Space Cadet?

Most of you who know me are aware of my current situation, for those of you who aren't read on to find out...

Chris left for RCMP depot in Regina last Sunday. His training started today. 1 day down, and the countdown is on. This is going to be a L-O-N-G six months.

I left my cozy little apartment in Ottawa, packed my life into boxes, and moved myself and my baby back in with my parents in Bridgewater, NS. How is that going? As well as can be expected. Yes I am used to having my own space, but all the traffic coming in and going out of this house is a welcome distraction. Chris has only been gone for 48 hours and I am already missing him. The reality of our new situation hasnt at all sunk in yet. I feel as though I am on vacation, and any day now I will be on a plane heading back to my life in Little Italy.

The week leading up to Chris' departure was interesting to say the least. The morning Chris left was no different. Chris almost missed his flight to Regina. The words of an officer at his signing echoed through my head - if you miss your flight, dont bother coming. AH! We left my house in plenty of time to make it to the airport. Little did we know that there was enough fog to make us as blind as bats so we had to creep along the whole way there. Upon arrival we were shocked to see the amount of people waiting to check their baggage - all students. Busiest day of the year according to our air canada representative. When Chris took his place in line he asked a gentleman working for the airline what he should do as he didnt want to miss his flight. This very kind, very silly soul told Chris as long as he had his boarding pass he wouldnt miss his flight. Well, Phew. He has his boarding pass, crisis averted... Not quite. After a long wait we made it to the front of the line. The lady at the counter says "Sir, I can hel..." and I kid you not, out of nowhere comes this blonde woman who was obviously unhappy and she says "you will help ME" flustered the lady at the counter apologized to Chris and we play the waiting game again. This time when his turn comes the lady at the counter says "where are you going", Chris replies "Regina", Lady - "you are going to miss your flight". WHHHHAAAT!?!?!?! He loads his bags onto the belt, they're over weight. He gets out his debit card, it wont work. Passes her a credit card, signs it, gets a large bag for his bike and he and my Dad bag it, tape it, and wheel it to the security guard at the special baggage counter. The lady says "That bike needs to come out of that bag, I need to swab it". This charming woman stood there and watched as they put the bike in the bag and says nothing, we take 2 steps over to her counter and then she wakes up? Nice. Our air canada rep says, "no, no, they usually just rip a whole in the bag". Security lady insists the bike must come out of the bag, so out it comes. Meantime, Chris' flight is boarding and he isnt through security yet himself. The security lady knows we are in a hurry and she takes her sweet time dabbing a piece of cloth attached to a metal handle all along Chris' bike. Then she walks over to her computer and without even processing anything says "bag it". So Chris says a quick bye to my parents and as my Dad re-bags his bike Chris and I run to Security. Chris gives me a peck and proceeds to yet another long line. He gets up to the front of the line and prepares to walk through the metal detector - beep, beep, beep. He sets it off. Removes watch, walks through again - beep, beep, beep. Removes belt, walks through again -beep, beep, beep. Removes shoes, walks through again - beep, beep, beep. The lady gets out her wand, scans Chris, lets him go. Meantime his carry on has been flagged. "Sir, is this your bag"? They dig around, open up his glasses case, but totally miss his leatherman and Chris FINALLY boards the plan multi tool and all. Quite an ordeal. Having been up all night this rigmarole took its toll on me and I havent recovered yet. Chris might be an RCMP cadet, but I'm a Space Cadet. :s