time to start the day, i guess. i head into the guest bedroom to finish my packing, (nearly naked) and discover a person (fully clothed) in the bed, who seems as confused by my presence as i am by hers. apparently, my sister has decided that my house is now a hang out for all her friends..which at least explains the beer bongs in the garage.
in and out of the shower by 7:00 and i head to target for a couple of last minute items. on the way i realize that i don't have a drivers license, and i am going to be renting a car today. i call the car rental company, and after being put through the eternal voice mail loop, someone is finally able to tell me that yes, i really do have to have a drivers license, they cannot check with dmv.
it's 7:30am, and the target is across the street from the dmv. do i take the risk? why not..i'm feeling lucky. dmv opens at 8 and i am the 20th person in line..outside. eventually the doors are opened and i am moved through with smooth efficiency, which is actually very consistent with my experience at the leesburg dmv. then of course there is that pesky photo to deal with. i didn't get ready for a photo that would haunt me forever, i got ready for a day of travel, and let me assure you, they look very different.
the agent hands me my license. whats this?! the best drivers license photo i have ever had! feelin lucky indeed.
i head to target to complete my tasks. anne arrives on time to chauffeur me to the airport, and i have no problems at check-in, security, or with my flight, which, given the fact that i am flying the same airline that made my wednesday fall into the black abyss, is sort of a miracle.
the instant i step off the plane in dallas, i am overcome with nostalgia. there are a few cities i have considered living in over the years, because of the comfortable feeling of familiarity they seem to give me. chicago, san diego, and dallas. it feels a little like coming home.
i can't help but remember that the last time i was here it was for a conference i was planning. and as it turned out, that business trip spawned a brief but memorable relationship with a co-worker. when i pull up to my hotel i realize that i am even staying in the same hotel (how could i have forgotten?!) and as i enter my room the memories come back even stronger. i kissed someone in this very room. how's that for odds?
so did i say i was feelin lucky? 'cuz i am.
i really love this place. there are several 'conference hotels' i could choose from when making my travel arrangements, and i chose the one that is furthest away from the convention center in the west end district. the west end is the 'historic' district full of lots of eateries and quaint shops. i like this part of town, and today i liked it even more.
as it turned out, the 'taste of dallas' festival being held in, where else, the west end. so after getting settled in the hotel, i walked the two blocks to see what i could see.
i enjoyed a steak kabob while people watching, and took in the heat and the live music. i took photos and perused the stalls where one of my primary personal goals was met. because when in dallas...buy a cowboy hat. it was the first of the trip, but probably not the last. i mean let's face it, i look really good in a cowboy hat.
after taking care of some business, i decided to head out in search of a best buy, and perhaps swing by the church building to make sure that i did not get lost tomorrow. i was successful on both counts, however, there are a few things i forgot about driving in dallas:
1. the drivers are fast and furious (oh how i wish i had rented a manual car!)
2. merge lanes are virtually non-existent (yet it doesn't seem to create any problems--see number 1)
3. at any given moment, you could go from exit 8b to exit 20a in the course of a 1/2 mile
man i love this town! i guess the most surprising thing about all of this is that i was dreading this trip a little bit. traveling alone has never been my idea of a great time, but i am rediscovering how much fun i have with myself! isn't it strange that it took a trip to texas to bring about a little self-awareness and a lot of gratitude.
and speaking of gratitude, i got a call from home tonight. apparently a letter arrived for me from queens, ny. no return address, no note, just a lost driver's license someone took the time and consideration to return to it's owner.
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