Christmas Part 2

Actual Christmas.

I couldn't make it to SLC because the flights were too full to get me home. Dad and Lynda left on the 22nd for Denver to spend the Holiday with her family. I looked at flights and discovered that I could get in and out of Los Angeles to spend the holiday with my aunts and cousins.

I sent an email to my aunts to see if I could crash their Christmas. I got an email back that not only could I join them, but that if I flew into Burbank, my 3rd aunt would pick me up and I could spend Christmas eve with her. I haven't gotten to spend any real time with her in the last 10 years, so I was realy excited!

We got released from work at noon on the 24th, but my flight wasn't until 2:30 so there was no need to leave until 1. I dropped off my car at the park and ride lot and was at the airport and through security by 1:45. I made my way to the gate and asked the agent if she had released seats, she had. I had a whole row to myself. Rock on! I was sitting there waiting for the plane to come in, when I looked up and the display was blank. Having worked at the airport, I knew this was bad. I went to a computer and learned that our plane had been given to another flight and we were now flying out of a gate at the LITERAL other end of the airport. Right as I headed out, they made the announcement and the whole group of us began our treck across the airport. As soon as I got over there I started asking around, because I had seen in the computer that this flight was on a maintanence delay, but I couldn't get any other info off the computer because they have changed the screen since I left. I couldn't get anyone to confirm the information, so I waited. There was a flight leaving for Long Beach 15 minutes after my flight to Burbank, which was not going to leave on time. I called my aunt tell her I was going to be late. She told me not to worry about it and that I get there when I get there and she would come and get me whatever time I got in.

About 10 minutes later we boarded the plane, then sat there. Way too long. I just KNEW something wasn't right. The pilot finally got on and told everyone that we were on a maintanence delay and that it wouldn't be much longer. FINALLY we pulled away from the gate, an hour and a half after our original departure.

After that, everything went off without a hitch.

When we finally made it back to my aunts house we fed all the animals (2 horses, 2 cats and a very old dog) then had dinner. After dinner we made a pie and sat down with a glass of Contreau and watched Ratittoui. I had never seen it before and it is my aunt's current favorite movie. I LOVED it.

We finished the movie and went to bed at 9am. I slept until 7 the next morning. We got up and had a lazy morning before we headed out to the house where my grandparents lived, and my one of my aunt's is currently living. It was a lot of fun. We sat around and chatted with drinks and ourdervs before dinner, ate and then played bingo, scattegories and a crossword puzzle. I even got to decorate a small gingerbread house! I left there and spend the night with my 3rd aunt.

We got caught up looking at pictures and telling stories and I didn't end up getting to bed until after midnight. Unfortunately, the only flight I could get out on was at 6:45am out of LAX. I had originally wanted to take a flight out of LGB at 9:45am, but that wasn't going to happen. So, 3 hours of sleep later, my aunts and I headed to LAX. I got on the plane no problem, and made it to Phoenix in time to be at work by 9:30am. I had only planned on working a half day in the afternoon, so instead I worked a half day in the morning.

It was a great holiday, lack of sleep and all!