At the airport

When my grandfather went to Europe in 1944, he didn't have the luxury of an airport. Like every other American soldier, he boarded a troop ship for a long, slow journey. Upon arriving in Normandy, he had to fight his way to Germany.

I'll try to keep that in perspective today as I grouse about cramped coach seats on KLM flight 612. Rather than enduring a week of choppy seas in the North Atlantic, I woke up in my bed this morning and will find myself in Amsterdam by midnight. 

I finished packing yesterday and had time to enjoy my last Sunday with Katherine and the pets for awhile. The weather was just right. 

This morning we met on campus at 9:30 and brought a bus down to Chicago. I made it through check-in quickly, and now have a couple hours to chill before boarding at 4. 

Here's to hoping my second trip to Europe is as rewarding as the first!