Five minutes before we leave for the USA

[DFW]

German TV just announced that the USA was declared a high risk area. Quarantine upon return.

Great timing.

[spooky3]

1. Travel safely if you can. I hope you have a great visit. Nt

[Hekate]

2. Travel safe and have a wonderful time!

[DFW]

3. So far, the trip has been half Chevy Chase and half woody Allen's Bananas"

We are now on board the plane for Atlanta. Barely. We got to Paris at 8:30, and the onward flight to Atlanta leaves at 10:20. My wife shook me awake at 10:01 asking if we weren‘t late? I ran to the nearest Air France Person with a phone and begged her to call the gate and tell them we were coming.

There was a sheaf of papers we had to fill out online before coming and then sign them. When I took them out, all the rest flew onto the floor, including our less-than24-hours-old tests. I thought I had lost one of our tests, but didn‘t. Then we heard that Air France and KLM had been hacked, and all meal service was disrupted. Atlanta is a 9 hour flight. THEN they just announced, like the new dictator in Bananas that all masks had to be changed every 4 hours (at least not every half hour like underwear in „San Marcos“). I asked if they had extra masks on board (they do).

Expecting panic, we ran like crazy to even get on the plane, which was scheduled to leave at 10:20. it is now nearly 10:40 and there is no indication they are closing the doors any time soon….

…..which puts our onward flight to Charleston in doubt.

Should we have stayed home instead? I think karma is testing us severely today.

[underpants]

4. Good luck.

[PJMcK]

5. Timing is everything

Especially when traveling.

Get to your destination safely, DFW!

[7wo7rees]

6. Merry Christmas you two.

I'm hoping the rest of your journey goes well and that you all have a wonderful time!!

[LuckyCharms]

7. Have a safe trip.

[Nittersing]

9. So? Did you make it? nt

[DFW]

10. We did!

Our conference was canceled as we were on our way, but we said what the hell, we’re here and se are going to have a relaxing week, period.

[Nittersing]

11. Excellent! Enjoy! nt

[malthaussen]

12. Let Chuck Berry accompany you:

-- Mal

[DFW]

13. It's always strange coming "home"

I‘m rarely in a place where everyone speaks English as a matter of course. Of course, there are immigrants from everywhere. Last night we got a knock on the door of our hotel room for „turn down service.“ I was a little confused, as there were two women with oriental features and Russian accents. I asked where they were from, and they said Kazakhstan. I asked if they would prefer to speak Russian. BIG smiles and looks of relief. They hadn‘t been here long, and admitted they found English challenging.

The number of shops in downtown Charleston that have closed is shocking, but most of our favorites are still open, and „our“ Lebanese restaurant is only closed Monday and Tuesday.

At the hotel, some unmasked redneck looked at me and my wife, and said „praise the lord.“ I wanted to tell him, „keep walking around with no mask, and you‘ll soon be able to tell him yourself.“ But I was just barely able to restrain myself.

*on edit, someone suggested I ask “which lord?” I think I’ll just decide on my own: if I am exhorted to praise the lord, I will say, “Praise Lord Greystoke!” Let them look it up