Very quick and nice flight to SFO. I land, I celebrate in my brain. I hurry off the plane. I exit the airport and find the taxi stand, I jump in and give him the address and tell him I need him to wait while I pick something up and then bring me back. He says that's fine. I'm acting like taxis have never done such a thing before. I can't help it. I do lamaze breathing the entire way - I am trying so hard not to freak out. I push thoughts away of walking into the office and having the people look at me with complete cluelessness. It might be the longest 8 minutes of my life.
We find the building, we find the entrance, he drops me off and I run in. There is another customer and I want to kill him. He leaves. I say, "I'm here to pick up an SLQ for Maia Rosen (this is what Patty told me to say.) He starts looking around. He repeats, "an SLQ?" I start babbling, yes, a courier came? someone from Oakland? they drove it here? it's supposed to be here.....And then another guy comes out of the back room and he says, "Rosen?"
HALLELUJAH!!!!!
I say YES! Is that it? Is that my package? He hands it to me and says, yeah this is yours. I take it and rip it open and see that incredibly gorgeous blue booklet and say, OMIGOD THANK YOU I LOVE YOU YOU HAVE NO IDEA IT'S MY PASSPORT AND I HAVE TO TAKE A FLIGHT!
He says, well we don't know what's in it but okay that's good.
I run back to Mr. Taxi who is waiting right outside because that's what taxis do and jump in and say to go back to United and I think I tell him the whole story because now I can breathe and talk again like a semi normal person. He wishes me luck when he drops me off and I wish I got his name after he drives off because I just KNOW he is now part of what will be a success story! The check in for the flight to Frankfurt is incredibly fast, efficient and simple. I get my boarding passes from a machine, zip through TSA pre check and am standing in front of duty free within five minutes. I just can't believe it. I literally have to sit down and find a bench in front of the duty free shop and cry just a little with relief.
Once I get a grip, I look up and see the sign for the United Club Lounge. I go in and it's beautiful and there's amazing food and cool work stations.
I eat, I enjoy and experience the first of many schizophrenic moments on this journey. Should I be enjoying myself right now? Is it wrong to be reveling in make your own noodle bar and cannoli?!
They even had sleeping rooms with amenities and shower rooms! I decide food is good, rest is good. I charge my devices and make hotel reservations. Next stop Frankfurt.
2025-02-06