At the Salt Lake City airport

3:17pm, mountain standard time, Salt Lake City International Airport, Salt Lake City, Utah, Sunday afternoon, October 30, 2022. Today is the thirteen year anniversary of my last day as a full time hospice chaplain. The party last night was to be with co-workers from that era. Unfortunately, two couldn’t make it and one has a serious illness. Consequently, it was not the reunion anticipated. Still, it was nice to see old friends and a few long forgotten acquaintances. Now, after a farewell lunch with my mom, I am at the airport, traveling back to Orange County to spend Halloween with my daughter.

O. Henry and the Oakland Airport

11:58am, pacific standard time, Oakland International Airport, Oakland, California, USA, Friday morning, October 14, 2022. They installed a short story kiosk at the Oakland Airport. You put your hand over a sensor indicating the story length you desire then, instantly, a strip of paper is dispensed, free of charge. The story lengths are 1 minute, 3 minutes or 5 minutes. I chose 5 minutes and got O. Henry’s, The Cactus. It is a good read and, I must say, a fun and novel way to encounter excellent writing.

Short story dispensed at Oakland, California airport

Sleep and recuperate

2:14pm, pacific standard time, Sacramento, California, USA airport. Thursday afternoon, September 29, 2022. Last night I started feeling under the weather. Rather than go to the office this morning I worked from the hotel, then drove to the Sacramento airport. My flight to San Diego boards soon, then I connect to Phoenix. I should be in my apartment by 8:30pm. I need to sleep the entire weekend and recuperate.

September 1

4:29pm, pacific standard time, Oakland, California, USA, airport, Thursday afternoon, September 1, 2022. More meetings and staff reviews today. The office was non-stop from 8am to 3pm. I left for the airport at 3:30, dropped off the rental car and looked for something to eat. There are not many dining options at the airport. I ended up having a protein bar and some water. I will grab dinner when I get to Orange County.

Utah update: May 15

7:13am, pacific standard time, airport in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, Sunday morning, May 15, 2022. We left Henderson early yesterday morning and drove straight to Mesquite, Nevada. After gambling a little our trip continued north. We arrived in Salt Lake City at 4pm. For dinner we selected burgers and beers downturn. When we finished mom was tired and wanted to turn in for the evening. I dropped her off at the hotel and continued on alone, driving around for a couple of hours, visiting various places, taking stock of what was new. So much has changed since I lived here, yet it all looks so familiar. A lot of memories are rushing through my mind right now. It is an emotional morning.

Departure

4:29am, pacific standard time, Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, Saturday morning, April 30, 2022. Made it to Phoenix airport early for my 6:05am flight to Salt Lake City, Utah. My mom will meet me there so we can drive back to Arizona together (with an overnight stop in Nevada) I look forward to seeing my mom, going on a road trip together, and seeing Utah again.

Walking to the gate, Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix, Arizona

The WIL and December 1st

5:43am, Wednesday morning, apartment in Chandler, Arizona, December 1. Seven years ago I was traveling for work to the Chicago area. Thanksgiving was late that year so December 1st was the Monday after the holiday. My itinerary was to fly from Orange County to Salt Lake City and connect to Chicago, however the flight was delayed. Then it was delayed again. Before long I missed my connection to Chicago all together. The airline counter agent recommended I fly to Salt Lake City. They would pay for a hotel and book me on another flight the next morning. Doing that would minimize the odds of not making it to my destination the next day as well. While some of my fellow travelers were probably annoyed, I was ecstatic. I had been texting with the WIL the entire morning, lamenting I would be in Utah but wouldn’t get to see her. Now I was staying in a hotel the airline was paying for. She came and saw me after work that day and we got to spend a couple hours together. The memory is so strong and so meaningful for many reasons, some I will keep to myself. But it is easy to say that day stands as one of the most beautiful moments we shared in a lifetime full of them.

November 17

11:03am, in my office, Phoenix, Wednesday morning. My mom arrives today. She is flying in from Salt Lake City. Her flight is boarding at this very moment. She gets in shortly after 1pm. I will pick her up at the airport, drop her off at the apartment then return to work. Today is also my brothers birthday. He would have been 52. The next two weeks will be nice to have company and to see my mom again.