Stark Raving Calm

Settled in and ready for bed

We flew like the wind today.

For the first time I utilized the online check-in, checking in from home on Saturday and printing our boarding passes, along with a coupon for free headphones.

We didn't actually leave our house until a few minutes after 7:00 am, for an 8:20 departure. But we made it to the gate about 10 minutes before the flight started boarding.

The flights were on time, we got to see the movie Spanglish, absolutely no running was involved, and we landed in Memphis half an hour ahead of schedule to clear skies and bright sunshine.

When we got to the baggage claim, our bags were waiting on the carousel. There was nobody else around, no jostling for position.

The infamous shuttle bus driver from our last trip was waiting for us. As we were approaching him my cell phone rang and it was a friend from our church in Memphis.

She had wanted to pick us up at the airport, but she was working late so she sent her daughter to get us. Five minutes after we picked up our bags were in her daughter's car headed for St. Jude.

We checked into our room at Grizzlies House at 4:30 and had plenty of time to walk over and eat at the cafeteria.

Our buddy Jake and his mom Stephanie, who went through the same treatment as Steven at the same time, had to rely on the shuttle and didn't get to Grizzlies House until 8:30, had to order out, and their food didn't arrive until 10:00 pm-- that was us last time.

The view out our window: The Pyramid

Our first appointment tomorrow isn't until noon, so we get to sleep in and we've got a day to try an adjust to the new time zone.

Now why isn't it always like this?

Its enough to drive us stark raving calm.

- Kathleen