What Happens in Vegas...

OK, I'll confess. It happened in Vegas, so it doesn't count. I picked up a gal wandering around the airport and took her home with me. One never gets too old for a little adventure.

I'd been in New England for a week. A fantastic week, well documented and illustrated on other blogs. There were fantastic and warm family moments. There were also many cold moments, but that was due to the weather in Brrrrrrlington, including a little snow and frozen plumbing. There was lots of eating and a little sleuthing. There was Gucci, Prada, and Pucci. Er, make that poochie. There was a raging mountain lion ready to pounce. Er, make that an irritated kitty who only wanted to rid her house of evil canine spirits. A fantastic week.

But it had to end. I was travelling stand-by and verified with the airline that there were seats available for my trip home. Lots of seats to Vegas and 7 from there to Bakersfield. So I departed with tearful goodbyes and lots of confidence that it would be a smooth ride home.

But a cargo door in Phoenix wouldn't open, and many passengers missed their connection to Fresno. So they were re-routed through Las Vegas, over-booking the flights to both Fresno and Bakersfield. The next flight was 24 hours later and it was already booked. Walking home was not an option so I decided to rent a car and drive home. On the way to pick it up, I ran into another victim of the cargo door malfunction. She said she was going back to the hotel and I told her I was renting a car and heading home. She asked if she could share the ride with me and I told her I'd be delighted and it was her job to keep me awake. And she did a terrific job.

Her daughter is a flight attendant for the airline and she is an elementary school teacher in Southeast Bakersfield. Teachers can talk and talk and talk. And she did and did and did. For the whole 4 hours. We pulled into Bakersfield about 5:30, safe and sound, about 12 hours after my plane took off from Boston. I dropped her off at her car at the airport and I was home and asleep by 6.

Without my teacher companion to keep me awake, I probably would have tried to find a motel to get some rest.

But sometimes, just sometimes... what happens in Vegas just can't stay in Vegas.