I'll Just Give You A Few More Minutes to Enjoy God's Handiwork

I arrived at SEATAC with my two large duffles that weighed 48.8 and 49.8 respectively. That was after I transferred a turtleneck shirt from one to the other. Did you know a shirt weighs 6 oz. Can't be overweight on those bags! I was expecting a charge of $40. However, the agent didn't even look at the credit card I had out. Was it because my destination was Barrow and anyone going there deserves to take extra bags? I pondered that one as I took my place in the serpentine line to get through security in Seattle.

Next I found out I was sitting in first class! How did that happen? We didn't pay extra for the ticket. I think the flight was so full when we booked it that we got the remaining seats at regular price. That explains the charge-free bags. If your seat is in first class you don't have to pay. SCORE!

It almost always happens that when you go to Anchorage, or Juneau, or go to Seattle airport from those cities you see someone you know. Despite its size, Alaska really is a small state. I often meet people who have a friend who lives in Alaska. They usually ask, "do you know xxx?". 80% of the time I do, the other 20% of the time I can usually say I've heard the name (and mean it). Anyway, I saw a friend I used to work with in Juneau at the boarding gate for the Fairbanks/Barrow plane. I hadn't told him of the move so I nearly shocked his socks off.

I'd be lying if I wrote the flight was typical. Far from it. The day was sunny and gorgeous. The mountains were amazing. Most of amazing of all was that the pilot took us on a bit of a sight seeing trip. We flew right over Mt. Foraker, at 17,000 feet, then practically kissed Mt. McKinley. The Mountain was just in your face! If there had been climbers on it, we would have been able to see them. It was breathtaking and brought tears to my eyes when I realized that I was "home".

Today's blog title is a quote from the the Alaska Airlines pilot. Great job, Dude, you made my day!