Flying east

I got up at 4:30 this morning and drove from Pasadena to the Burbank airport, using Google Maps on my phone, avoiding highways, and had the most leisurely, interesting drive through the neighborhoods of Pasadena, Glendale, and then into Burbank.

The sun rose behind me as the full summer solstice moon (called a strawberry moon) began to descend ahead, looking white and then golden as it nestled into the tops of the mountains.

Just as I crested a mountain on a tiny residential street I noticed a black cat trotting down the sidewalk to my left. I had the thought this cat had been out all night and was heading home for breakfast.

My speed limit was slow, usually 35 mph, and there were stop signs and lights along the way, but I enjoyed the hour-long drive and the pleasure of being pretty much the only person on the streets.

Burbank's airport is small and quaint compared to the large ones, and I appreciate that about it. It's easy to navigate and even the TSA line was cheerful. I was cleared to go through without removing my shoes or getting a scan, but the forgotten unopened water bottle slowed me down a little. But a fellow traveler got trays for my things and didn't get grumpy when I held the line up to say they could take the water bottle.

I had plenty of time to get coffee and a blueberry scone and to sit and enjoy them before boarding. My favorite thing about Burbank's airport is that they still use open-air ramps so I walked out onto the tarmac and boarded the plane in the full morning sunshine.

The contour of the earth out here is fascinating to me. I have a window seat and am enjoying seeing the mountains and the desert and solar farms from above. Even the freeways seem inconsequential up here in the sky. Right now we're above the clouds and all I see is a vast white plateau with blue skies above.

I'll change planes in Denver and then I'll be on the way to RDU and then November Hill. Home! 

There's a long fine thread with a little piece of my heart back in UCLA but as we moms know that thread is strong and holds up across distance, time, and everything else.

Next blog post from November Hill! It's been a wonderful trip and it's going to be good to get home again.