DEPARTURE DAY

     “D-Day” (departure day) is finally here!!  We spent all day yesterday attempting to get everything we wanted to take into our luggage.  The airlines are allowing us 2 bags each that can weigh no more than 70 pounds plus we have two carry-on bags each.  Well, Rebecca had to cut back on some of the clothes she was planning to take but we finally made it.  I have travel scales and weighed each bag several times to make sure we were not overweight.

     Our travel agent, John of Cruise Tour Center in Dallas, is providing us with limo service to and from DFW for our trip.  I called the limo service yesterday to confirm our 12:30pm pick-up time for today.  I asked what size car they had planned to bring and told them we had 4 LARGE bags and 2 carry-ons.
     So at 12:20 today they arrived in a Suburban.  Our driver thought we had a lot of luggage until I told him we would be gone for 3 months.  We had a very nice agent who checked us in at the American Airlines ticket counter.  All our bags weighed just over 65 pounds each and were checked through Chicago to our final destination, Beijing.  Hope they arrive there!!!!!  With us!!!!!  Despite what President Obama said, the airport security line was very short.  We were in the first class line at security but there was a woman (not too old) in line next to us.  She was carrying a folded American flag in a case.  That is not a good thing and says a veteran’s “funeral” to me.  I told the TSA guy that she should go ahead of us.  After security we headed to the Admiral’s Club to wait for our flight and have our first cocktail and wine of the trip.

     We headed to the gate for our 3:05 departure about 40 minutes early.  All the DFW to ORD flights today were booked full.  The plane departed the gate only 3 minutes late and we lifted off the runway at 3:23pm on our way to Chicago.  Hot nuts and chardonnay to begin our inflight service followed by cold salmon & salad entrée.  I can smell the chocolate chip cookies baking now.  We both enjoyed the food and service.

     We landed at O Hare Airport just few minutes late at 5:25pm with a very little light snow falling although no snow now that we are up in Admiral’s Club again.  It is 6:00pm and our flight is not until 8:55 so plenty of time.  This will be a 13 1/2 hour flight.  Scheduled landing time in Beijing is 11:30pm Tuesday.  They are 13 hours ahead of central daylight savings time.  A driver is supposed to meet us in baggage claim and take us to the Hilton.  Will have a short night's sleep as driver and tour guide are to pick us up at 9:00am for a day of sightseeing.