An Early CHRIStmas

Chris was here last week (only for like two days) and it was so amazing seeing him!

His flight was coming in at Miami International at 5:19, so I had to drive on I-95 at rush hour. I hate the interstate highway system! Cars are everywhere and they have no qualms about cutting you off with only inches seperating your front bumper from their back one. I almost got in two accidents when cars cut infront of me so they could get to the exit lane. My hands get so sweaty when I drive south on I-95.

Chris and I planned on meeting each other at the bag claim area. I brought a book to read while waiting, but I was so anxious! I ended up just sitting and staring at the doors the passengers had to walk through to get to their luggage. The only available chair left was behind the Arrival/Departures monitorboard, so all I saw were the legs (from the knees down) of the passengers as they walked by. It was a constant parade of legs, so I had to look closely for Chris's. I saw a lot of jeans and velour track suits, but then I saw tanned, hairy legs and beat up Rainbow flipflops! Chris! I jumped up and ran around the monitorboard, and there he was! I'm happy to say I didn't do that cliche movie scene where the girl jumps over suitcases and runs through the airport to get to her man... I just walked really fast and did that mix of laughing and crying.

It felt unbelieveable to be hugged by Chris. The kisses weren't that bad either! And in case you were wondering, I drove MY car to the airport... not my mom's! (see "Awkward Sex Conversation with Mom" from Dec 1st.) We held hands to whole time we drove home.


We stopped at Publix on the way home so we could get some ice cream. Chris was so happy to be in a supermarket. He got so excited seeing chocolate-covered pretzels and Reece's Pieces. There aren't supermarkets on Dominica, so the things we take for granted (food, places to buy food) are the things he's been living without for the last four months.


For dinner, we had steak, mashed potatoes, garlic bread, and vegetables. Another thing Chris doesn't have on the island... red meat and vegetables! He was in heaven just sitting at my kitchen table. After dinner, we watched tv and he was so excited about being able to watch cable! Top Chef! Teen Mom! ESPN! Really, it was like me bringing home an African bushman and showing him America for the first time. Chris was so excited about everything!


Flashforward to the next day. Chris's flight was at 6:05pm, so we had an afternoon to hang out. We slept in until 10:00. For school, he has had to be up at 6:00, so sleeping this late was a big deal for him. Another big deal = bacon AND sausage for breakfast! We just hung out for the rest of the afternoon. We went to Best Buy so he could show me the Beats by Dr. Dre earphones he wants. We went out for lunch, walked around the mall, stopped over at City Place, and then off to the airport.

Minutes after walking in the door after dropping him off at PBIA, he calls me saying he needs me to pick him up at the airport. His flight out of West Palm was delayed and he was going to miss his connecting flight in Atlanta, so he spoke with the airline person and just got a flight for the next day. Hooray, one more night with Chris before he leaves for two weeks!

He'll be back January 1st, so it will be a great way to start off 2011!