we drove through Denton, it started snowing, and it snowed on us most of the way back to Gainesville. When we turned onto Gilbert St. and headed to my driveway, it was dark, but I could see snow all over the roof of my house. Again, here I was in North Texas experiencing harsh winter conditions. Reading about cold temps back in the States was one thing; experiencing them was another.
I thanked Valery then, and I thank her again now, for her kindness and help. After this, getting up the next morning and commuting to Denton to teach could not have been easy. I thank Andy for being there when I arrived home in Texas, and again I thank Ben for taking me to the airport in the first place--over a month ago.
I hauled the luggage into the house, turned on the heat, donned my PJ's, and went to bed. No one could have been happier to be home and to get some long-overdue rest than I was that night!
All good things must come to an end, and Gordon Smith's "France 2014" just did.
FIN!!!
Hors d'Oeuvres:
1. Looking back over it, I believe the month I spent touring France is my most satisfying travel experience ever. I've gone on good trips before, but this was by far the longest and best.
2. Naturally, being familiar with the language of the country helped, but I had never before had so much experience in a sink-or-swim, French-speaking setting, and I was not sure how it would go. If I do say so, and I'm not the only one who does, my French served us well.
3. I have always loved history, and I've made a lifelong project of learning as much about it as I can. So visiting this many places of artistic, cultural, and historical importance was a dream come true!
4. SHE WAS RIGHT! In 1975 when Valery returned from two years in Italy and touring Europe, she graciously agreed to come to GHS and talk to my classes about her experiences. Boy, did she ever! One of the things she said that still stands out is "We're told we're the envy of the world, but we're not."
After finally getting to Europe in retirement, I cannot say how little that has changed in forty years. When I see how well the Europeans are managing their resources, handling transportation, preserving their architecture, and conserving their land, I cannot agree with young Valery more. We may be the envy of SOME countries--but certainly NOT ALL. Many countries do not envy us and do not want to be like us.
4. SHE WAS RIGHT! In 1975 when Valery returned from two years in Italy and touring Europe, she graciously agreed to come to GHS and talk to my classes about her experiences. Boy, did she ever! One of the things she said that still stands out is "We're told we're the envy of the world, but we're not."
After finally getting to Europe in retirement, I cannot say how little that has changed in forty years. When I see how well the Europeans are managing their resources, handling transportation, preserving their architecture, and conserving their land, I cannot agree with young Valery more. We may be the envy of SOME countries--but certainly NOT ALL. Many countries do not envy us and do not want to be like us.
5. Finally, taking this trip was one thing, but preserving it in a blog was another. Over a year ago, Andy took the time and trouble to come over and teach me how to blog, and I appreciate that more than words can say. It was not easy at first, and downloading the pictures remained tedious throughout, but I am forever grateful to my Aggie computer science major and Viz-Lab graduate! THANK YOU, MY SON!
