The Box-Cutter Odyssey

Wednesday June 10, 2009, 7 a.m.

Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok

At the start of Jo Anne's annual North American vacation. the two of us enjoyed a free breakfast in the CIP Lounge. We were late leaving Suvarnabhumi which meant we arrived in Hong Kong while the Vancouver flight was boarding. The airline gave us priority in disembarking so we could make the connection.

Wednesday, June 10 2009, 10:30 a.m.

Vancouver, BC

Eleven hours later, we touched down in Vancouver. It was 10:15 a.m. Standing in line at immigration, Jo Anne checked her watch. Five minutes to boarding the flight for Calgary. Could we make it? Thanks to Canadian efficiency, we got through immigration, collected our bags (miraculously intact), sailed through customs, put the bags on the belt and got to the gate, all in 15 minutes. It looked like we were going to escape the ire of the gods of wrath after all.

Interlude
Between Vancouver and Calgary

After 11 hours in the overhead bin, it's nice to be able to stretch out with a magazine to read.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 1:30 p.m.

Calgary, Canada

Nothing escapes the notice of the gods.

For every summer but one, the gods have managed to make sure the airlines mislaid Jo Anne's luggage. It would seem that this year the gods were bent on destruction. As Jo Anne watched her Samsonite skimming down the conveyor belt towards her, she held her breath. As she watched, the zipper pulls got caught on the belt bringing the entire conveyor to a grinding halt. Four men in coveralls showed up. They climbed onto the carousel and tugged on the suitcase. These men meant business; they were armed with Tim Horton's coffee and one box cutter. The upshot: the airline offered to replace Jo Anne's suitcase.

Thursday, June 11, 2009
The House at Edgevalley Close, Calgary

Home at last. Here I am sitting in the breakfast nook with Dad.

Mom and Me.

Jo Anne's wearing that jacket because she's not acclimatized yet. Unlike Bangkok, the weather in Calgary is a chilly 74 degrees fahrenheit. She is working on her dissertation. She says it's about stories of teaching and learning in English. That's her new suitcase in the background, courtesy of the airline. Sweet!