Sometimes you get what you ask for

Today as we got ready to board our American Airlines flight to Dallas, our last flight together, our final farewell to south and central america, our final hours in this grande aventura, I whined to Chrissie, "I don't want to go home." And that may be why I am propped up in bed at the Hyatt at the DFW Airport rather than watching a bad movie while eating bad food on a flight home to San Francisco. The good news is that as part of my $250 plus bill for tonight not only did I get a new toothbrush and comb (thank goodness cuz I threw out my kid's toothbrush I purchased back in Cuzco), I also got a "free" stick of Lady Speedstick deodorant. This is another perfect example of getting what you ask for because shortly before I exclaimed to Chrissie I wasn't leaving Costa Rica, I also exclaimed to her that I smelled awful because I forgot to primp with a bit of deodorant this morning. So tomorrow I'll be fresh and clean for my flight home to San Francisco, despite the fact that I'll be wearing the same clothes I had on today, and in fact, the same clothes I've been wearing for the last three months. But who's going to notice?

For some reason my flight got canceled due to bad weather, whilst at the same time Chrissie and Stevo lifted off to Heathrow and Dan is merrily on his way home out of Houston. On the bright side, I get to sit here and go through the gazillion pictures from our travels and remind myself of these last three months and conjure amazing memories which are too quickly beginning to fade around the edges, partially thanks to the bright and busy flash of the DFW Airport. What happened to the beach? Why is everyone so loud and speaking with funny accents? Why is it so clean here? Why is there so much stuff around? Why do I suddenly want to shop (the customs agent couldn't believe how little I claimed--and I was telling the truth, well close to the truth)? Where are all the mangy dogs? And where is that dear friend of mine with the ginger hair and the scars on the left of her temple?

Oh well. Thank goodness for Amex and airport hotels that make these kinds of experiences easier to stomach. I'm sitting here sipping tea, listening to Beethoven and marveling at the photos. Here are a few of my favorites from a rapid-shot photo shoot we did one morning in Mendoza at our favorite coffee shop. Thank you my dear friend for your laughter, your spirit and your company these last three months. I will treasure these memories forever!

And for those of you fearing the end of the Inky Thinky Aventura, thinky againy. There are loads of stories you still haven't heard, so stay tuned for "post script" stories, thinkie's and thoughts. And if you become sick of my memorializing of the South American excursions, then simply go back to your emails about oil spills, terrorists and other exciting news from around the world!

Hasta luego!