Snow does not make the news out here, it simply is. The highways were quite cleared and only occasionally snow drifts would impede smooth driving. By 8pm we were enjoying the Omaha skyline, which is quite lovely. I would like to understand this city better, perhaps spend some time here. Lodging for the night was less than a mile from the Omaha Airport (Eppley Airfield), nonetheless in Iowa. Go figure.
The Missouri River certainly makes its mark on this area, providing demarcation, borders between jurisdictions, not to mention a lifeline to development in the area. Westward expansion in the United States ("to establish trade and define U.S. sovereignty over the native peoples along the River Missouri") through the eyes of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark is a dominant story in this area because it is near the beginning of their journey to the Pacific Northwest. The Missouri River is, after all, the world's 15th longest river at some 2,300 miles from its start in Montana to its spilling into the Mississippi at St. Louis.
At 4am the airport experience began. Car rental return, security screening, a light breakfast and then - simply waiting to fly.
The first leg of my journey to Philadelphia was from Omaha to St. Louis - a short 49 minute flight over beautiful landscapes... the topography seemed miraculously flat with interesting farmer lines painted in the snow. By 9:30am I had arrived in St. Louis.
In St. Louis I began sensing that travel to the east coast may be a complicated project because of the unusually heavy snowfall that had happened very recently. Our St. Louis to Philadelphia flight was delayed because landing strips at PHL were limited. Eventually our Southwest Airlines airplane was given clearance to land on the single landing strip that was available. (US Airways dominates and dictates the Philadelphia Airport, other airlines wait their turn.) The flight from St. Louis was spectacularly smooth and the cloud cover over the Philadelphia area at 5,000 feet was perhaps the softest, fluffiest thing I had ever seen in my life.
Having safely landed we were greeted by the sight of snow plows and snow piles all over the place. The Philadelphia airport scene was pretty stark. As we exited the airplane, masses of people crowded the Gate areas, some looking more bewildered than others. It was a relief to know that the day's flying (for me at least) was over. All that was left was suitcase retrieval and getting home.
Suitcase retrieval was not simple. Instead, it was pretty much a free-for-all with suitcases popping up randomly from conveyor belts 7, 8 and 9. The baggage claim sign directed us to belts that spewed suitcases from foreign places. Our little St. Louis flight's baggage finally began showing up in little fragmented bits, from various conveyor belts. We all stood strong, unified, and fought off the urge to scream. One older gentleman from our flight, who had earlier been cradling a Newt Gingrich authored book in his armpit did have a seizure of some sort, but he became just another side-spectacle at the baggage claim circus. I was worried that some airport gypsy-Russian-mafia type would be looking to steal suitcases. This chaotic baggage claim area was perfect for the gypsies, I think.
My luggage finally dropped out into plain sight. I scooped it up and headed out into the cool, refreshing airport traffic air.
Joy!
I then realized and recalled that on this trip I had left my car at Central Car Park - a remote lot at the airport. I made the appropriate phone call and my courtesy shuttle arrived promptly. Upon arriving at the remote parking lot, I realized that getting to the car was just Act 1 of the car retrieval theater. Airport parking places surely do not have the personnel, nor the desire to dig out their customers' vehicles from 19 inches of snow. They do, however, have the snowplow to push snow to the side so that they can drive through their parking lot. Of course this activity surrounds and envelops the parked cars in even deeper snow. What to do??? If I waited, someone would perhaps help me dig the minivan out from the parking spot. If I wanted, I could borrow their shovel and accomplish this task myself.
Having chosen the self-shoveling option - I got enough exercise for a week digging out from the 'snowed in' parking spot. It was actually a nice ending to the more stressful indoor experiences leading up to this grand finale. I even gave the driver a $1. tip for letting me use the company shovel to dig out of their $8.25 per day parking area. That's how happy I was to see my old friend the minivan. I was no longer thinking clearly.
No discount was available for digging oneself out, so, unfortunately, I had to pay the full fare.
It's nice to be home. There is snow to be moved, snow mounds to be built!
Ciao for niao
registrar of wrong
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