June 29th, 2006
Seattle, WA - Fairbanks Airport, AK

I set off on my trip with a stroke (or three) of luck. Both Gregg and I have free flights to Alaska, courtesy of Alaskan Airlines as a kind thank you for giving up our seats last Thanksgiving on an overbooked flight.
They issued us paper tickets at the time - which I was supposed to bring with me, as my boarding pass. Since this was a paper ticket and not an e-ticket, they could not, and would not let me board without this ticket. I had however, in this fine time of e-ticketing and paperless transactions, completely forgotten to bring this ticket.

I arrived at 8, for my 9:20 flight, with no ticket. The chance of Gregg, who had just dropped me off, getting home and back with enough time to board, was slim to none. That chance diminished as his phone rang and rang, 10, 15, 25 times, with no answer. Finally, I got through to my brother, who had just picked up his girlfriend from a soccer game, and she had just potentially broken her ankle playing. The two of them rushed from South Seattle to my apartment, to try to reach Gregg as he arrived home, to have him find the ticket in our apartment. Gregg finally picked up the phone, so this said interception was not needed - but appreciated!! I hope you all have wonderful people in your life, like I have my brother, who will do things like that for you. (This is where I am lucky for the first time today)

I needed to be in Fairbanks TONIGHT, as at 5:30 am, my flight to Nome boards. While I had been trying to get ahold of gregg, with my hand compulsively on redial (or whatever the cell phone vernacular would label that function)...I had checked if there were later flights - and thankfully, (This is my second bit of luck) there was one at 10:40 - which was further delayed 40 minutes. I had plenty o' time.

Gregg, phenomenal as always, exhausted beyond belief from working 20 hours the other day, and then getting up at 5 am all week...went home, found the ticket, turned right around and drove it back to me, when all he really wanted to do was sleep. He didn't even yell at me for my huge oversight, which resulted in him being further delayed from much needed slumber.
(This is my third bit of luck, that I have the greatest boyfriend of all time - #1 - yippeee!!!!).

So as you can all see, I have wonderful people in my life, and my trip is off to a lucky start.

I feel happier and friendlier and smilier than I can remember feeling in a long long time.
Tonight, however, will be a long one - I arrive at 1:15 am, and have to get up at 4:30 to check in and board my next flight. Tomorrow, I may not be as perky, with my projected sleep deprivation from tonight.