Off to the airport for Friday Smiles 328

Today I'm joining Chris at Pear Shaped Crafting, our host this month at Art Journal Journey with her theme We're all/going. I'm also joining Annie (at A Stitch in Time) and the ladies at Friday Smiles.  There will be no museum visit today, because I want to share a journal page I created and explain the process I went through to get these children at the airport.

It's hard to write the words "we're all" when I am a single person headed to the airport.  This is a true story, not one made up in order just to create art. 

This is the Arrivals area of my local airport.  This is my photo and printed on my laser printer that only has black toner.  It's not very exciting, but this is not an exciting airport in black and white.

In case you can't read the sentiment:

I am heading to the airport.
I am picking up 3 young travelers.
I need documentation to claim them.
I must meet them at the gate.

You are possibly asking why I called them "3 young travelers."  This is how the airlines designate them.  Children under the age of 12 (ages 5-11) are considered "unaccompanied minors" and must pay a fee (Southwest charges $50.00 USD each way, while Delta and American charge $150 USD one way) for the unaccompanied minor to fly unless accompanied by another person aged 12 and older.

Because the children are all flying together, they are not considered unaccompanied, but young travelers.  However, there are certain rules that must be followed.  For example, and I learned this last year before I picked them up at the airport,

I must first go to the Southwest ticket counter (the airline they were flying to and from Wichita) and get an escort pass that will allow me to go through airport security so I can meet the children at the gate.  I have to show my I.D. and give the names of the children.  Their aunt is so good and extremely thorough. She  sent copies of all the identification papers and copies of their birth certificates last year, which made it a breeze.  I am not sure I needed these, but they sure helped, since I was going to be responsible for three "young travelers."  I was so glad I had saved all this paperwork, because I didn't have to ask their aunt for it again.

When I got to the gate, I showed the papers again, making it easy for me.  We did this last year, too, but that time was scary because I didn't know what to expect.  This time, we all knew what to expect.  The oldest had been given a copy of my driver's license I had sent to their aunt last year.  Again, it may have been overkill, but we were all quite well prepared and there was absolutely no problems when they arrived.

Today (in my art journal because the children are already here) I am headed to the airport.  Then, following Chris's artistic guidelines, we'll be heading to my house.

On the way home, one of the siblings took this shot.
They got all excited and asked if I knew what kind of a car it was (make, model, year).  Sadly, I didn't.  Maybe one of my readers will, though.

Thank you for joining me today.  I hope you learned something about young travelers.  I also hope you will join me at Art Journal Journey and Friday Smiles.

And because you have come to expect a few funnies:

An optimist is someone who goes after Moby Dick in a rowboat and takes the tartar sauce with him.


And for all you cat lovers out there

LAW OF CAT INERTIA – A cat at rest will tend to remain at rest, unless acted upon by some outside force, such as the opening of cat food.

LAW OF CAT MOTION – A cat will move in a straight line, unless there is a really good reason to change direction.

FIRST LAW OF CAT ENERGY CONSERVATION – Cats know that energy can neither be created nor destroyed and will, therefore, use as little energy as possible.

LAW OF BAG/BOX OCCUPANCY – All bags and boxes in a given room must contain a cat within the earliest possible nanosecond.

LAW OF FURNITURE REPLACEMENT – A cat’s desire to scratch furniture is directly proportional to the cost of the furniture.

LAW OF CAT COMPOSITION – A cat is composed of Matter + Anti-matter + It Doesn’t Matter.

LAW OF CAT OBEDIENCE – As yet undiscovered.

Hope this has started your weekend off with a smile.