We packed the van quickly and were soon checking in at American Airlines.  A bunch of us ate lunch in the airport’s only eatery, which was a monument to Latin American inefficiency.

We took off 40 minutes late, which put us in danger of missing our connecting flight to Atlanta.  I graded exams the whole trip.

Upon arrival, we scrambled to get through customs and catch our flight.  When we got to the gate, the combination of American Airlines and Miami saved us… we didn’t leave until after we should have landed in Atlanta!  I finished grading the exams.

Once in Atlanta, things clicked.  We got the bags quickly.  Jof, Jeremy, and I got the vans and scammed the airport for a week’s parking in the hourly lot.  We left in a pouring rain around midnight.  We sang and listened to the radio as we drove through the storm.  After stopping for gas and coffee near the South Carolina line, we headed north on 11. By the time we started climbing on NC 178, the rain had turned to snow.  At times it was snowing hard and sticking to the road.  Both Jof and Jeremy did great jobs driving, not that there was any traffic at 3:30 AM.  The snow let up as we entered Brevard but caught up with us as soon as we got to campus at 4:00 AM.  As soon as we arrived, the group split up and headed off to a warm bed.  Margaret disappeared but called me at 4:30 and left a message that glowed with praise and thanks. I dumped some stuff in my office and then headed for a shower and bed. By the time I woke up there was nearly a foot of snow on the ground.

This trip rocked.  I don’t think there was anyone who didn’t enjoy themselves thoroughly.  We were a good team; we pulled it off!