Part 1
We were able to sleep in this morning as our flight wasn't until just after 6pm and we were able to get a late check out.
With all of our crap now packed properly for flying, we loaded it all up and off we went.
We gave Kira the choice of breakfasts and surprisingly she chose Waffle House. She said she had a hankering for a waffle.
This was the one Waffle House around here that we had not been to yet. I reminded Rob that this particular WH had been featured in the documentary "The Texas Killing Fields."
I won't spoil it for anyone but something happened here and it was a turning point for one of the cases that had major repercussions for a few of the others.
We were wearing the shirts that we had bought on the ship, the Christmas green ones. This was not a good choice, more on that later.
Kira was happy, she got her waffle.
Once we were done with breakfast, we gassed up the vehicle and then headed for the airport.
We dropped off the 4Runner and then hopped on the shuttle to the terminal. Kira was being her funny self.
When I had checked us in the day before, I was able to upgrade us to Premium seats on Westjet. They were dirt cheap, $70 each!
I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to do it because Kira and Rob were on one reservation from the last of our Avion points and I had paid cash for my ticket so I was on a different reservation. I had both my phone and my iPad open at the same time, simultaneously checking in both reservations and it worked.
Rob and I were together in the two seats and then I put Kira in the same row, in the aisle, which is was I thought she preferred. When we surprised her with the upgrade at the airport, she was saddened that she didn't get the window seat. Apparently I was wrong.
Oh well, I will know for next time!
We checked in, dropped off our bags, including the two small ones (no charge) and then headed towards the side that had the TSA Pre-check.
We headed down to our gate to grab a seat but the area was packed!
We had plenty of time so we headed back past the food court and grabbed some of the comfy seats that were there.
This was our view, security coming into the terminal and this weird tree emanating from Houston.
Rob went to go look at the stores for any NASA merch and then once he returned, I went to go look. I saw this super cute t-shirt, took a pic and then headed back to Rob and Kira to see if they were wanting it. The green
DCL shirt was horribly itchy and there was no way I could wear it the rest of the day and not go mad.
I have recently discovered that I have sensory issues... by watching an Instagram reel.
It came up in my feed and was titled "You know you have sensory issues when...Part 3." It listed about 9 things and I said YES to every dang one of them. Then I went to go find part 1 and 2 and I said yes to all of those too!
Never thought of it as a sensory issue, I just thought it was a me problem, ya know?
When I grew up, there were no labels for these things. It was a "you" problem and you dealt with it. I grew up saying that I was particular and picky about certain things.
I didn't even realize I had anxiety until I did all this research on it when Kira started showing major signs of anxiety a few years ago.
She would tell me how she feels about certain things or situations and I would be like.....ummm, hmmm, yeahhhh, I have that too. Oh and yeah, I feel that way as well! I just assumed everyone felt like that to a degree but then talking with Rob, who has zero anxiety, I found out that that's not the case.
I would just chalk it up to me being me. An introvert...a very picky, anti-social introvert.
Nooooooooooooooo.
It's called anxiety and it's real!
Rob said he was good but Kira has even more sensory issues than I do and she said YES really fast! I went back and got the grey one for her and the pinky-purply one for me and then we went and changed into these wonderfully smooth and comfortable shirts and we were happy campers.
These shirts were $19 and we both love them. Those DCL ones, that we might not ever wear again were $35 each I think! I have noticed too that many of the Disney shirts are made with the same fabric. When I was in WDW last week, I found a couple of shirts that I liked but once I paid attention to the feel of the fabric, I realized that I could never wear them! Even after 2 washes, the green shirts are still scratchy.
So, yes, Houston
I am the problem.
It was now time to board.
These aren't as nice as Business Class on Air Canada but they sure beat economy seats!
When Kira went to sit in her aisle seat, a lady was already sitting there. She didn't even look up at Kira, or us, she just sat there like she had claimed that seat and she was not moving. I double checked Kira's seat on her boarding pass and she was indeed in Kira's seat so I told Kira just to take the window seat and well, everyone got what they wanted I guess.
We couldn't take our traditional plane selfie but when the lady got up to use the bathroom, I snapped this one of Kira.
Many of the buildings around Houston had red or green lights on the roof, which I thought was pretty cool!
Everyone settled in and we enjoyed our four and a half-hour flight back to Calgary.
They served us dinner too.
It wasn't overly fabulous but it hit the spot, as we were all getting kind of hungry.
I love how this city was just peeking out below the clouds. The Westjet app was not working at all, I can't remember why but they did say they were having issues with it so I have no idea what city this is but it was cool.
Before long we were making our descent into Calgary and flew right past our house.
And then right past downtown.
And back to our home and native land.
We got through customs quickly and with no problems, gotta love that Nexus card!
All of our bags made it and then we headed to the shuttle to grab our vehicle from Park2Go.
We got home, dropped off the bags and while I unpacked, Rob and Kira went to get our puppies from their Uncle's house. They were very happy to see us all and be home again.
And there you have it folks, another fantastic trip in the books!
Kira is graduating in June and she will be going to University in Nova Scotia in September, if you can believe that!
For those of you who don't know Canadian geography, that is on the other side of the dang country! It's further East than all of the United States!
We won't know until October/November-ish for sure but we were thinking that this might be our last Christmas cruise for awhile. I am guessing that with her being gone from home and her doggies that she is going to want to come home for her Christmas break but you never know.
Life is what happens when you're busy making plans.
Thanks everyone for being a part of this one. I really appreciate all of the comments and kind words you have posted.
It might be awhile before the next one, so until then, adios, amoebas!