Oh my Buddha! Why the weather was really bad when I had to drive two hours on freeways! It was pouring, and wind was terribly strong. Kids (MB and EB) were happy, watching a movie in the back, while I was very nervous in the driver's seat, thinking, "I have to send MB safely to the airport!" EB, MB's sister, was not flying but came with me to see him off.
After a little delay (because of the rain, I couldn't--didn't want to--drive fast), we safely arrived in the airport. Alaska Airlines that MB was flying with was easy to check him in. With extra $25, the airlines allows EB and me to escort MB to the gate. TSA was also easy on us, like, "You three are together? Come through here." We went through the old metal detector, not the latest privacy-violating scanner. And I thought, "Hm, traveling with kids is not that bad." Well, I may be wrong because everyone who has a kid (or kids) says traveling with a kid (or kids) is a heck lot of work.
Because we were kind of late, though we were on time, MB had been paged. We didn't know that. I went to a ground staff to tell about MB. The staff said, "Oh, here he is. Wait there. I'm going to get him someone to escort." While were were waiting, I asked MB to call his mom that he was waiting to get on board. I knew his mom was pretty anxious because this is the first flight alone for MB. Actually, she called me when we were going through the security, and I missed her call. MB pretended to be cool to his mom on the phone.
Soon, the ground staff came back to collect MB. EB and me came along with MB to the gate where I had to sign on the document. While I was signing, MB was very nervous because he knew he was going to be alone from there. He acts cool, but he is still a kid. I said, "MB, you will be fine and have fun in L.A. OK? Your stepdad is waiting for you in the airport. No worries." MB still looked nervous, but he disappeared into the tunnel to the plane with the ground staff. I was like, "Phew, my mission has been just completed."
