Air Travel

Our departure date arrives, and it's as hard as I expected. I go out to breakfast with some close friends, and then rush around for the rest of the day, doing everything last-minute as usual. Our moms take us to the airport for the very last goodbyes. Ruaridh and I check our bags, and walk through the airport looking for food. I'm not sure how I should feel - I want to be excited but I'm way too drained. I get a sandwich, but don't eat it. We board our Aer Lingus flight, and set off for Edinburgh with a layover in Dublin. The flight attendants wear bright turquoise and ask in an Irish brogue if I would ilke coffee or tea. The movie is Iron Man, and I get the first 15 minutes or so.
We enter Dublin airport, groggy from the flight and awkward napping. It's gray, windy and cold - the hills in the distance smudge with the darker incoming clouds from the west. The darkness makes the grass look bright green. After finding coffee, we walk down the vast, white corridor to our terminal. Ruaridh zones out, and I try to read but eventually do the same. We board a short connection flight, and our trip begins!