The journey begins…

[I’m writing this entry on the plane, and I will post it later online…it's now later - much later than the entry that follows...]

I’ve changed my watch to sync it to the time in Israel…so according to my watch, it is now 7 am. According to my drooping eyes, and by the evidence of Daphne sleeping soundly next to me, it’s really midnight. Speaking of Daphne sleeping next to me, as a parent, watching my child sleep is one of the most calming and endearing visions imaginable. This is when I know that she is my angel. My wife dozing next to her only enhances the vision…

Well, we made it onto the plane, obviously. We’ve been in the air for about 90 minutes – only about nine (give or take) hours to go! Oy! Getting to the airport was a snap, once we got the packing done. The shuttle van waited outside of our house for about 30 minutes…he was 15 minutes early when he arrived, so I don’t feel that bad. And nobody else was kept waiting because the van was exclusively hours. The trip to the airport was a snap, and the check in and security process took us all but 15 minutes. So, by 7 pm we were ready to find a comfortable place to plant ourselves while we waited for our 10:10 flight. We found a great booth at one of the dining establishments, ordered dinner, and took our time.

For those of you who have ever traveled to Israel before by plane, you know the added security process very well… We arrived to our gate about an hour before the plane was scheduled to leave the terminal. They had already begun the boarding process. We got in line to present our tickets and passports, and then walked through a pair of double doors to another area where we had to repeat the security procedure all over again. We had to remove our shoes and put all of our stuff through the x-ray machines, and walk ourselves through the metal detector. What we weren’t anticipating was that they would confiscate the water and juice bottles we had purchased within the terminal because we didn’t have a receipt for them. So, after going through all of the detection machines, Shara ran back out to the terminal to get a receipt from the vendor. Meanwhile, the security employees were opening the bottles to test the liquids inside to ensure that they were not something they were not supposed to be. Needless to say, Shara was not happy about all of this. Live and learn, I suppose.

So we finally got seated and situated. We changed Daphne into her pajamas, handed her the fleece Tinkerbelle blanket we had packed, and set her up in her booster seat with a few snacks. Shara and I each took out some books and magazines and our iPods, and we settled into our seats, flanking Daphne on either side. We were ready to go!

Once we began the taxiing process, I took out a copy of the T’fillat HaDerech prayer which we recited together. Soon afterwards, we were safely in the air. Daphne had pretty much dozed off before our ascent.

And wouldn’t you know…the first thing that happened once we the seatbelt lights went off: they announced that they were going to serve dinner!

So now I’m full, my daughter and my wife are sleeping next to me, and I am contemplating doing the same. I just wish they’d turn off the cabin lights already! I’m a light sleeper as it is, so this is really not ideal for me. I plan to pack up the computer soon, take out something to read, and hopefully tire myself out and get at least a few hours of sleep. The movie selection is pretty dismal, and the only movies I packed are the ones Daphne helped me pick earlier today: all animated – mostly Disney plus a Barbie flick and Don Bleuth’s Thumbelina… not quite where I’m at right now…

Too much babbling. I’m logging off now. B’sha’ah haba’ah birushalayim – Next time in Jerusalem!