I arrived in the Indy Airport Economy lot and hurriedly drove through rows of parked cars looking for a spot knowing that I needed to board my plane in a little less than an hour.  I found one and grabbed my stuff which I had finished consolidating while I drove down.  I then tramped across the parking lot to the first place the shuttle would stop and watched the Tiger Express zoom towards the terminal.  After a few minutes waiting, I confirmed that this really was the first stop for the Economy Shuttle as it pulled up.  I tossed my bags into place and sat down.  I felt rather silly when the shuttle drove right by my car to station # 9 located only a couple hundred feet from my car.  

After stopping at almost every other stop in the parking lot, we headed towards the terminal.  As we neared our stop I hopped up and positioned myself next to the door so I exited first.  I then walked quickly to the Northwest baggage check in.  She scanned my preprinted boarding pass and we waited as the machine printed the tags for my luggage.  I arrived at security glad to see no line.  I forgot I had put some gum in my lower-front, zippered pocket and set off the metal detector for the first time that I can remember.  I got pulled to the side and fully investigated.  I felt a little dumb as the TVA guy waved his wand all around and gave me a pat down.  I spotted a Subway as I walked to my gate.  I still hadn’t seen the time yet but saw no activity around the gate so I retraced my steps to Subway.  The lady seemed rather frustrated.  I felt glad when I heard her tell her work companion to give me my money back because she couldn’t fold the sandwich shut due to crumbly bread.  I ate my crumbly bread sandwich with satisfaction while I waited to board the plane. 

As the plane accelerated to 160 mph and rose into the air, I watched out the window in a bit of a stupor.  I felt warm but decided to leave my jacket on anyway.  When the skyline disappeared in clouds I closed my eyes and imagined trying hard to recreate a dream I’d dreamt the night before.  I beheld a skyline jeweled with light much like the city of Coruscant.  A fitting comparison as my mind depicted how absolute power corrupts absolutely.  My eyes closed again reopening once or twice more before our pilot introduced us to the “8^th wonder of the world.”  A web of light spanned the horizon as I witnessed the city of Minneapolis. 

 I felt quite warm and a bit euphoric as I exited the plane foregoing my traditional plane pat in order to leave the attendant his personal space. 

My eyes sparkled gladdened by the sit of so many more pretty people than witnessed in Dallas Fort Worth.  I greatly enjoyed the speed enhancing conveyor belts and wondered how fast I walked.  After finding gate F10, I doubled back in search of a smoothie.  My insides were smoldering.  You can’t imagine how happy I felt slowly extinguishing the fire one slurp at a time.  I hopped atop a bar stool and popped six pills.  4 pills to combat the congestion oozing through my sinuses making my right ear squeal seconds after my left ear popped whenever the air pressure changed on the previous flight.  The later 2 pills were consumed because I couldn’t tell if I felt feverish or not.  After self medicating, I patrolled the F wing happily slurping my smoothie.  Eventually, I stationed myself in front of gate F10 awaiting our delayed departure. 

Once aboard flight ______ I thumbed through the Sky Mall magazine.  I saw a gold, replica, Pirates of the Caribbean medallion that I wanted.  Then I watched our acceleration and lift off and soon after supported my back with my jacket and did my best to sleep for the next 3.25 hrs rousing only to request a ginger ale and to watch the plane descend into Seattle.  It took awhile for the occupant seat 36 A to depart the aircraft.  When he finally did he quickly walked towards the baggage claim and patiently waited behind some guy who chose to block descent down the escalator.  The site of closing train doors and sounds of zooming acceleration rewarded him as he made a quick but futile first step off the escalator. 

I walked the entire baggage claim hallway because someone didn’t have the foresight ot change the sign on claim 8 from American West to North West.  After ½ an hour my baggage finally arrived and Alan and I hiked to the rental car.  I snoozed until 1 something and then watched the road until 2:30 AM.  I spotted one point of interest, the Sequoia State Park visitors center.  Then I slept until 3:30 AM when we arrived at our campsite.  Once flat against the ground I slipped into a dream world until 8:30 AM.   To Ape Cave