One of the weirder wedding anniversaries, but whatever [View all]

[DFW]

In the last two weeks, we found out on short notice that 1.) we could get a vaccination appointment in the USA (Dallas) for today, and that 2.) there was space on a nonstop flight from Frankfurt to Dallas on Saturday (our anniversary), although we thought that we would be bored to tears by staying in Dallas for a few extra days on each end of the trip, just in case we had reactions to the vaccine, but 3.) it doesn't look like it.

On Saturday, we woke up, said "happy anniversary," and then had to get a taxi into Düsseldorf at 6:30 AM German time (11:30 the night before, Dallas time). The train down to Frankfurt airport was on time (first German train to do that in a month), and the Frankfurt airport had finally figured out that it made more sense to check people's documents at check-in instead at the boarding gate, after taking people's tickets and checking their bags, and THEN maybe refusing them boarding. As last summer, they decided that my wife and I REALLY were married (what thorough detective work--as last time, I brought a copy of our marriage certificate from Arlington, Virginia from April 10, 1982).

The ten+ hour flight to Dallas was on my least favorite U.S.carrier (American), but it was a new plane (787), with comfortable seats and great food (what got into them?), and it was on time to the minute. At immigration (aka CBP) and customs, we breezed through, and our Dallas housemates picked us up at the airport. We had Thai food at the house and conked out at around 9:00 PM Dallas time, which was 4:00 AM the next day for us. Thirty-nine years married, and 8 years together before that makes 47 years together. Where DID the time go? By the time we got to Dallas, there was a happy anniversary note from my brother on my US cell phone. Since we had a double wedding back in 1982, it's not difficult for us to remember each other's anniversary.

Today was our first vaccination appointment. When we got there, my wife was taken immediately, but they said they needed the info on my Medicare card, a document I haven't looked at since I got it 4 years ago. I have a photocopy--on my computer in Düsseldorf. They said they needed it if I had registered for Medicare. Oh, crap. They said they'd try to get the info from Washington, but it could take hours. Great. But it didn't take hours. It took five minutes. Zap, zippity doo dah, please wait 15 minutes, and we'll see you for the next one on May 10.

Now I'm POSITIVE something horrible has to happen this trip. It always does. Or else I used my share of Murphy's law bad karma on that last trip down to France a couple of weeks ago? I couldn't tell ya.

But so far, so good. I have a ton of other stuff to do, and we hope to make time to meet up with another DUer from the Dallas area before we head back to Germany. It is almost 80°F here and sunny in Dallas, and it is about 35°F and snowing in central Germany, where our daughter lives. Now THIS is more like karma. Our younger daughter, who has been working her ass off in the Frankfurt area on various projects while balancing being a conscientious mother to two little girls, finished her work, and took off with her partner and two of his sons to the Maldives for ten days. They spent the whole time sending us pics of clear aquamarine blue water with dolphins, black-tipped sharks and sea turtles cavorting around them. Talk about cruelty to parents week! So, now we are in the sun, and they returned home to a blizzard. Now you know why Schadenfreude is a German word.

After the vaccinations today, we had lunch at a place in Dallas that we used to go to when my HQ was in this area. The guy who always brings us water and iced tea refills recognized me immediately, despite mask and unfamiliar company (my wife), although I hadn't been in there for a year or more. I guess not too many Anglos speak to him in Spanish with a Spain accent. I can speak Mexican Spanish, but it doesn't come naturally to me, and I'm pretty sure a Mexican would detect it.

Anyway, we're still waiting for some kind of reaction to the vaccine. Waking up in the morning to find we have become giant cockroaches, or something. On Friday, we head up to New York, where our US-based daughter is supposed to give birth to her first child. It is SUPPOSED to happen while we are there. If not, we'll ask the Fates for a refund.

Other than that, same old, same old.