Defined: there are what I call “marker days,” days in which sometime is scheduled to occur that is out of the ordinary. The marker for Monday, November 18, 2024 was travel to Old Harbor School on Kodiak Island. I had this day in mind for a month. Today was the day.

The day started out okay. It was cold and sunny. The sun came up behind the Chugach Mountains as I was cleaning the horse pen. Tyra’s poop was loose, but not splatty. A good omen.

I headed to town at 9:15 a.m. It was light enough for me to feel comfortable driving. I drove slowly on Buffalo Mine Road, which as always is winding, but not as always was slick. I’m okay with traveling on winding, slick roads – it’s dealing with traffic that unnerves me.

I got to the hotel prior to Pam’s arrival (always a good thing because I need and crave down time) and took care of a few book-related details, such as making sure that books were readily available for the volunteers in our absence.

Pam arrived and sat down at her desk and took care of a few incidental items, like reading my volunteer things to do list, and making a few additions. I got antsy, waiting for her, because we had a plane to catch, and as far as I was concerned, not enough time to catch it.

She drove. Sunny out. In fact, the low-lying sun was in my eyes. I was by now very anxious because, as I well knew, a long TSA line might gum up the works in that we might possibly miss our plane. Oh oh. My duffle bag got pulled off the conveyor belt. Oh oh. Two guys beckoned to me, and put the bag on a table, and asked me to step to the far side of the plexiglass. Oh oh, they rifled through my belongings. Oh oh. They pulled forth the most innocuous item of all, a package of dehydrated/rehydrated beans and said that it would not be allowed on the plane.

My jaw dropped. The package was sealed, so much so that I’d need scissors to open it. I said to them, when presented with the evidence, “you have got to be kidding!” The tallest of the two guys said “Nope, you can’t take this with you.”

I did not argue with him or come up with alternatives because I had a plane that was leaving shortly. So I said thanks. The fellow holding the package said, “Thanks for your patience.”

As it was, Pam and I got to gate C-5 fifteen minutes before boarding time.

Pete had booked my seat, of course thinking that I like to have the window seat. However, my seat was by the exit window, so I was situated next to the panel – previously, one blew out of the plane. The flight attendant asked me if I was okay for assuming responsibility for the exit and I said yes, thinking that best that I, and not Pam, sitting next to me, or the fellow next to her, do the honor because they would then die.

The hour-long flight was smooth – I could see the mountains extending far off into the distance – they looked like stiff frosting on cake.

Landed, walked over to Island Air where we were to catch our half hour flight to Old Harbor. We were told that we’d have to take the next day’s flight because the Old Harbor flight had departed. I did not grumble or complain; instead, (with Pam) we ended up taking the shuttle to the Best Western Motel in downtown Kodiak. And this is where I am now. Tomorrow, on to Old Harbor School.

Next: 315. 11/19/24: I could Write a Book