May 18 and 19 May 20 May 21 May 22 May 23 May 24 May 25 May 26 May 27 May 28 May 29 May 30 May 31 June 1 June 2 June 3	Monday 6/3/02 Our wake up call came in on time, followed closely by Shirley’s alarm. We finished packing quickly, then sat there a while, as we had plenty of time. The water taxi was meeting us at 5:30.... We were finished packing and ready to go by 4:20... About 5, we gathered our stuff and went down (one at a time) in the tiny elevator. Down the street to the main lobby, where we waited for a while. Our taxi showed up in plenty of time and we got on board. It was a nice ride across the lagoon. The taxi was too warm with the doors closed, so I hissed at Shirley to leave them open. She huddled there clutching her arms like she was cold the entire ride to the airport. We arrived and went to check in. No problems for me, other than the fact that the clerk couldn’t find my Cincinnati to Tri-Cities flight. She said it doesn’t exist, so she rebooked me on the next flight, which left Cincinnati about 6:55 - the original was to leave at 2:10 or so. Shirley had to rearrange her stuff. Her carry-on was too heavy. Since her checked bag had already been accepted, she wound up having to go find it and rearrange things. She wound up across the aisle from me! It was a nice plane from Venice to Paris. They had two seats where most airlines would have stuffed three. And the rows were farther apart, too. One could cross ones legs without needing to be a contortionist! The only comfortable plane.... We arrived uneventfully in Paris and I checked the board. Oops. They had changed the departure time for my flight. Instead of leaving at 10:50, it leaves at 10:15. My boarding pass was correct - it starts boarding at 9:20. We had arrived at 9:30.... So, I had another mad dash across de Gaulle (I hate that airport!!!) And I made it. They had begun boarding, but they were only half way done. It was a quiet flight across the Atlantic with forgettable meals and unseen movies. We arrived in Cincinnati on time. Well, I did, but my suitcase didn’t. There was about one container of luggage that didn’t make the plane. Several people were in the same boat I was. No problem - the airline would clear our luggage through customs and send it on its way, please make a claim at your final destination. On through customs and the increased security measures - everyone had to remove their shoes and send them through the x-ray machine. It was a mess.... By the time I cleared security, I noticed that the original flight I was scheduled to be on did exist - it took off 20 minutes earlier... So, I went in search of a Delta agent. I finally found one, a very nice one. She confirmed that I was booked for the next flight (6:55), but couldn’t give me a seat assignment yet. I need to check at the gate when they get it set up. So, I found myself a smoothie and called Carl to let him know when I’d be in. And tried to stay awake until flight time. There were no other problems the rest of the way home. I stopped at the Delta desk at the airport to report the missing bag. And was told that, since it had to clear customs, it should arrive in 24-48 hours. So we went on home. By the time I wound down, I had been awake for 24 hours. It was a very long day. My suitcase arrived safely 24 hours after I did. And everything in it survived the trip.