Ticketing counter,RDU. 6 open self-service kiosks; three people in line in front of me. To the woman before me, “Is there a reason no one is using those?” “Um, yeah, there’s no one there to check you in.” “OK, but they are self-service kiosks.” I pass them.

Ticketing agent , putting the baggage claim ticket on my bag,: “You’re going to Spokane?” “No, I’m going to Columbus, GA.” “I try to guess what the airport designation is. I’m always wrong.” (Note: Spokane is GEG. Columbus, GA is CSG.)

Atlanta, connection delayed 5 times. I stop watching passengers and pick up my book. I look up, a glance. I see him from the back; I never see his face. It is familiar, a reminder of the past, a jump in my chest. Most likely not him, but what if it was?

3 hours after scheduled departure we take off. Rental car clerk can't find mileage for car. Nor can she find gas. "Just bring it back as close as you can to what it was."

Hotel: Gladly paid $4.25 for a Miller Lite.