The Long Journey Home - Part 2

We made it to Minneapolis and were very happy to be on American soil again even if we were carrying our new child who smelled strangely like urine and looking a little unraveled.

We knew that we would have to go through customs, gather our luggage, carry it to another check-in point directly behind customs then go through security to go to our next gate. Originally, I believe we had about a two hour layover to get this done in.

Thanks to all the strangeness of our flights, we got there late. Okay, we were still okay. We still had about an hour. We'd just move quickly. As we came off the plane, a customs officer called us over with a big smile. He said we'd been chosen for a 'survey' randomly (we just happened to be number whatever that he'd been counting). Okay, fine. He marked something on our documents and pointed us on our way.

We went through the first counter but when the officer finished, he informed us that to get our passports back we would need to gather our luggage and take it over to the counter in the back before continuing. That was where they would 'survey' our luggage for any agricultural or other products that weren't allowed.

Big breath. Fine. There wasn't any line over there. At least it'd be quick. We got all of our luggage except one bag. I swear it had to be in the last 10 that came out of the huge plane (it was two stories). So, exhausted now, we dragged our luggage to what was now a line of about five to ten people. I think every one of them had food in their luggage. Every! One! It went through the x-ray and then the officer had to pull it out, open it up, and get everything out.

When we got up there, I even told him about the Snickers in the bottom of my bag. He ran our luggage through, said 'thank you,' and sent us on our way. We were now down to about a half an hour before loading. Have you ever seen two people with 3 carry-ons, 3 big suitcases and a wet toddler sprint?

Thankfully, it wasn't far -- or I'd be dead now.

Passed off our suitcases to the counter person. Headed for security. Dumped out her water. Stripped off three coats and three shoes. Emptied out the laptop. Laid out the bags. Went through the detector. Put on the shoes. And moved as quickly as we could toward the gate.

When it was almost in sight, I insisted on taking Emily to the bathroom (could it possibly be without a changing table - OH YEAH!!!) where I managed to jury rig another funky Chinese diaper while she STOOD on floor in the stall and put on a pair of her unwashed pants that I had yanked from our luggage while standing in line to be 'surveyed.' At least the pee pee smell was gone.

We managed to make it to the gate a few minutes before boarding where we collapsed on the seat and dared anyone to ask us to move.

A much shorter flight later we were in Memphis with a four hour layover that was still 4 hours, bathrooms with changing tables, and blessedly normal diapers for sale in the airline shop. There is a reason why we love the South, people!

We got to eat, relax, play a little with Emily, and even gave her a little nap on my shoulder. Later, we took our time walking to the gate, boarding the plane, and riding for a short half hour to Little Rock. Where we were met by family who promptly oohed over Emily and propped us up to carry us to nice warm bed.

Where the three of us slept until noon (literally) the next day.