Observations of an American Dropped Into Japan (Part 16)

I had finished my packing last night and this morning I was getting geared up for catching my flight back to the states.I had a light breakfast, and gave Megan a hug, told her goodbye and that I really appreciated her allowing me to spend time with them. She had been a fantastic hostess, a really fine woman. My son did good when he found and married her, and I know that she feels the same about him. Adam hauled my luggage downstairs to the car, which is a really good thing as he is only 31 and very fit, and I am 53 and I struggle with stairs due to coordination issues with my Multiple Sclerosis, let alone hauling heavy luggage down them. Three year old Abigail was a wonderful granddaughter and held my hand as we worked our way down the stairs.

We got into the Honda Fit, and while it had been an entire month, I still could not believe that my trip was drawing to a close. I was eager to see my wife and son David again, but I really hated to leave my family that was here in Japan. We made a few quick stops to pick up a thing or two and realized that we were still awfully early for the shuttle to Narita International Airport, yes we learned not to attempt to drive to the airport yet since our last escapade. We decided to kill time by having an early lunch at the Burger King on the Base.

When it was time we headed for the shuttlebus and said our goodbyes with warm hugs and waves as the bus pulled away. It was still a long drive to the Airport, but I got to see more of Tokyo including a skyscaper with the name Amway on it! We buzzed through all of the tollbooths fairly quickly and I was let off at the airport with hours and hours to spare.

I dragged my poor old body around the airport carrying several luggages with cane in hand and finally found my check-in location, but it was closed for about an hour more. Finally they opened up and checked my large bag and asked if I needed assistance getting to the gate. I said "Probably not. Where is it?" The young lady gestured and said that it was way far away. At the other end of the airport. I hesitatingly said that yes. I would probably need assistance to find my gate, let alone walk that far. I expected a shuttle to come around, but the young Japanese woman came back with a wheelchair, I felt odd getting into it and hoped that I didn't get lost wheeling to the gate, but the young woman started pushing me in the chair. The sweet young lady must have pushed me for over fifteen or twenty minutes to get me to the gate. Then she said that I should stay near the chair. So I got up and sat on a bench close enough that I could see the chair. An hour later, she found me while she was looking for the wheelchair and I pointed to it. She trotted over and got the chair and brought it to me, wanting me to get in the chair. When the plane started to load, she wheeled me to the door of the plane. I advised her that I could get on without the chair and started to grab my carry-on. She snatched it and followed along behind me stowing it in the overhead above my seat. "Domo arigato" I thanked her very much. I never expected all of this, but it sure helped.

The flight was crowded in contrast to the flight over, and not quite as smooth, but not too bad. The flight attendant that gave me the most personalized service was a young man from Toronto that spent the extra time to ask about my trip, where I was headed and so on. He was also the voice on the loudspeaker that made the announcements in English, French and Japanese. Whenever I had a question I made sure to search him out  as he made sure that I was taken care of without questions left unanswered. Arriving in Vancouver, Canada I made sure to thank this flight attendant for the fine service that I had received and wish him a good day.

My flight to the states on the propeller plane was late coming in, so I had lots of time to Facebook my status to my wife and David. When the plane was finally ready for loading, it was back to the tarmac and onto the plane. Inside the plane I recognized my flight attendant. "You were here on my last flight!" It was the pleasant blonde woman from the last time I was on this plane. "That must have been a while ago" she said. I advised her it was a month ago, She acknowledged that was about right, so obviously she had been off work for a while. It was a nice flight about 35 minutes long, and she would ask me about where I had travelled to.

Upon arrival in Seattle, one of the men attending to the luggage on the plane asked if I needed transportation to the luggage area as they had an extra wheelchair sitting there. "How far away is the luggage area?" "Get in I'll take you there!" So I was carted to get my luggage. Wow! I really couldn't believe this! I hadn't asked for any special treatment, but these folks were sure providing it. Baggage Pickup was a long ways and a subway ride through the terminal, so I was really appreciative of the ride. The man was a retired marine who had been stationed at Mount Fuji for part of his career, so he was really interesting to talk to. After we got my luggage he asked if someone was coming to get me. I advised him I was taking the shuttlebus. "That is clear at the other end of the airport! I will get you there!" And he carted me to the bus area.

Everyone had been absolutely wonderful on this trip. I sat and waited for the bus, my reciept in hand and wondered if I was supposed to check in with somebody. I walked in and got in line and was behind a Hispanic woman with what seemed like six small kids. I heard the attendant at the counter trying to explain things to her and I hear him say that the bus is out their now. I essentially dropped everything and high-tailed it for the bus. The driver asked folks if anyone was going to my stop. "Yes. Me." and he put my luggage inside the bus and I hurried in. Everyone loaded onto the bus and then we saw the lady with six kids and a shopping cart full of luggage approach the bus. She was pretty irate when she was told that he didn;t have room for them let alone all that stuff that they had in the cart. I was very happy that I had hurried and gotten on the bus as I was there way ahead of time waiting outside before anyone else had arrived,

I called for a cab before I arrived at my drop off point and was promptly taken home. The cab driver took my luggage to the door and as he left David charged out the front door gripping me in a bear hug like I had never experienced. The kid wouldn't let go. Then when he did, he would grab me again. You could say that he was glad that I was finally home. I was too.

I took David to Fujiyama for dinner that night as he had requested. It just seemed odd that just that day I had actually been in Japan, and now I was here at a Japanese restaurant in Washington State with my son.

It was good to be home.