AZ_Infantry
Active member
This was an awesome trip. No issues checking my firearm at all: Simple unlock, show the clear chamber, re-lock, and away we go. I’ve never flown with a firearm, and with the TSA horror stories floating around out there I was almost certain I’d get the one idiot at the counter that would give me a hard time about it.
I left Phoenix on the 3rd, flew into Atlanta for a bit of a layover, then off to Ft. Myers, Florida. Just to let you all know, never fly through Atlanta if you can possibly avoid it. The tram trains are packed and it takes 20 minutes to get from one gate to the next for your flight out. That place is a city unto itself. I hated it, especially trying to walk that far on this leg – the concourses go on forever, and there are no automatic sidewalks. Maybe it’s not so bad if you know the airport well, but for layovers it is a real pain. If you have trouble walking, like I do, pack LOTS of Advil.
Laurie (Tropical Montana) picked me up at the airport with a hug – and a rose and a card on the front seat of her truck [giddy smile]. She is so sweet. I hadn’t slept in about two days so my senses were a bit dull, but it was immediately evident the differences in weather and climate: The air was so clear… No pollution, whereas Phoenix is just one pollution cloud after another. I could breathe! And it’s humid. But it wasn’t oppressive in any sense of the word, just comfortable enough to lounge in the back yard, which was the majority of my time there. It smells fresh and clean.
Picture this…
0800 in Florida (that’s 8 AM)… 80 degrees… sun is shining… sitting on the back patio drinking an ice cold Corona… lazy music in the background… beautiful woman doing Yoga next to you… nothing at all on your mind but the sunshine…
I swear, if you’d have told me I was to die at that moment I’d have gone happily. It really was the closest thing to paradise I’ve experienced. It was atonement.
That was the majority of my time in Florida. That and going on picnics at the local park where we fed the seagulls and found cool oyster shells and just sat and talked the afternoon away. We didn’t even claw each others’ eyes out, which we were pretty sure would happen given our completely opposite political stances, lol. As it turns out, we’re both Libertarians, so it was cool to look at things from her side of the fence (left) compared to my far right side.
Now, for those of you that know Laurie from the boards, I have to say this:
She both IS and is NOT who she seems. She is witty and bright and passionate in her beliefs. She is also extremely intelligent and always willing to listen to the other side of things to consider objectiveness and the idea that she may be right or wrong. But, like me, she isn’t about right or wrong, she’s about the journey that makes it all worth it, those 4-hour conversations about things over a cold beer and mutual respect. And she is amazingly deep. She is the type of person that examines anything down to its deepest core just because it is fun to do so – but when it comes down to it, it is ‘to each his or her own’. Amazingly complex. And when you render deep and complex with intelligent, experienced and witting, you find a person that is an absolute joy to talk to about anything. From God to the military to politics to plants in her garden (which is just magnificent in itself, even for a non-plant carer-about-er like myself). The passion and depth makes the subject, not the other way around.
She opened her home to me and made me feel totally at ease and as if I lived there, too. I honestly have no words to describe how comfortable I was there. It was the perfect blend of all the worlds: My feeling of being home, her companionship, yet the thrill of being somewhere new. I hate repetition, but amazing is really the only adjective I have to describe it.
I was supposed to fly back Wednesday, but after discussing it I extended my stay one more full day and flew back 1800 (6 PM) Thursday. I’m very glad I did. I’m still reeling.
[FONT="]In all, I have to say that I am thankful to her for allowing me to enjoy such a wonderful time. I loved every moment! So thank you, Laurie, and see you in 2 weeks! [/FONT]
I left Phoenix on the 3rd, flew into Atlanta for a bit of a layover, then off to Ft. Myers, Florida. Just to let you all know, never fly through Atlanta if you can possibly avoid it. The tram trains are packed and it takes 20 minutes to get from one gate to the next for your flight out. That place is a city unto itself. I hated it, especially trying to walk that far on this leg – the concourses go on forever, and there are no automatic sidewalks. Maybe it’s not so bad if you know the airport well, but for layovers it is a real pain. If you have trouble walking, like I do, pack LOTS of Advil.
Laurie (Tropical Montana) picked me up at the airport with a hug – and a rose and a card on the front seat of her truck [giddy smile]. She is so sweet. I hadn’t slept in about two days so my senses were a bit dull, but it was immediately evident the differences in weather and climate: The air was so clear… No pollution, whereas Phoenix is just one pollution cloud after another. I could breathe! And it’s humid. But it wasn’t oppressive in any sense of the word, just comfortable enough to lounge in the back yard, which was the majority of my time there. It smells fresh and clean.
Picture this…
0800 in Florida (that’s 8 AM)… 80 degrees… sun is shining… sitting on the back patio drinking an ice cold Corona… lazy music in the background… beautiful woman doing Yoga next to you… nothing at all on your mind but the sunshine…
I swear, if you’d have told me I was to die at that moment I’d have gone happily. It really was the closest thing to paradise I’ve experienced. It was atonement.
That was the majority of my time in Florida. That and going on picnics at the local park where we fed the seagulls and found cool oyster shells and just sat and talked the afternoon away. We didn’t even claw each others’ eyes out, which we were pretty sure would happen given our completely opposite political stances, lol. As it turns out, we’re both Libertarians, so it was cool to look at things from her side of the fence (left) compared to my far right side.
Now, for those of you that know Laurie from the boards, I have to say this:
She both IS and is NOT who she seems. She is witty and bright and passionate in her beliefs. She is also extremely intelligent and always willing to listen to the other side of things to consider objectiveness and the idea that she may be right or wrong. But, like me, she isn’t about right or wrong, she’s about the journey that makes it all worth it, those 4-hour conversations about things over a cold beer and mutual respect. And she is amazingly deep. She is the type of person that examines anything down to its deepest core just because it is fun to do so – but when it comes down to it, it is ‘to each his or her own’. Amazingly complex. And when you render deep and complex with intelligent, experienced and witting, you find a person that is an absolute joy to talk to about anything. From God to the military to politics to plants in her garden (which is just magnificent in itself, even for a non-plant carer-about-er like myself). The passion and depth makes the subject, not the other way around.
She opened her home to me and made me feel totally at ease and as if I lived there, too. I honestly have no words to describe how comfortable I was there. It was the perfect blend of all the worlds: My feeling of being home, her companionship, yet the thrill of being somewhere new. I hate repetition, but amazing is really the only adjective I have to describe it.
I was supposed to fly back Wednesday, but after discussing it I extended my stay one more full day and flew back 1800 (6 PM) Thursday. I’m very glad I did. I’m still reeling.
[FONT="]In all, I have to say that I am thankful to her for allowing me to enjoy such a wonderful time. I loved every moment! So thank you, Laurie, and see you in 2 weeks! [/FONT]
