my tribute to the holidays

Well, I can't say that I didn't get out of Portland without a little bit of trouble. But, I made it to Denver, miraculously with no delays. In order to find out if my 6am flight would be canceled I had to stay up past midnight, so it was the actual day of my flight and see what the website(s) posted. Surprisingly it was 'on-time'. Because of the treacherous road conditions, I had decided to take the MAX, Portland's public transportation system, to the airport. And not knowing how often it was running over night I decided to go right away since everyone was still awake and that would me leave me plenty of time for whatever chaos I might find at the airport. I was dropped off just in time to catch the train at about 1am, made it to the airport at about 2:15am and found this:

People sleeping EVERYWHERE! I walked around until I found what seemed to be last spot available to curl up that was out of the way and not on cold tile floor. I laid out my blanket, snuggled up and got a little shut eye...a little being the operative word...in between two people stretched out across some lounge chairs snoring and a rotating rack of souveniers. At least I didn't have to pick a spot in that line to sleep in...I had no bag to check...

At the last minute the night before I went to get my backpack out of the volvo that hadn't moved in 3 days, only to discover that we couldnt' find the key anywhere! It was 10pm, and leaving in a few hours as I was planning on doing left me no time to call AAA in the middle of the night in such terrible conditions to rescue my burdensome baggage out of the car. So, with a change of clothes, my toothbrush, fleece sleepingbag liner, travel pillow and computer already in hand, I decided to leave Portland without it and deal with it later... or have someone in Portland deal with it later, I guess. At the time it turned out to be my salvation at the airport though. If I had needed to check that bag, I would have had to wait in a line 400 people long...a line that was waiting for a counter that wasn't opening until 4am...for a 6am flight...I wouldn't have made it. Not to mention the relief of not having to lug it around for the next 18 hours as I caught bus after bus to get from Denver to Colorado Springs.

I have to give a little shout out to the nice man named Jay who generously offered to pay for my bus fares, saving me a total of $20, which was an incredible gift... he probably has no idea just how helpful that was! I gave him some directions in line in the Denver airport when I discovered we were headed the same way and was in a similar predicament of needing to get to Colorado Springs for a reasonable price during the holidays. He told me he would stick with me. When I stopped to make sure I had the cash to pay for the cash-only fares he took pity on me and my pathetic wad of money and told me he would cover my fare...as a Christmas present...and 'cuz he was just happy to have some company. Fortunately he turned out to be a nice man, not bothersome or chatty or creepy and even let me use his phone to call for a ride when we arrived at a very deserted Park and Ride location under the freeway overpass in Coloraodo Springs. I mean there was a port-o-potty and a bench, but no pay phone, no shelter, no signage and it was 25 degrees. So, I wrapped myself in my fleece blanket and waited on the corner for sights of my grandparents. Soon enough they came to my rescue...but only once I chased them down a block and a half away after they passed right by the parking lot where I was waiting!

I have always said that I love being a part of the Christmas holiday travel chaos...until I admitted to myself the day before I was supposed to leave that I really actually had a very slim chance of making it to Colorado by Christmas. I realized I had never actually been cancelled on or delayed so much by an airline that I wouldn't get where I was hoping to go on time. I was really sad. Though I had wonderful friends there in Portland that welcomed me to join them for Christmas, I was fully looking forward to Christmas with my family. And thankfully I made it some how. The northwest has gotten SO much snow, I don't know if it has thawed yet! Luckily, I have gotten the best of both worlds, a beautiful experience enjoying a winter wonderland and the warm blue skies of Colorado Springs. It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful the days can be here. And it has been really fun to be with my mom's side of the family. We've gotten into playing dominoes and cooking dinner together, rather than just letting my amazing cook of a grandma slave away. It's been fun and very family-esque.

Here's a pic of the infamous tree at my granparent's house and my grandpa, Ahpa. Apparently and sadly this is the last year for the tree. I have always counted on this tree as it is usually the only source of Christmas decoration in my life...so hopefully by this time next year I will actually have a place of my own for my own tree and decorations! I know I know...don't hold your breath.