Matthew's Travel Anxiety Dream #1

Matt and great-nephew Keenan at the wedding

The first part I remember is the only baggage I have is my sling bag, and that duffel bag I got from Telluride to bring back all the free gifts. But it is empty except for a coat hanger, a collapsible hiking pole, and a casino players card which I take out and put into my pocket. The next thing I know we are at the gate and the woman at the British Airways counter says I need to pay her eight dollars. I have to pay her, so I reach into my pocket and I put all the stuff on the counter – the casino card, a crumpled receipt, and two five-dollar bills. I also have a scratch card from the casino for a free gift. I lay everything on the counter and I’m un-crumpling the five dollar bills and give them to the attendant, and she gives me a snooty look because she’s British Airways and needs to give me two dollars in change.  The second attendant starts scratching off the scratch card, and says, “I’ve won a free Christmas gift!”

There’s a guy behind me who is like 7’10” and he’s standing really close to me, so I start nudging back, pushing back and he says, “You got enough room there?” and I say no, actually. Then he says, “You need a financial advisor?”

I ask him, “What kind of trousers are you wearing?” He says, “These are formal dress slacks.” I say, “I want a guy who wears Wranglers.” 

Then I say, “I’ll bet you got a lot of basketball scholarships.” He says, “Yeah, all through high school and college.  I would throw the ball at the announcers.”  Then I’m on the jetway, ready to board the plane, and you are coming towards me with a worried look on your face, and then I wake up.