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a christmas story

as you may or may not know, the vancouver airport was, and probably still is, in complete chaos. yesterday, on christmas eve, most of the flights between vancouver and prince george were canceled. luckily, my flight was booked at 8:25pm on dec 23rd, just barely inside the cancellation deadline. so i spent all day checking the flights, seeing the delays, hearing the horror stories, and watching in agony as the next day's flights were terminated, one by one. but my flight still said 'on time.' fingers crossed.

demons came to pick me up at about 6:30. i think he could tell that i had been pacing. "sit down ole boy." at this point my flight had been delayed an hour, but houston was still a GO. i was nervous, but not sweaty nervous. we hit the airport at about 7:45. i convinced steve to come inside with promises of a possible airport bar and free drinks in exchange for good company while his twitchy friend watched his flight get delayed further and further into the night.

the sketchiness that had followed me all day, followed us into the airport bar. the place was packed with stranded travelers, all escaping the same situation, but all still confident that, if they have made it this far, they will make it all the way. but there was no where to sit down. except a swanky leather couch.

and so, as soon as i sat down, on that swanky leather couch, christmas began.

it was real comfy. even steven said so. and the canucks game was on in front of us. it was busy and no waitress came around. we were both real thirsty, so i stammered up to the bar and ordered a couple pints of heineken. the lady at the bar seemed real nice, and calm, and unaffected the chaos around her. she brought over the heinys and said "on the house." i was totally shocked, really? why? "well, the keg is low, so they may not taste that great, merry christmas!" "well a very merry christmas to you too mam!"

so here i am, on a swanky leather couch, watching the canucks game, drinking a free pint of delicious booze, discussing obscure theories with a close friend, and suddenly it dawned on me...i am still waiting for a plane that may not exist. then, a voice came over the intercom "attention passengers of flight air canada 8212 to vancouver, your plane has landed, please proceed through security."

gift after gift, i tell ya.

so i finished my glass, shook hands with stever, and headed to security. had a good book with me. the plane took off at about 9:37pm, if i remember correctly. and just like that, i was heading home for the holidays.

then this happened.

and turned it into a christmas that will be remembered forever.

posted by Colin # 5:07 PM

Thursday, December 25, 2008

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