Met up with Oreggano and Q to make our departure to Arizona. As often happens on these trips, it is decided, right away, that I won’t be the primary or secondary, or any driver really, on the rental car.
We parked in our special designated spot (work perk) at the airport and as we were exiting the vehicle I received a work call. Being the consummate professional, I took the call while grabbing my luggage out of the back of the vehicle.
Q and Oreggano had already grabbed their luggage and were just waiting for me. So, with my bag of magazines and goodies on my right shoulder, my phone in my right hand and pressed to my ear, I pulled my luggage out with my left hand.
My luggage isn’t huge, it is actually carry-on size, but I needed to back up a few steps to clear the back of the car and that is when I backed right into Oreggano’s luggage, my feet flew out from under me and I landed, spread eagle, flat on my back, phone in my hand, pressed up to my ear. Above me, Q and Oreggano were staring down at me, speechless, jaws dropped.
I made no utterances-didn’t scream or swear-the man on the phone had no idea my bags and I were sprawled across the parking lot. “Uh huh….OK….thank you,” I properly finished the call and then – still on the ground – Q, Oreggano and I started laughing. “Totally saw that happening and for some reason I couldn’t do anything to stop it,” Q told me. “I can’t believe you maintained composure,” Oreggano added. “I’m a professional first. Clutz second. I would really like to have seen that. Do you think we could get the footage from Airport Police?”
Although we had, upon check-in, declared ourselves ‘Q’s chaperones’ or, as Oreggano said, “escorts,” the Captain had no interest in meeting us – he only wanted to speak with Q. Not easily offended and major opportunists, Oreggano and I used this time to take photos in the back of the plane before they let the other passengers board.
A few photos and an important discussion later, we were all in our seats, as were the other passengers. Q was seated a row behind us and right next to a mom with two toddlers. She was reading her book and Oreggano and I were reading Cosmo. This month’s issue was discussing all of the hip things to do. “Ride bikes, go to piano bars. This is all stuff we have been doing for years,” Oreggano commented. “What year is that magazine?” I asked. Oreggano checked the cover, which read ‘March 2011,’ and said, “March 2005.”
As we were laughing about how funny we thought we were one of the toddlers started crying. “Oooohhhhh,” sighed Oreggano while rolling her eyes. “Q should do us all a favor and breastfeed that baby,” I told her and added, “I’m sending her a note.” Whenever flying with friends who aren’t seated right next to me, I like to pass them notes. When I can have the flight attendant pass the note, even better. “Wet Nurse, Maybe you could be a gem and feed the baby. – 16C & D:” Q didn’t oblige, but later, when reviewing the plane activity, I reminded her that breastfeeding someone else’s child is one more way for her to keep the peace and, essentially, protect the citizens of the United States. “Right,” she responded.
Once in Arizona, we met up with MyFace, celebrated Cinco de Mayo in Glendale, and then retreated to the casa and casita. We got in our pajamas, grabbed a drink, and sat poolside. We had been going in and out of the house for different items and MyFace, while telling us a story, headed back into the house. What she didn’t realize, however, was that Q had pulled the screen over. MyFace walked sqaure on into the screen. The consummate proper friend, her only comment was, “Huh.”