I Need To Be Home

Well, I have arrived home after about 14 days in paradise.

We had the bulk of the day to kill yesterday because our flight didn’t leave until about 9:15 at night. Both Louise and I were ready to go home and aside from taking a dip in the ocean we pretty much spent the day packing and waiting to go. Stupid, but neither of us was up for more. We left around 5:30 and went to have a good supper at a restaurant in Kahalui which is the town with the airport. There was a 50’s diner type place  in a mall just down the road from the airport, so we parked the car out front and had a little bit of supper.

I parked in front of the place because the other day we were told of a couple that went to the aquarium on their last day and everything was stolen out of their vehicle. They arrived at the airport with just their passports. That would be my idea of a nightmare. I spent the whole meal keeping watch over the car like a total idiot. Idiot or not, the suitcases were there when we returned to the car.

Just a short drive to the rental car place and a shuttle to the airport took about five minutes. When we got to the airport there were hundreds of tourists ahead of us, and we were 2 ½ hours early. The line went down one wall and then outside and it didn’t move too bloody quickly either. All of us in line took it as well as could be expected, considering we were leaving the sun and sand for the wind and snow. Some assholes tried to walk to the front of the line, but they were soon directed to the back of the line. This kind of shit is why I don’t like travelling Air Canada.

We spent well over an hour in line and eventually they separated the customers going to Calgary from the customers flying to Vancouver just so we could make it through security and board in time. I don’t know why Air Canada makes the check in process so difficult, but they sure do. I have never had the same problems with Westjet, but then I don’t travel that much.

“Aloha” is used primarily for hello and goodbye, but it also means peace and compassion. It also seems to indicate a state of mind, in fact Louise would often talk about feeling the “aloha” spirit. Hawaii is also referred to as the Aloha State.

 

When you arrive in Paradise, you step off of the plane and the airport is open to the elements (sun and light wind), the air is fragrant and everyone is happy and smiling. I suppose that is the way pretty much all vacations start. I don’t know what happens in that one or two weeks, but the airport experience is much different leaving. There are the interminable line ups, all of the different check points and all of this on a timetable. That airy feeling when you arrive was somehow replaced with stifling, muggy heat without even a hint of breeze. The people were still friendly, but I couldn’t help but feel that their interest in me had waned now that I was leaving and taking my vacation dollars with me.

I had over stayed my welcome in paradise I suppose. They would let me stay indefinitely, but I need to be home. I will more than likely return, but not for a while. I have had my fill of “Aloha” for the time being and look forward to falling back into my normal boring life.