Suddenly the foggy confusion lifts off of my sleep deprived delusional head and I snap wide awake. I am alert and conscious of the fact that in a very short time indeed I shall be in the arms of the man I love. (Oooh, I quiver with delight every time I think about that moment I see him-yes barf for you, I know).
The plane collides into the ground with a violent greeting and soon enough after a few turns and rotations the aircraft comes to a complete stop. Now unfortunately for me my luggage was about 3 or 4 rows away from where my seat was (and did I mention I had to freaking put it up there myself while stupid people gaped open mouthed at my struggle?)
I wait until the rows of people shuffled out of the plane like cattle to the grassy field and when I saw an open gap I hopped right out of my seat and bolted for my luggage. Every second counts now! Before heading to the baggage claim, I make a pit stop to the ladies room to powder my nose. And apply more deodorant. And to brush my teeth. And to restyle my hair. And to adjust my apparel...get the picture? I needed to make sure I was grade A material the first moment my mister saw me and sans morning breath/puffy eyes/frizzy hair! Then I used my New York legs to power walk to baggage claim, but of course, just like the transit here, no matter how fast you speed walk to the bus stop or the metro-you are on THEIR time. However, as I am turning the wide corner which bleeds into the giant baggage claim's room, I get this feeling that HE is already there waiting for me. The night prior, I had already told him to just wait outside so that he didn't have to park his car and waste him time and pay a freaking parking toll. However, I just got this gut feeling he was there in the room so as I turn, of course I put on my best strut and coyly try to glance around the room to see if I can spot him. Of course within .0129476t592387 seconds I immediately spot him and his eyes are dead sight locked on me. Like he has a Mina radar or something. I walk a few more steps pretending I didn't see him before making an obvious look, stop, smile and then continued walking now towards him. He stands, his handsome figure popping out like a 3D image on a 2D picture. Ahhh, he's so nice :) He walks towards me and when we finally reach each other, we hug. I'll be honest...it felt sort of awkward. Being away from someone sometimes will make these moments awkward because it's almost like rewinding the relationship a bit. Anyway, we walk hand in hand to the conveyor belt and wait for my luggage to arrive.
I describe what mine is, a large invasive dark green luggage and naturally his 20/15 eyes spot it before mine, however I discount it saying "The tag says 'Amy'", intowhich he has some sort of smartypants rebuttal like "Oh yeah, well if this says 'Amy' then we're all in big trouble" or some crap like that...I am so used to it I just tune it out now. However, it indeed said 'Mina'. We walk outside and I am instantly hugged in heat...not a terrible heat, but definitely a difference from NYC. We walk to his pickup. Oh...so many good memories with that pickup. And not what you are thinking either. Like hiking, prowling around town, dates, deep conversations, moments of necessary bail outs, etc. Good times I say, good times.
John worked a double that day (poor man..he literally ALWAYS works) and we decided to start the day off, since it was like 9:30am, with delicious coffee. A tradition of ours, if you will. We go to a coffee place called Lucy's that I had never been to before and I get some frilly drink that I didn't even really like that much, but drank it anyway because a) John purchased it for me and b) I was in much need of caffeine. John runs into a regular there and introduces me. He looked SO happy doing that, it was adorable. (side note: LITERALLY during the whole trip, he was pulling me aside to show me off to a friend or a regular or whomever he mentioned me to-maybe it was because he was proud, or maybe he was trying to show that he really DID have a girlfriend and that I wasn't imaginary.) Then we head to Ajo's. OOOOOOOHHHH how I have been waiting for this. I LOVE AJO AL'S. Ajo Al's is truly the BEST Mexican food ever. I'm not even saying that because I worked there
Anyway, I become gluttonous and basically order a little bit of everything off the whole plate. Because I am special, I got to custom make my own meal and get it within 5 minutes-mwahahahahahaha. I also start drinking Cadillac margaritas made by the best bartender ever, Jizzohn! I text baba (Baba=dad in Farsi) to let him know I landed and am at Ajo's. Then the liquor starts texting and I sent him pics of me eating the food and drinking margaritas. Naturally, he wasn't too pleased, but whatever-he loves me.
I was only planning on spending maybe an hour or so there, then have baba pick me up. However, baba was backed up with meetings (like I really minded) and I was sort of stuck at Ajo's, by John's side. I basically ate and drank all day and socialized with old workers/regulars catching them up to date with my life. It was great. I felt special. I felt cared about. I felt fat and tipsy. I felt like a nap. My BFF Angie was working a double as well, but had a break in between so her and I decided to have some alone time and catch up. We go back to Lucy's because I needed a slap in the face by caffeine. Then we go to Michael's because I was in search of 2 pieces that I was going to add in John's 1 year anniversary gift. Didn't find it, but I did find a Sudoku book, which I did purchase. I love Sudoku!
We chat and catch up, drive around and then she had to get back to work. It's now around 4:00 or 4:30. I play Sudoku at the bar counter with John, make kissy faces at him. Have another margarita, eat delicious chips, giggle, chatter and soon 6o'clock rolls around. I needed to probably get home. For the past hour I was chugging water and my coffee. I needed to wake up and be fresh for the parents. Plus, John was letting me use his pick up to drive home (FIRST TIME EVER..LAST TIME TOO SINCE THAT DATE). I was petrified. That thing is a beast...but I wanted to look cool and able, like it was a piece of cake. I give him a hug and kiss goodbye and hop in the truck.
John watches me drive off...half because he's a romantic and the other half because he was probably saying goodbye to his truck in case anything would happen. I make it home driving 50mph on the freeway. The parents and I embrace in a Persian loving manner. I catch them up about life and of course...I eat again. I eat delicious Persian food that I ever so missed. Aaahhh, just thinking about it makes my tummy rumble.
Anywhoo, about 20lbs overweight from food, it's about now 9:30pm and I tell them I need to return the truck to John. I also told them not to wait up because we'd probably be going out. Which I knew was a fact. I go upstairs and do a repeat of the event in the restroom where I re-primp myself. Quickly shuffle downstairs, hug and kiss them goodnight and barrel it into the truck. I arrive at Ajo's to see Laura, a co-worker, and a few guys. Buddies of a buddy of John's apparently. I am introduced to them, but I only remember Gordon because John has mentioned him to me several times before. We drink some more, I chow on some chips (don't judge) and we decide to go out. To a bar called Tully's. Like Lucy's I have heard of the place, just have never been. We go and totally have an awesome time. John did the meet and greet thing where I met a bunch of people I don't remember. It was nice. It was needed. It was home :)
It's now like 2am and the bars are closing. They close here at 2am unlike 4am in NYC. We say our goodbyes and we all part ways. John is sober (he's always very good with that) and I, on the other hand, was not. He drives my blissfully buzzed self home and tucks me in bed. He's so sweet. Blech, I make myself gag with all the love. I drift off into a heavy, margarita filled sleep, beaming with joy over such a wonderful first day back.
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