It’s Time to Check In

Mar 20, 4:16PM

Hi Amy,

Your trip is almost here and we’re excited to see you on board.

Check in to add your bags, choose your seats, and get your boarding pass. That way you’ll have everything ready for your trip.

Finish packing what you can tonight.

Make a list of all the things not to forget tomorrow (phone charger, house keys, eye mask, kindle, toothbrush, snacks, water bottle).

Stay up a little too late talking to Patrick and snuggling Phoebe.

Read some of your book.

When your eyes get heavy, try to get some sleep.

Mar 21, 5:48AM

Wake up a bit earlier than your alarm and stretch.

Wash your hair; you know you’ll have some time to slice later when you’re waiting at the airport.

Eat breakfast.

Say goodbye to Phoebe, who will freak out when she sees you leaving for work with your suitcase.

Watch Phoebe on the Kasa camera as she barks and grabs the placemats and napkins off the table. That rascal!

Get to school, fill your water bottle, take attendance as students come in.

Teach a micro-lesson in Writer’s Workshop — it’s Drafting Day! The children won’t be silent, self-directed, or self-reliant today (it’s the day before spring break, after all), but that’s okay. They’re all typing away, getting things done, even if they are moving around and talking a lot more than usual!

Break for snack and recess. Make sure you get as much venting out as possible with Kim to last a whole week.

Gather the social scientists for their research block. Show them how to log onto Epic. You will need to repeat the class code about 6 different times. Read the book called “Making an App.”

11:26AM – American 3307 to LGA: Departure time has changed to 4:43PM on Mar 21 from MIA gate D12, terminal D. Reply STOP to stop.

Play a coding game with the students until 11:45. Usher them into the other room while the Spanish teacher pushes in until Ms. Gabby arrives to teach Sex Ed.

Take your “prep” with Kim, but just click through different tabs on your computer. You’ve prepped enough. Vent a bit more with her.

Talk on the phone with your mom about the dinner you probably won’t make it home for anyway. Text her afterward to apologize for your tone of voice. Wonder if all grownups are doomed to revert to their teenaged selves when they visit their parents.

12:20PM – Gate change: Flight AA3307, from MIA to LGA departs at 4:43PM out of gate D10 in terminal D. Reply STOP to stop.

Eat lunch at 12:30 with the EP teachers so you can see Patrick.

Pick up the kids for their lunch at 1:20. Vent with Kim a bit longer.

Say goodbye to the kids and soak up their hugs.

Refill your water bottle.

Run upstairs to give Patrick a big hug before you go.

1:42PM – American 3307 to LGA: Departure time has changed to 5:20PM on Mar 21 from MIA gate D10, terminal D. Reply STOP to stop.

Get your suitcase and call an Uber in the lobby.

1:50PM – American 3307 to LGA: Departure time has changed to 6:27PM on Mar 21 from MIA gate D10, terminal D. See refund info at aa.com/refundfaq. Reply STOP to stop.

Wonder if it’s worth checking for a flight that leaves in the morning.

1:52PM – Gate change: Flight AA3307, from MIA to LGA departs at 6:27PM out of gate D5 in terminal D. Reply STOP to stop.

Get in the Uber. Be very, very alarmed at how heavily the Uber driver is breathing. Text Patrick about it.

2:11PM – Gate change: Flight AA3307, from MIA to LGA departs at 6:27PM out of gate D48 in terminal D. Reply STOP to stop.

Arrive to the airport. Remember your water bottle is full. Chug the water.

Go through the TSA pre-check line.

Look at the departures list.

Check gates D20 and D34 for the earlier flights, just in case they have any open seats. They won’t. The standby lines will be, as you would expect, very long already.

Start walking the three-quarters of a mile to gate D48.

Stop to pee.

Pick up something you probably shouldn’t be eating, but screw it, is anything at the airport going to make you feel good?

Fill up your water bottle.

Stop to pee.

Find a seat at the gate near a charging station.

Plug in your phone.

Eat the thing you probably shouldn’t be eating and revel in how damn good it tastes.

Open your laptop. Work on copywriting.

Get distracted when another woman arrives to the gate and claims her flight, AA2609, is supposed to be leaving there on time at 5:05PM.

“We’re waiting for flight 3307,” the woman behind you will say. “It’s also at this gate.”

Go back to working on copywriting.

3:40PM – Gate change: Flight AA3307, from MIA to LGA departs at 6:27PM out of gate D43 in terminal D. Reply STOP to stop.

“They changed the gate again,” the woman behind you will say.

Tell her you’ll head there in 20 minutes or so.

Finish your sixth caption for copywriting. Close your laptop. Pack it up.

Stop to pee.

Walk to gate D43.

Find a seat.

Hope the gate doesn’t change again.

Open your laptop and write the slice you knew you’d have time for anyway.