Friends (New and Old) In Deed

1. Tuesday morning, I disembarked with no problem. Christian from Halifax tour was one of the shuttle bus coordinators. So, as I was standing in HUGE line for the next LaGuardia shuttle, a Cunard organizer came down the line hollering, "One person for Delta." Christian hollered back, "Right here." and off I went to the first bus in line. I arrived at Terminal C nearly five hours before my flight boarded! Excellent to know the right people!
2. I checked in.  All was well. Then TSA tagged my carry-on bag. The very pleasant officer asked what sharp objects I had in there, my reply, "knitting needles."  His shrug indicated that's not the problem. Then he lifted out Denis' bottle of Sortilege, turned and looked at me, grinning, "Ms. Mayer, does this look like a 2.5 fluid ounces container?" I turn red-faced and feel utterly stupid, no, stoopid!! I was so concerned about bringing only a liter into the USA, I never even thought about the carry-on restrictions. So, Salah (yes, I got his name because I dropped TSA a note about how courteous he was! I figured they might relish a compliment for once!) gave me my options: I could dump the bottle or leave the TSA check-in and check the carry-on bag through to JAX. I took option 2 because, as I explained to him, chasing this damn liquor all over Canada has been a journey worthy of Odysseus and I was not leaving it behind! He escorted me to the gate, told me just what to say to the Delta ticket agent and waved me off. 
3. At the Delta counter, Michael Morales waited on me. He MUST be kin to Salah. He didn't laugh at me or make me feel awkward. He taped my carry-on bag very securely shut, placed 4 "Fragile" stickers on it, ran my credit card and refused the tip I offered him, "Thank you, Ms. Mayer, but this IS my job." No wonder I like Delta!!!! (To whom I also penned a complimentary note!)
4. When I went back through TSA check-in, Salah waved and OKAYed me as I breezed through!
5. When Letreze picked me up at JAX, she hugged me and said that she and Jean had met at 4606 and tossed all the spoiled (from Matthew's no electricity days) food in my freezer and refrigerator! Bless their hearts! I had not been looking forward to that chore. THEN, I discovered they had replenished my foodstuffs enough so I did not have to grocery shop for a couple of days! I tell you, true friendship is dealing with odoriferous, nasty food so your vacationing friend does not have to come home to it!

New topic: Today I was stunned almost speechless when Bob Dylan won the Novel Prize for Literature!!! I mean, c'mon, BOB DYLAN!!! The man's a wizard with words and music but he's no Stephen Sondheim or Richard Rodgers or Gershwin. I wonder who submitted his name to the Nobel Committee? And why, now?

I recognized a sadness that I only thought of two people I wanted to talk to about Dylan's award: brother Bill and Jack DeYoung. How have I become so musically isolated that only those two men popped into my head when I heard the news??

Though I am home, I have gotten into the habit of considering my days; thus, I am going to attempt to maintain posting my thoughts. Fingers crossed!