Tues, 14 June 2016, 3:21 pm: At Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Ft. Myers, we’ve checked in and checked our suitcases, we’ve cleared security, and we’ve easily found gate B3. I am giddily struck with three rapid-fire shots of cognition.
One: It’s here! The time I’ve worked toward is here! The months of research and preparation sometimes felt like work (fun work, but still work), but now it’s time to revel in the trip. Travel time is here!
Two: This little airport sure has a lot of available space. Look at this swath of untouched carpet in this glassed-off room behind our gate area. They should hire me to open a branch office of “Matt, Take Me to Europe” in there. I could give free advice and tell exciting stories to travelers and help the airlines sell a lot more tickets.
Three: Hey! That’s our plane out there!
That fellow in the background photo-bombing us would look much happier if he were a member of our “Matt, Take Me to Europe” posse. Will your grinning face be in our at-the-gate selfie next time?
We’ve got a few minutes to stretch our legs at the uncrowded gate before boarding time. I’ve got my ball point pen and post-its in my breast pocket for note-taking on the plane. We’ve got plastic water bottles to stay hydrated during the flight (bring ’em through security empty and refill ’em from the tap in a restroom). We are prepared for lift-off.