Ammon:
Was woken up, and we got everything packed and ready. We got a driver and they took us to the airport, and waited for 2 hours. Mom during this past 2-3 days, mom has been wiping her laptop. So we were waiting for her friend to come and pick it up, as well as some other goodies. But we found that we might miss our check-in. So mom sent a taxi with the laptop in it as well as the goodies. Mom explained it in hers. I thought that was good job on his part, but with a consequence of Karma. I during that time, was sliding around on my suitcase. We finally got into the airport, got through security, and went to the same lounge as before. Even some of the people remembered us. Then we finally boarded our plane. Very nice seat, but we did hit a little turbulence.
LaReita:
We got up at 5am, to leave by 5:30 to arrive by 6am for our 9:30am flight to JFK, then to SLC. We were going to meet Esther last night at the airport, as we arrived to give her my wiped laptop. Unfortunately the hard drive wipe was not cooperating for the 2 hours I was in the Monrovia lounge yesterday. So I asked for her to meet us at 6am at the airport. She lives quite a distance from the airport, and we had arranged for a taxi driver in her ward/stake to bring her last night, but he couldn’t this morning. She got up at 4am to start making her way to the airport with tro-tros. (Private transit mini-vans, packed with 20 people, that stop frequently.)
We got there at 6am, and stood out front for her arrival. When it breezy it was nice, but still humid. Dave patiently rolled his eyes, “and I was nice and dry after my shower this morning.” Alas. Dav
I would call every 30 minutes to see where her progress was. Tro-tros move at their own pace, and getting as many customers as possible to the next stop. Dave suggested to hire a taxi to meet her at the last tro-tro stop which is a taxi station. By 7:40 I am very nervous because we needed to go inside to get checked-in. I called her and said I am sending a taxi to you with the laptop and 2 bags. The taxi station is a 5-10 minute drive. I gave a taxi driver out front 300ghc and asked for him to take this to this woman (gave phone number), at the taxi station, and take her to Buduburam. He scoffed and said it would be 500ghc to go that far. Then I asked to take her to Kasoa, or as far as he would. He mumbled something and went to his taxi.
We rushed inside to the Delta check-in counter. There were lots of people in line, but the ropes were closed off, preventing entry. I was a bit confused. An airport agent man said, “check-in is now closed. It closed at 7:30am.” I immediately went into begging mode – Ghana woman style. I don’t think Dave or Ammon ever saw me do that. Or myself. I was seriously stressed we would not be allowed to check-in and get to our flight! Here I was trying to do a good deed of giving my old laptop to our literacy volunteer. An older Delta agent man came up and motioned with his hands, ‘calm down, calm down, calm down’. I explained why we were late, but weren’t late (here early, but waiting for someone to arrive to hand them a gift). He was gracious and pulled the rope for us to enter. I saw him later at the gate and gratefully smiled at him!
I called Esther to make sure she got the laptop and 2 small bags. She did, but the driver wouldn’t take her to Kasoa. He insisted his 5 minute drive to the taxi station was 300ghc. Not so. An Uber would have charged 40ghc for the same distance. This was God’s test of his integrity. The karma will come back to him. And some Ghanaians wonder why making money is so hard. It’s because they curse their own money by cheating others.
My adrenaline was pumping. Ammon’s too! Whew!!! Dave calmly said, “one last adventure before going home.” Going through security, Dave forgot to take off his belt. That was probably subliminal because he’s lost some weight that he has to hold up his shorts! Went to the same lounge to get a quick breakfast. The manager and host recognized us from a week ago when we left for Monrovia. He greeted Ammon in that Ghana-style, “Eh! My man!!”
Delta has ANOTHER security scan at the gate. A full-on search: open your suitcase, bags, and body pat down. I don’t remember this from last time, but apparently they’ve been doing it for years.
I’ve been typing up the past 2 days the past 2 hours while on the plane, sitting in Premium (not the Delta One fancy shmancy 1st class – too many points and not a good redemption.)
I am very much looking forward to being home and hugging my boys (and daughter-in-law) long hugs. I already gave Jacob the memo to be emotionally prepared for a long mom hug. Getting back digging in the dirt, gathering eggs, taking my dog on a walk, and snuggling with her will help regulate my body and spirit after all the physical, emotional and spiritual demands the past month. Oh, and being in my own bed will be fabulous. Dave is looking forward to getting back to his regularly scheduled programming by working for a living!
