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Dagdag-bawas sa dala-dalahan (20 kilos lang ang allowed) ang huling ginawa bago natulog for the May 23 morning flight to Europe.

Siempre, maagang nagising dahil excited kaya naka-almusal pa nang maayos bago ginising si Ojie. Nang papasakay na sa taxi, tinawag pa nung traffic officer sa Kalayaan: "Ma'am, saan ka pupunta? Matagal yata akong walang itatawid." Sagot ko, "Sandali lang ako out of town!" He, he, he, hawak pa ako sa arm kung itawid niya sa Kalayaan cor Mayaman. Very gentlemanly po.

Wow, 6:30 pa lang, nasa airport na ako. Hindi pa open ang check-in counter. I asked one of the guards for wheelchair assistance so he helped me to a seat first. I texted Wilma. Nasa bahay pa. In a little while, meron nang friendly wheelchair attendant. Ako ang una sa check-in counter. Hindi pa open pero tinanggap na ang baggage ko at ipinasama pa nga pati yung toothpaste ko. Sos, pati shoes hinuhubad at ini-Xray sa security check. Sangkatutak ang confiscated gels and liquids from the handcarry I picked up a sandwich and a drink before we proceeded to the gate na locked pa. Hiniram pa ang key. I gave him his tip and assured that I will not need the wheelchair to go through the tube. I made myself at home at the gate. Ate my breakfast and changed to slippers na nga. Hindi kami nagkita nina Wil till boarding time. Standing room sa gate sa dami ng tao.

We were seated at 35A-Zeny K, 35B-Ella, 35C-Wilma and 35D across the aisle ako. Namamaga konti ang paa ni Wil because of some medicine she took. Masakit. Lagi niyang ini-stretch sa aisle, minsan minamalas na masagi. Palit tayo ng seat, offer ko, para di siya lagi tatayo tuwing lalabas yung dalawa. Couple ang seatmates ko, sa other aisle sila lumalabas.

Ang ganda ng snow capped mountain ranges as we passed Mongolia. Matagal naming pinanood sa window ni Zeny K.

After the meal served, I went to brush my teeth. I asked the stewardess for toothpaste (di ba nga naka-check-in yung gels?). They don't have it on the flight. Then please give me salt. Salt? Yes, it can a substitute for toothpaste. She gave me three packets, good for the whole flight of 13 hours. Ayos!

Antipathy yung isang stewardess. When Wil asked, "Do you have ice?" , ang sagot ay "Sorry, after several hours in flight, all the ice have melted." Ang taas ng kilay namin! Sa next serving ng drinks, may ice naman! "So now you have ice!", habol na remark ni Wilma. Ang tamad-tamad nun, bulong pa niya.

Nakatulog rin ako konti kahit excited. Hindi naman kami nagutom sa flight, puede pa nga humingi ng snacks anytime, candies, biscuits and even sandwiches. Of course panay ang serve nila ng drinks.

Eto na kami sa Schiphol. Maga na talaga ang paa ni Wil. Dapat wheelchair service ka na. Ayaw. Okay lang daw. May host sila sa Amsterdam. Papatingin siya sa doctor.

When she went to use the restroom, we spoke to the steward. We have a friend who has a very sore foot and needs a wheelchair although she doesn't want it. Can that be arranged? They have a cancellation so it may be possible that there is an extra wheelchair. He will check. Ayun, meron. And can you please tab her for wheelchair service for all the other legs of her flight? No problem. Of course it can be arranged.

Yung kasabay namin sa golf cart (yun ang wheelchair assistance sa Schiphol kasi napakalawak pala talaga) was another Pinoy also going to Vienna. Sos, kilala si Eric Lacanlale. From Lupao. E di kuwentuhan na kami dun pa lang sa cart and up to the gate and again when we reached Vienna. Sabay din kami sa wheelchair service dun. Ipinakilala ako sa anak niyang nurse at sa manugang niyang Austrian, na sumundo sa kanya. Earlier in Schiphol ay nakilala ko na ang apo niyang kasabay namin sa flight.

They left me at the airport lobby to wait for Loida and Nonoy. Hindi ko sila makita. I was going to approach the taxi stand na. Aba, eto ang anak, binalikan ako. " Kung wala pa po ang kasama ninyo ay ihahatid na raw namin kayo kina Eric Lacanlale, sabi po ng Nanay ko. Aba, thank you. I went with them. She called Ling for directions. Ling asked for the name of her guest na ihahatid. So I gave her my full name. After the call, she asked where I come from and when I said Cabanatuan City, sure na siya na high school classmate niya ang sister ko and nagpupunta pa raw siya sa bahay namin. Kinumusta pa ang Nanay at Tatay ko. Ang liit talaga ng mundo!

Finally, na-ring ang unit ni Ling at nakakapasok na kami sa building. Sa elevator, hanggang "3" lang ang button. Push button "1", assisted Ling's neighbor. Up to now, I never understood why.

A smiling Ling welcomed me to her palasyo. Kilig na kilig ako! Home in Europe, at last!