Happy Spring!

It's been a while since I have written--busy, busy! I had a wonderful Florida visit--The trip there and back was not the best, and the cold and backache-- I could have done with out...but all in all I'm glad I went!

Seriously, this was my first visit to the "lower 48" as they say up here. I was sooooo ready to go...it has been a long, very long winter. The darkness really got to me this year! Anyway, my flight was to leave at 8AM on Friday. Friday was a teacher work day--report cards and such...so, I worked like a dog to be ready to leave on Friday--nothing was going to get in my way!!!! As we drove to Anchorage the wind was a whippin"--we get 45-80 mph winds that just barrel through the Valley. I was somewhat worried, but I never hear of canceled flights. Larry dropped me at the airport, I boarded the flight on time...and then we sat on the runway for about an hour. The plane was de-iced about 4 times--there was a few flurries--nothing big. We were finally told that the airport was going to close...BUMMER! The pilot came on and said the winds were too much--they were waiting for two flights to land and then we could see if we could make it over the mountains--then all would be good! Well, I was thinking--I'm out of here no matter what...I need sun and family! Finally, we were able to take off--well the entire flight was spring breakers--you should have heard the cheers!!!! But they didn't last real long--it was by far the scariest flight I have ever been on. The wind bounced us around like a roller coaster--my stomach was in my throat-yikes! We all kind of did that nervous laugh--you know the one you do when you don't want to cry?? The captain announced that we only had ten minutes or so and the flight would smooth out. He was right, and the 5 1/2 hours to Chicago was smooth sailing!

That's right--it's a 6 hour trip to Chicago--then I caught a flight to Ft. Lauderdale--3 more hours! I was so happy to see Kathy... so we could drive 2 more hours!

Once I was there it was great--they all kept saying how cold it was.........

Katie was just finishing up her spring break so we were able to spend 3 days together--very nice!

Art and Lesley's had a Greek dinner for us--how fun! George and Betty (Lesley's mom and dad) and Chuck and Eileen (Ronnie's parents) joined us too. It was a typical Kranites event: loud, good food and wonderful conversation!!

I was also able to see friends from TC--Michelle, Ron and Deb, and Deb's mom. And a friend from years past, the old Halberd neighborhood, Linda Libby. How fun it was to catch up with Linda, it's been about 15 or so years since we have seen one another. And since this year marks the eve of our 50th birthday, it was great to see that neither of us has aged!! Ha ha!

One thing I really wanted to do was eat at The Stage Deli--Chris and I had waited tables at The Stage in West Bloomfield--same owners. Jenny, Michelle, Jamie and I went but it wasn't the same :( The company was good though!

I had been a bit nervous to leave Alaska--a part of me worried that I would not want to go back...but I was ready!

My flight home was just as exciting-- I sat for 3 hours in Lauderdale waiting to leave! First our plane was late, then the plane could not land because of storms, then the plane went to Miami to refuel, then it couldn't take off from Miami because the storm was now there...you get the idea! Finally, I was back on my way to Chicago...landed with 45 minutes to catch the Alaska flight. It was good to be home!

I can't wait until summer when I get to do all over again--this time TC!