Back...

The long weekend started off horrible!! ...I splash water on my shorts at the airport.. and it looks like I peed myself, so... I think about it.. and Hey.. I've still got 30 minutes.. and a carryon full of other clothes.. so I decide to change my shorts in the bathroom... so.. here I am in the stall.. with my suitcase open.. and taking the few things I have left in my pocket (I hate having to empty a bunch of stuff from my pockets for airport security) ... I put my cell phone on the toilet paper holder...   I get my shorts changed.. and as I'm about to zip up my suitcase.. they call for boarding for my flight...
Normally, I would be very happy to get to leave early.. but not when I am half dressed in the airport bathroom... so I quickly finish zipping up my carryon and rush for the desk...  Everyone is loaded up quickly and we are off... so... I need to make sure my cell phone is turned off..
wait... it's not in my pocket..  ummm.. I don't see it in my laptop bag as I quickly rummage through it.  It's got to be in my carryon.. that they've stuffed underneath the plane.. I think...  or is it??   now.. I'm worried.  It has the phone numbers of my arranged ride from the airport.  I had already paid for it.  The longer I think about it, the less sure I am. ...as a matter of fact... I am fairly certain it's still in the bathroom stall sitting on the toilet paper...  ...appropriate place, as I am now in deep shit.
I spend the next 10 minutes frantic as hell.. and worried that my life is now over.. and I'm going to be stuck at the airport for the next 5 days... Then, I get a grip... what's the worst scenereo?  The phone is locked.. and can only be answered... not used. If need be, I can get a "straight talk" phone at Wal-Mart to use while I'm there.. and get my lost phone replaced when I get back.  I get off the airplane in Milwaukee.. still trying to figure this out.. logically.  Well..  I can't contact the airport shuttle I rented because the number is in my phone.. BUT.. I do know where I'm going.. so I do the most logical thing.. I hail a cab.  The gentleman who is driving asks me my destination.. and we're off.. I mention that it's starting out to be a bad day.. as I have lost my phone...
"Did you call it?" 
"I plan to... as soon as I can get to a phone"
...then this wonderful man gives me his cell phone and tells me to call the number.  I call.. and a voice answers.. "Hello?" 
...I then spill my guts to this person after finding out that it's someone from the airport.. they say they'll hold it for me...
...I repeat the info and the driver pipes up again, "See if they can send it to you up here."  ...this guy is my sanity at the moment.. and I'm almost wanting to hug him... 
so I ask..  "Is there any way you can send it up here?... I'll pay."    ...she tells me she will check and to call back in 10 minutes.... so ...we are driving for a bit anyway... I'm supposed to check in at home and tell them I made it.. but.. I can't.. so I ask my newfound friend... "can I trouble you to make one more quick phone call" ...he tells me to go ahead... So.. now I've checked in at home.. I'm on my way to the hotel.. and my phone MIGHT be sent to me.. I panicked for nothing. ...so as I'm pulling in the hotel, I ask my buddy if I can call back to the airport.. I feel sort of badly about using his phone.. but he has helped me tremendously.. so I first lay out an $18 tip on a $41 cab fare...  of course now he is telling me to use it all I want.. he never uses up all the minutes anyway...  I find out from the airport they can send it on the late flight... and now all is right with the world.

The next few days are wonderful... I have the best company... and a tremendous time... I'm really a lucky guy.. in many ways.. 

Today was kinda sad though.. I didn't wanna come back... I wanted at least another year or two there.. if not much longer..  It seems as though I never realize how much I dislike the country living until I've spent a few days in the city... everything is sooooo convenient.  I really wish I lived in the city.. perhaps I'll have to start working to make that happen.. until then, ... for better or worse.. I'm back.